Write up a list of skills they use to perform these tasks.

Draw up a task-based description of their role in the team.

In your one-to-ones with each team member: You also need to supplement your team meetings by looking for skills gaps at the individual level in your one-to-ones.īefore you meet to talk about role requirements, skills, or career development, make sure you inform each team member that this is what you plan to discuss in your next one-to-one so they have time to prepare. Skills that people want to improve are good topics for future training. Skills that the team needs but doesn’t have yet will require collective skills development, whereas skills that not enough people can perform might indicate a shortage of team members.

Skills that don’t have enough team members to perform them.

Skills the team needs, but that none of its members have yet.

Then discuss who performs each of these skills, bearing in mind that multiple team members can perform the same function and individuals can fill many different roles within the team. Work together to brainstorm all the team’s responsibilities and desired work output, and what skills are needed (and in what quantities) to meet these goals. Kick-off this process with a team meeting.

This encourages your team to honestly explain which skills may be missing. Be upfront with them that you’re looking for skills gaps and trying to determine how to fill them. The best way to identify skills gaps is through conversations with your team.

The fill the gap of shortage