How do you prevent skill decay and knowledge obsolescence?

I found that knowledge depth and breadth are very tricky to balance. I am guilty of trying to maintain too many interests. Establishing and staying in my “lane” of best practice and specialism has been a recent goal of mine. Being on the spectrum, I enjoy learning and have an insatiable thirst for science. Theoretical learning is important, but putting it to work is paramount for my learning. Experimenting brings knowledge to my active memory and helps me form mnemonic and muscle memory. Overcoming inertia is also a problem, so becoming passionate and engrossed in the subject matter is a great help! All of this, at least for me, is a great help to keep my skills sharp as well as my knowledge timely and relevant.

Organizations should embark upon a multifaceted approach encompassing proactive measures, strategic interventions, and a culture of continuous learning. As a purveyor of performance, accountability, and empowerment, the onus falls upon HR professionals to champion the cause of skill preservation, upskilling, and knowledge relevance. It's essential to establish a structured and comprehensive training and development program. Fostering a culture of continuous learning within the organization cannot be overstated. HR is responsible for imbuing the workforce with a growth mindset that acknowledges the fluid nature of knowledge.

Don't call it a dream, call it a plan! Setting specific achievement targets is essential to reaching the result you desire. You must think it, speak it and then write it down. Manifestation is not enough, however setting daily measurable to-do's will keep you moving forward towards expected outcome. You must look at yesterday, today and tomorrow. Having a perspective of where you were and where you want to go is key. Step on the scale daily and make sure you are always moving forward.

Finding a task (not just a learning example) that will require to use all tools available to reach the goal. This usually looks like a hobby and pushes me to search for the solution while gaining realistic experience and muscle/brain memory using (SW) tools.

Has anyone heard about the 10,000-hour rule or have I made it up? Practice is essential for mastering any skill. Regular and deliberate practice helps you build muscle memory and develop a deeper understanding of the skill. This is often referred to as the "10,000-hour rule," which suggests that it takes approximately 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert in a particular skill. While the exact number can vary, the principle remains: the more you practice, the better you'll become.

Being aware of the way in which you or your employees learn best is a big help here. Some people learn best experientially, some by observing, hearing etc. It seems to be even more impactful when you combine multiple methods. Choosing a method(s) that aligns with your style of learning will make the new skills and information easier to absorb and integrate into your daily use.

Applying new learning is truly where you can combat decay an obsolescence. Micro learning modules can offer opportunities to try out a new approach or technology without consuming too much time. Some authoring tools have training sites and user groups that post challenges. Take the challenge and forge ahead. The second time I try anything is 100x easier than the first, so rip the Band-Aid and do it! Pick a nagging issue and see if your new tool offers a fresh way to address it. I like to keep a list of brief topics that I think could benefit from a refresh. They are test beds for a new tool or skill. Even if the tool doesn’t pan out, I have taken the time to rethink my design and can often improve it.

One area that we are failing in the application of learning is effective communication. Technology helps us get information out to all but fails in the discussion and circle of effective feedback. Exchanging ideas in person, allows us the opportunity to ask questions and understand concepts better. This leads to the problem we currently have - people are hesitant to ASK questions. Either we don’t know WHAT to ask or we don’t want to appear incompetent. We are being programmed to come up with our own answers, which doesn’t bode well for knowledge transfer nor opening minds. Mentorship programs and shadowing can move the needle in this area. Reviewing and creating a culture of questioning will support these programs.

As an addendum to this, plan ahead. If you know that you want or may need to take time away from the workplace, for whatever reasons, plan for it. Think about the skills that you will need to make a seamless transition back into the workplace and how you can acquire them. For example, while I was home, actively raising my children, I started my own business teaching English. I established a clientele, built my personal brand, and met my income needs while maintaining (if not enhancing) the skills necessary to be engaging in person and virtually. Never stand still. There’s always something you can be learning/doing.

Find people who've been in the line of work you're in for at least 20 to 30 years. shadow them and learned from their mistakes.

I have found that in law enforcement becoming a teacher or trainer is a great way to combat the loss of knowledge and skill. You have to constantly review your knowledge and your ability to apply that knowledge to teach it to others. While teaching you can also get into discussions that can make you see things in a new light that provide a greater insight into your training. As a trainer you also have to adapt to the people learning from you. These adaptations also can help you retrain and review your skills.

To start with anything, you need to define the vision. Accordingly you can identify various sources of learning, implement it and assess your competency as per global scenario. To sustain in VUCA world, you must updated about the knowledge or skill you acquired or performing. Now a days, because of technology and social media its quite easy to stay updated.

Unless there is acceptance of 'population-rich-nations' currently leading the charge and that 'knowledge-rich-nations' must retrain and orient to collaborate; otherwise, 50% of Western economies will remain dark. Unless the national mobilization of entrepreneurialism is deployed as a national mechanism for constant learning, constant disruption, constant advancements, and constant dialogues, silence will only strangle economies.

Unless there is acceptance of 'population-rich-nations' currently leading the charge and that 'knowledge-rich-nations' must retrain and orient to collaborate; otherwise, 50% of Western economies will remain dark. Unless the national mobilization of entrepreneurialism is deployed as a national mechanism for constant learning, constant disruption, constant advancements, and constant dialogues, silence will only strangle economies.