Collaboration

Skills Gap Analysis

Don't let hidden skill gaps derail projects. Skills gap analysis compares necessary skills with your team's current abilities. This reveals where you need training, new hires, or partnerships. Unaddressed skill gaps lead to project failures and team frustration.

Duration
3 hours
Group Size
5-10
Category
Collaboration
Difficulty
Easy
Participants will:

  • Map skills required for current and future work.

  • Honestly assess current team capabilities.

  • Identify critical skill gaps hindering success.

  • Create a development or hiring plan to address gaps.

Participants will leave with:

  • A list of skill gaps blocking team success.

  • A plan to close those gaps through development or hiring.

  • A clear understanding of current versus needed skills.

People often overrate their skills. Someone claiming proficiency in React might only copy code from Stack Overflow. Use specific questions to assess capability. For example, ask: 'Can you build a custom hook?' A 'gap' means the skill is needed now, but missing. A 'growth area' is a skill that might be needed later. Focus on gaps first. Decide whether to 'buy' (hire) or 'build' (train) skills. Develop core skills in-house. Outsource specialized, infrequently used, or rapidly changing skills. I've seen teams waste time trying to train staff on skills they only needed once a year.

  1. Define Required Skills (40 minutes)

List all skills needed for your work. Consider technical skills (e.g., React, Python), design skills (e.g., user research, visual design), and soft skills (e.g., facilitation, stakeholder management). Be thorough. Review current projects and roadmaps to identify required skills.

  1. Assess Current Team (50 minutes)

For each skill, rate team capability: Expert (can teach), Proficient (independent), Learning (with support), Novice (basic knowledge), or None. Be honest; overestimating skills leads to problems. Use self-assessment and peer feedback.

  1. Identify Critical Gaps (40 minutes)

Plot skills on a matrix showing 'Need' (how important is the skill) vs. 'Have' (current capability). High need + low capability = critical gap. Low need + high capability = potential waste. Focus on critical gaps that block important work.

  1. Create Action Plan (30 minutes)

For each critical gap, decide: Develop an existing team member? Hire someone new? Partner with a vendor? Borrow from another team? Solutions will vary. Training can close some gaps, while others require hiring. Some gaps may not be worth addressing.

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For Facilitators

  • Review participant profiles and expectations
  • Prepare all materials and supplies
  • Test technology and room setup

For Participants

  • Complete pre-session survey
  • Review background materials
  • Prepare examples or case studies

Unlock Pre-Work Requirements

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  • Skills taxonomy or framework

  • Assessment rubrics

  • Project roadmap

  • Team roster

  • Budget information

Unlock Materials Required

Create a free account to access step-by-step instructions, agendas, and resources for all activities.

  • Facilitator Guide (PDF)
  • Participant Workbook Template
  • Presentation Slides
  • Printable Materials

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