Competence gap
The competency gap is the difference between current skills and the skills needed to perform a task or role.
Definition
It doesn't have to mean failure or lack of potential. It is diagnostic information: what else needs to be learned, practiced or organized differently. A well-described competency gap indicates a specific skill, a target level and a way to check progress.
Key ideas
- The difference between the current state and the required state
- Targeted learning
- Measuring progress
Practice and life
Choose one task that is beyond you and break it down into component skills: knowledge, tool, practice, feedback.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to confuse a competence gap with a lack of personal value. It is also a mistake to learn in general instead of training a specific skill.
> Lack of skill is an indicator of what needs to be learned.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What exactly is the skill I'm missing?
- How will I know if the gap has closed?
- Who or what can give me feedback?