The business world is increasingly becoming susceptible to change. Volatility has become a fact of life. In the ever changing scenario of modern business, adaptability has become key for success. Businesses need employees that are capable of adapting themselves to changing situations. T-shaped employees have the ability to adapt. Although T-shaped concept has been there for almost two decades, its significance is highlighted only today.
T-shaped professional
So who is a T-shaped professional? T-shaped employees are experts in one specific field but also have sufficient knowledge of other disciplines. They can understand the language of diverse disciplines; expertise in one field combined with working knowledge of others. Apart from that, they must also display high emotional intelligence, manage complexity and prize diversity of experience. To illustrate, the T-shaped talent in the IT sector would have specialized skills in one discipline such as computer science, mechanical engineering and mathematics etc. and one service system such as ICT, health care and financials etc. These two competencies together will make the vertical leg of the T-shaped employee. Apart from this, they must have capabilities like project management, critical thinking, empathy, communication, ability to listen to others and team work etc. These skills represent the horizontal bar of the T-shaped employee.
T-shaped employees have the ability to understand others point of view. This is important as they can put themselves in the place of customers and partners and see situations and problems from their perspective. Effective solutions can be found once problems are identified correctly in this manner. In fact, the more T-shaped an individual becomes, the more his perceived value to his organization increases. T-shaped professionals have the ability to combine knowledge with other skills and competencies to address the requirements of a fast changing business environment. Such professionals relate to the broad picture and to people understanding their motives and aspirations.
Advantages of T-shaped employees
The advantages of having T-shaped employees are manifold. Because of their interdisciplinary knowledge and capabilities, they are great problem solvers and innovators. The fact that T-shaped professionals have a deep understanding of a functional field, their proficiency levels are very high in their domain. They are also able to adapt and work in other areas due to the broad knowledge they possess about these areas.
Businesses therefore, are keen to develop T-shaped workforce. It solves the twin challenges of talent mobility and business sustainability. For business leaders of tomorrow, ability to adapt to various functions and domains is non negotiable.
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T-shaped model
The T-shaped model is actually much more than having T-shaped talent in an organization. Individual employees possessing attributes that mark of T-shape in an organization will not be enough to bring about large scale adaptability and business sustainability. For the organization as a whole to become adaptable, the T-shaped employees have to come together in cohesive, high performing and collaborative teams that work well. Such teams have a common vision but diversity of experience and ideas. Great teamwork such as this results in sustainable growth. Smart organizations encourage such teamwork thereby gaining immensely from drawing upon the skills and experience of each team member. They also encourage employees that are learning new skills. Needless to say that all of it vastly improves the chances of organizations becoming more adaptable.
One important way by which organizations ensure sustainability for themselves is by encouraging their T-shaped employees to participate in decision making. The top down approach in decision making is no longer favored as it causes delays due to approvals etc. Team leaders across verticals have better ground level awareness and understanding. Their ideas can be more workable and can be implemented without loss of time. Smart employers, therefore, believe in distributed decision making and give autonomy to their T-shaped employees to make decisions. These empowered employees can effect changes without loss of time. By democratizing decision making, employers are able to bring greater adaptability and business sustainability.
T-shaped culture must pervade all levels of an organization and not just the executive levels. Individual employees must be encouraged to lead projects even if formal designations are not given. They should be supported and encouraged by allowing them to develop their skill sets further. Including all levels of employees helps organizations to scale up rapidly for growth in the volatile business world of today. By adopting T-shaped model for learning and development, companies can be forever ready with appropriate workforce.
With globalization and unprecedented opportunities in business, at the confluence of different fields, it is becoming more important than ever for organizations to have T-shaped model. Many professional organizations and universities have started developing certification courses and assessment tools to aid T-shaped models across the globe. University programs are including more T-shaped learning and open innovation team projects focusing on real business world challenges.
References:
- T-shaped workforce – the answer to future sustainability risks. Lipi Agrawal. June 28, 2019
- T-shaped: the new breed of IT professionals. Yassi Moghaddam, Charles Bess, Haluk Demirkan, Jim Spohrer. 26 September, 2016
