Creating a Career Development Plan

The World Economic Forum's 'Top skills for 2025'- a clear framework to align your learning and development strategies! If you are wondering how to use this information to develop your team, here's a few ideas 💡 👉Audit Current Programs Compare existing training initiatives with the top skills for 2025 and identify gaps. 👉Tie Skills to Roles Show how the skills map directly to the responsibilities of each role in the organization. 👉Develop Targeted Content Design workshops, e-learning modules, or on-the-job training focused on critical areas like analytical thinking and active listening. 👉Create a Skills Inventory Tool Develop a simple self-assessment tool to help employees rate themselves and reflect on strengths and weaknesses ( I like to use competency tools- the visual works really well!) 👉Mentoring and Coaching Pair employees with mentors or coaches to guide their development in critical skills. 👉Use Development Plans Collaborate with employees to create individual development plans targeting both short-term needs and long-term aspirations. 👉Microlearning Modules: Offer bite-sized learning resources on priority skills to reduce barriers to learning ( Short videos work really well here). 👉Integrate into Appraisals Include questions about employees' progress in skill areas during performance reviews. So... How is your organization preparing employees to develop the skills that will be most critical in 2025 and beyond? I'd love to hear about any innovative approaches or challenges you've encountered. Leave your comments below 🙏 _____________________________________ I'm Catherine- A Lean Business and Leadership Coach. Follow me for daily insights on Lean, leadership, coaching, strategy and organizational behaviour.

Rushing to build a business? That’s how most fail. If you’re thinking of starting a business, or struggling to get the results you want, it’s time to pause and focus on what matters most. Here are 5 steps to ensure your business idea can succeed: 1/ Conduct Market Research ↳ Talk to your target audience and identify their pain points. ↳ Use surveys, interviews, or focus groups to ensure there’s demand for your idea. ↳ Make sure your idea solves a real problem. 2/ Test Your Pricing ↳ Find out if people are willing to pay - and at what price point. ↳ Use pre-sales or mock pricing pages to validate interest. ↳ Testing early ensures your pricing is both competitive and sustainable. 3/ Validate Your Business Model ↳ Outline how your business will make money (products, services, subscriptions, licensing, etc.). ↳ Build a simple model with revenue streams and profit margin projections. ↳ Confirm that your idea can be profitable in the long term. 4/ Build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) ↳ Create a basic version of your product or service to test with real users. ↳ Use tools like landing pages or prototypes to gather feedback. ↳ Learn whether people will actually use and benefit from it. 5/ Test & Iterate ↳ Launch your MVP to a small group and gather insights for improvement. ↳ Use customer feedback to refine your product, pricing, and positioning. ↳ Adapt your idea before committing more resources. Most people rush into building a business without doing the work first. Don’t make that mistake. If you’ve already built a business and it’s not where you want it to be, revisit these steps and lay the foundation for success. __ I’m in London this week running a business planning day. If you’d like to join me, and work on your business growth plan, you can book your spot using the link in the comments - or DM me for more details. There's only two spots remaining I'm told! __ ⬇️ Tell me in the comments - which one of these is your superpower or challenge? ♻️ Know someone who’s struggling to get their business on track? Share this post to inspire them. 🔔 Follow me, Jen Blandos, for actionable tips on business, entrepreneurship, and workplace well-being.

Everyone wants to be a founder. Until the bills hit. We’ve glamorised entrepreneurship to the point where quitting your job and starting a business feels like a personality trait. But very few people are actually prepared for what it really takes. Here’s what I wish more people knew before launching: -> Cash buys time If you can’t pay your rent without panicking, it’s not the time to launch. Save up. Give yourself a 6 months runway. Survival mode kills creativity. -> Test before you quit Start small. Validate the demand. Don’t romanticise “the leap” without proof of concept. -> Revenue doesn’t just show up What’s your model? How long before your first customer? What are you charging, and how much do you need to survive? -> Pricing will make or break you Undercharging is a slow death. Overcharging kills trust. Know your market. Know your value. -> Lifestyle or scale? Do you want a lean solo setup or a team and investors? Two very different roads, plan accordingly. -> Insurance matters Unsexy, but sometimes needed. Depending on your business, you may need public liability, cyber, or professional indemnity. Don’t find out the hard way. -> People won’t just find you What’s your GTM plan? No, making a website is not a plan. How will you get traffic, leads, eyeballs? -> Track from day one Revenue. Costs. Conversion. Even if it’s just a spreadsheet, track it all. You can’t improve what you don’t measure. -> Understand your legal setup Sole trader? Ltd company? Do you have contracts, privacy policy, T&Cs? These things matter, even if it’s “just you.” -> Find your allies early A solid accountant and a solid lawyer will save you from a lot of headaches. Think of them as part of your core team, even if they’re external. -> Your time is your biggest cost Are you spending 6 hours tweaking a Canva post… or building your pipeline? Every task has a cost, even if it’s not money. -> What will you be known for? Your personal brand matters. It builds trust before your product even launches. Start showing up early. -> Iterate or die Your first offer probably won’t be your best. That’s fine. Listen, tweak, and adapt. Fast. Starting a business is brave. But doing it without a plan? That’s just reckless. You don’t need to have it all figured out. But you do need to be honest about what it’ll take to survive, grow, and stay in the game. Build smart.

Entrepreneurship is the art of balancing conviction and flexibility. While building my first startup, I was underprepared and relied on several people’s opinions. This affected my ability to make confident decisions, and as a result, our company’s growth was misdirected. Here’s how I learnt to navigate startup-building: ➤ 1. Define your foundation - Create your ideal customer avatar: Visualise one person whose problem you’re solving, and list their pain points, needs and desires. - Identify non-negotiables: Define team values, guiding principles and ethics you need to abide by. This helps you to align your team in the same direction. - Determine your why: Delve deeper into the problem you are solving, and why you have chosen it. Use it as your north star in times of doubt. ➤ 2. Embrace areas demanding fluidity - Be adaptable: Adjust to the evolving market trends, pricing and revenue streams by being receptive to data-driven insights. - Iterate continuously: Test your product in the market, seek user feedback and refine it based on market validation. - Let your team evolve: Deflect stagnation by hiring associates who can deliver top notch work and respect your work culture. ➤ 3. Cultivate the ‘switch mindset’ - Assess yourself: Make self reflection a priority and question whether your actions are abiding by your principles or kneeling to your stubbornness. - Seek guidance: Hire coaches who can help you excel in areas you find difficult and push you to perform to the best of your ability. - Celebrate adaptation: Strengthen your work culture by acknowledging small wins like successful pivots and market driven adjustments. These 3 guidelines will help you stick to your guns when required, while being receptive to the external market climate. How do you balance your decision making? #entrepreneurship #decisionmaking #startup

This is the second episode in my series designed to help up-and-coming student tech entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life! Now that you’ve validated your idea, it's time to lay the groundwork for your startup. The journey from concept to execution starts with a clear plan and a strong team. Here's how to get started: 1️⃣ Create a Simple, Actionable Business Plan Use the Lean Canvas to map out your vision on a single page. Focus on key elements like your problem, solution, target customer, and revenue streams.  Set short-term, measurable goals: think MVP in 1 month, pilot launch in 3 months, and your first 100 users in 6 months. 2️⃣ Quick Market Research Tactics Conduct a basic competitor analysis with Google and LinkedIn. Identify strengths, weaknesses, and pricing gaps.  Leverage free tools like Google Trends and AnswerThePublic to understand market demand and refine your USP through user interviews. 3️⃣ Build Your Core Team Identify the key roles you need (e.g., developer, marketer, designer).  Tap into your university's network, connect with classmates, or seek advice from professors. Use platforms like LinkedIn or AngelList to find co-founders or advisors. ✨ Pro Tip: Keep your plan lean and your team versatile. Adapt quickly and stay focused on your goals! Ready to take the next step? Dive deeper into the second episode of my series for student tech entrepreneurs where we explore turning your validated idea into a real-world product! 🌟 Incepteo Stratpilot.ai #StudentEntrepreneur #TechStartup #StartupJourney #LeanStartup #BusinessPlan #TeamBuilding #Entrepreneurship

If you're still searching by job title, stop. Job titles come and go. But skills? SKILLS are the currency that will get you ahead. The people who are succeeding in this environment are those who: ✅ Communicate their skills quickly and clearly ✅ Connect their skills to a diverse array of functions ✅ Adapt and apply their skills in different environments ✅ Fill their skill gaps strategically to meet current demands Think about it. There are job titles that exist today that didn't exist a year ago. And, there will be job titles a year from now that are completely new. Not only that, but a job at one company may be called something completely different at another company. That's why a focus on skills is the smart move. Aren't sure how to talk about your skills? A good place to start is with a skills audit. Here's how to do it: 1️⃣ Define the focus of the audit  ↳ Are you exploring a career pivot?  ↳ Preparing for a promotion or job search?  ↳ Identifying training needs? 💡Why this works: It keeps you focused on your immediate goal and avoids less relevant skills 2️⃣ Include all skill categories  ↳ Skills we DO (accounting, writing, coding)  ↳ Skills we ARE (traits like patience, initiative)  ↳ Interpersonal skills (communication, conflict resolution) 💡Why this works: It's important to include all types of skills to convey who we are as a professional. 3️⃣ Review your professional history  ↳ Look at your resume  ↳ Consider your achievements  ↳ Review job descriptions and appraisals 💡Why this works: You can identify and recall skills that you may take for granted 4️⃣ Highlight skills that match your target roles  ↳ Reference job postings to find alternate terms  ↳ Identify strengths you to include on resumes and interviews  ↳ Put skills into ChatGPT and ask it to identify any gaps 💡Why this works: Your can use your skills as search terms to identify roles you might not find otherwise, and fill gaps to make you a better candidate 5️⃣ Become fluent in your skill set  ↳ Craft a targeted "Tell Me About Yourself" statement  ↳ Weave your skills into stories you can use in interviews  ↳ Practice & record yourself discussing your skills 💡Why this works: It avoids confusion around job titles that may not translate, and allows you to speak the language of your target industry and role. A skills audit like this will help you enormously when it comes to talking about what you bring to the table, whether you are networking or in an interview. 🎉You've got this and I've got you!🎉 ♻️ Share to help others identify their skills 🔔 Follow Sarah Baker Andrus for more career strategies 📌Need a change? DM me to chat!

WHAT IS A SKILL MATRIX? A Skill Matrix is a structured visual tool used to map and assess the skills and competencies of employees against the tasks or operations required in their roles. It helps organizations understand the current capabilities of their workforce and identify skill gaps that need training or development. Purpose in Manufacturing: In manufacturing, a skill matrix serves several important functions: It shows which employees are trained and capable of performing specific tasks, operating machines, or handling processes. It identifies gaps in skills where training is needed. It ensures the right person is assigned to the right job. It supports workforce flexibility, job rotation, and succession planning. It helps maintain production continuity during absenteeism or peak loads. How It Works: A skill matrix typically includes a list of employees and a list of required skills. Each employee is rated on how proficient they are in each skill, often using a scale from 0 to 3 (or 0 to 5). These scores represent the level of expertise, ranging from no knowledge to expert who can train others. Common Skill Levels: 0 – No knowledge: The employee is unaware of the task or has never performed it. 1 – Basic: The employee has some knowledge but needs supervision. 2 – Competent: The employee can perform the task independently. 3 – Expert: The employee is highly skilled and can train others. Benefits of Using a Skill Matrix: Improves visibility into team strengths and weaknesses. Supports training plans by clearly showing who needs development. Helps with compliance for audits and certifications (ISO, IATF, etc.). Aids in planning for job rotation, workload balancing, and cross-training. Enables better decision-making in assigning work or promotions. Applications in Manufacturing: Assigning machine operators based on their skill levels. Ensuring only qualified personnel handle critical or high-risk tasks. Supporting TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) and lean initiatives. Building multi-skilled teams to increase flexibility and reduce downtime. Maintaining audit readiness by documenting workforce capability. Best Practices: Review and update the matrix regularly (e.g., monthly or quarterly). Use input from supervisors, trainers, or certification results for accuracy. Visualize with color coding (e.g., red for 0, green for 3) for easy understanding. Integrate with performance reviews and training plans. Use it as a living document — not just for compliance, but as a driver for development.

In many workplaces, there is a belief that “the crying baby gets the milk.” This saying reflects the idea that those who speak up loudly or demand attention are the ones who get rewarded. While there is some truth in it, this view is incomplete. A strong workplace needs both the outspoken voices and the steady, quiet hands that keep everything running. The outspoken ones bring energy and visibility. They make sure problems are noticed, ideas are shared, and issues are not ignored. Their presence can spark change and keep the workplace dynamic. But if management only rewards those who make noise, the balance is lost. The steady ones, who work quietly with integrity and honesty, provide stability. They may not always raise their voices, but they carry responsibility with consistency. Their contribution is less visible, yet it is often the foundation that allows the team to function smoothly. Without them, the workplace would lack reliability. Management has the responsibility to see beyond appearances. If leaders misjudge quiet workers as “not performing,” they risk losing loyal and dependable staff. At the same time, if they only reward noise, they may encourage competition without substance. True leadership means appreciating both styles…..valuing the energy of the outspoken and the reliability of the steady. A balanced workplace is one where voices are heard, but actions are also respected. The crying baby may get the milk, but the quiet worker ensures the milk is delivered every day. When management learns to recognize both, they build teams that are not only energetic but also dependable.

The step-by-step playbook to launching a startup (as a non-engineer) 𝟏) 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 If you’re not passionate about solving it, you’ll quit when things get hard. Everyone says this, few actually listen. 𝟐) 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝟐𝟎+ 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 Learn how it impacts their lives. This will either increase your conviction or lead you to a different or better idea. 𝟑) 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 Look for patterns. What’s the one problem that keeps coming up? That’s your signal...go after it. 𝟒) 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 (𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐬) Hire a designer to sketch your ideas in Figma. If you want to vibe code be my guest...nothing beats a quality human designer though. Rushing to hire developers too soon is a mistake. Think of it like building a house...you’d hire an architect before a actually building it. 𝟓) 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭 & 𝐈𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 Show your prototype to users. Gather feedback. Adjust fast. Think of your design as clay...keep shaping it. 𝟔) 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 Use Framer to build a quick waitlist. Get signups. Building in public is powerful. Show people are actually into this thing. 𝟕) 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 Use Stripe Atlas to set up a Delaware C-Corp in days ($500). Now you can issue equity. 𝟖) 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐩 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 Use Carta to keep ownership clean...just like your bedroom. There is a free tier which gives you plenty of space to operate in the beginning. 𝟗) 𝐇𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝐀𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞) Most good developers won’t work for equity alone, but if your idea is strong and you’re convincing, you might pull it off. If you do, that’s a great signal. Use Linear to manage issues. 𝟏𝟎) 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐬 Set up Slack channels where users can give feedback directly. Make it effortless for them to tell you what they need. 𝟏𝟏) 𝐈𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 Pick a day for product updates. Momentum is everything. Don’t miss a push even if it’s small. 𝟏𝟐) 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 Once you have traction, start talking to VCs. Ask, “At what point would this be interesting?” Now you have a target. Make a list of anyone in your network who could write a 5k check and raise a smaller round before venture. 𝟏𝟑) 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬 Customer feedback gets you to product-market fit...nothing else matters. Always remember...the best way to validate your idea is always to get it out of your head and into the wild. Building a startup? Don’t do it alone. hubble helps. Book a 1:1 ➝ www.hubble.social

Hostility at work has a cost for people. It can cost them their energy, their confidence, their ability to think clearly — and eventually, their sense of who they are. If you are in a workplace that feels hostile, leaving may be the healthiest answer. So, if you can, your first step is to quietly start looking for another job. But leaving is not always immediate—or even possible right now. Until you are ready and able to go, there are ways to reduce the cost you are paying. → Name exactly what is happening. Hostility can take many forms. Undermining, intimidation, exclusion, manipulation, public attacks, reality rewriting — or a persistent sense of harm you cannot yet fully explain. Knowing the specific dynamic you are dealing with helps you stop responding only to the vague sense that something is wrong — and start making clearer decisions about what to do. But pain, confusion, and the demands of getting through each working day can prevent us from stopping long enough to understand what the dynamic is really about. Sometimes, we even struggle to acknowledge what is happening. Often, we need help naming it → Know what you will do the next time it happens. Hostile situations become even more difficult when they catch you off guard. In the moment, you may react from shock, fear, anger, or the need to defend yourself — instead of acting in the way that best protects you. Being prepared does not stop the hostility. But it gives you more control over the cost of the interaction. → Be ready to act from a safer place. Hostility can be addressed with awareness, dignity, and assertiveness. It is not about disappearing to feel safer. And it is not about winning a fight to feel stronger. Neither response necessarily protects you — especially when the other person holds more power. It is about leaving the interaction with as much of yourself intact as possible: Your judgment. Your dignity. Your credibility. Your sense of reality. The goal is not to learn how to tolerate a toxic environment. It is to live through however long you need to remain there in the least harmful and costly way possible. And if and when you are ready and able to leave, to feel strong enough to do it. ___ I have created practical resources to help people facing different forms of hostility at work. Some help you understand the specific situation you are dealing with. Others help you handle it—with guidance grounded in safer, deliberate action instead of reactive response. You can visit my website and see what may help with what you are going through. And if you are unsure where to begin, you can write to me.