{"id":15008,"date":"2017-08-24T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-08-23T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/identifi-global.eu.applyflow.com\/how-to-capitalise-on-the-digital-transformation-skills-gap\/"},"modified":"2022-12-09T06:14:35","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T06:14:35","slug":"how-to-capitalise-on-the-digital-transformation-skills-gap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.identifiglobal.com\/news\/how-to-capitalise-on-the-digital-transformation-skills-gap\/","title":{"rendered":"How to capitalise on the digital transformation skills gap"},"content":{"rendered":"<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: center\">\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/identifi-global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/DTSkillsGap.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 400px\"><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\n\t<span id=\"docs-internal-guid-9e5f94c5-7fff-0568-1772-7b94948bbd30\">The success of digital transformation is under threat due to a sizeable skills gap, and it has nothing to do with a lack of technical knowledge. We\u2019re talking about a shortage of change leadership expertise at the heart of transformation management. Digital progress demands a cultural evolution that, for many organisations, is falling short.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\n\t<span id=\"docs-internal-guid-9e5f94c5-7fff-0568-1772-7b94948bbd30\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/brucerogers\/2016\/01\/07\/why-84-of-companies-fail-at-digital-transformation\/#16e7e37e397b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">84% of digital transformations fail.<\/a><\/span> The reason? A lack of universal awareness about the challenges facing the organisation &#8211; which implies inefficient communication and leadership. This isn\u2019t a technology or a process problem; it\u2019s a people problem.<\/p>\n<p>\n\tRecruiting managers are waking up to this reality. To buck the trend, the transformational leadership team must place people at the core of the agenda, ahead of the technicalities of migrating legacy systems and adjusting processes.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n\t\t<strong>You may like:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.identifiglobal.com\/news\/ai-transformation-is-it-the-new-digital-transformation\/40445\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AI transformation: is it the new digital transformation?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n\tThis shift in focus provides an opportunity for the candidate willing to broaden their thinking, away from technology alone and towards a change management mindset.<\/p>\n<h2>\n\tHow do successful leaders operate through change?<\/h2>\n<p>\n\tHistorically, IT has been the linchpin of security and stability within a business. The approach to digital innovation was iterative, enabling small scale advancements while maintaining the integrity of legacy systems.<\/p>\n<p>\n\tWe\u2019re in an age of rapid technological advancement. Things move so quickly that systems become almost redundant almost as soon as they are introduced. In order to succeed, businesses must bake adaptability and agility into the core of operations.<\/p>\n<p>\n\tTo survive change at this rate, the IT function must discard procedures that took decades to perfect. It must hone a new wave of skills, inevitably requiring extensive third party support. It must embrace speed-enabling project management methodologies such as Agile, and it has to proactively respond to change.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/identifi-global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/DigitalTransformation.jpg\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 400px\"><\/p>\n<p>\n\tIn turn, this threatens to undermine the long-held working practices and core values of the IT profession. This can be hugely unsettling, and without effective management of the people implementing these changes, any transformational initiative will fail. The team needs to shift too &#8211; it needs to embrace risk. Ultimately, the need for cultural shift eclipses the need for enhanced technological skills.<\/p>\n<p>\n\tIt\u2019s the leadership team\u2019s job to bring about this cultural shift. Simply put, each employee needs clarity in three areas; why things are changing, how the business will reach its destination and where they fit into the new picture.<\/p>\n<p>\n\tLeaders and managers must adopt an open, transparent and communicative approach which encourages every member of the business to contribute to the narrative as it unfolds. If people don\u2019t feel part of the change, it\u2019s impossible for them to embrace it.<\/p>\n<p>\n\tRepetition and role-modelling are paramount. If leaders fail to visibly live the changes, seeds of doubt will creep in &#8211; and without constant reinforcement of the new model, people will inevitably revert to type.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>\n\tDemonstrating a change mindset<\/h2>\n<p>\n\tBusinesses want to recruit leaders and managers who can guide people through digital transformation. To fulfil this requirement, candidates must demonstrate a change mindset. Throughout the recruitment process, it\u2019s critical to recognise and capitalise on each opportunity to prove your leadership expertise.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center\">\n\t<strong>&#8220;Place an emphasis on leadership throughout.&#8221;<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>\n\tIt begins at the first point of contact. Ensure that your CV and covering letter convey the right tone before you submit your application. Place an emphasis on leadership throughout &#8211; from your personal statement through to your key skills. If you can reword your experiences to show you have the skills to manage change, do so. Make it clear that a people-centric approach is your point of difference.<\/p>\n<p>\n\tBefore your interview, research and understand the company\u2019s culture and history. Find out about any changes the business has already made and how well those changes are working out. Look for interviews with the CEO or, better still, find statements and presentations where they discuss the company\u2019s digital aspirations. Read press statements about the business to get a feel for their external communications.<\/p>\n<p>\n\tDuring the interview itself, ask about the company culture and the current state of digital transformation. Take an active interest in the issues affecting the business and how they expect the IT leadership team to address them.<\/p>\n<h2>\n\tStand out from the crowd<\/h2>\n<p>\n\tThe success or failure of a company rests on its ability to adapt to a changing environment. Today, the litmus test for businesses is the degree to which it remains fit for purpose by transforming its digital enterprise. Ultimately, this hangs on the ability of its leaders and managers to drive the change through their people.<\/p>\n<p>\n\tA world of opportunity awaits the IT professional who can demonstrate an aptitude for change management. By taking a genuine interest in people, candidates will distinguish themselves from the competition.<\/p>\n<p>\n\t<em><strong><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-9e5f94c5-7fff-0568-1772-7b94948bbd30\">Now that you know how to stand out from the crowd in your next interview, it\u2019s time to find your ideal job. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.identifiglobal.com\/member\/register.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Register with us now<\/a> to begin your search.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>\n\t&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\n\t<em><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-9e5f94c5-7fff-0568-1772-7b94948bbd30\">Images via<\/span>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/en\/office-two-people-business-team-1209640\/\">Pixabay<\/a>&nbsp;and <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/XJXWbfSo2f0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<div>\n\t&nbsp;<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The success of digital transformation is under threat due to a sizeable skills gap, and it has nothing to do with a lack of technical knowledge. We\u2019re talking about a shortage of change leadership expertise at the heart of transformation management. Digital progress demands a cultural evolution that, for many organisations, is falling short. 84%&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.identifiglobal.com\/news\/how-to-capitalise-on-the-digital-transformation-skills-gap\/\" class=\"\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">How to capitalise on the digital transformation skills gap<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14212,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career-management"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.identifiglobal.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15008","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.identifiglobal.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.identifiglobal.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.identifiglobal.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.identifiglobal.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15008"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.identifiglobal.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15008\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.identifiglobal.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media\/14212"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.identifiglobal.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15008"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.identifiglobal.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15008"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.identifiglobal.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}