Natural Skills

Enhancing Natural Skills and Abilities

I have heard the following adage too many times to even venture a guess at the actual count. “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” At first blush, it sounds accurate. I have been listening to Scott Galloway’s podcast and interviews with him about his new book, The Algebra of Wealth. He is a professor of marketing at New York University and, from my perspective, takes a practical approach to challenges we face. His latest book examines how to accumulate wealth and the downstream benefits of having greater means. He turns that adage upside down and tosses it in the trash.

He advocates that success and wealth are more correlated to doing what you are good at, not necessarily a passion. He jokes that the people advocating for following a passion are those who have done the opposite. Those following their skills and abilities continue to find opportunities that are personally aligned. As I see it, this can be an issue of “skill vs. will” though also touches on the idea of transferable skills. I recently accepted an invitation to join a group of A/E/C professionals to strategize around workforce development and these concepts and challenges seem to be colliding in my head.

What should we be teaching?

A central question arose with respect to college programs and the technical preparation for the next generation of professionals. I think the question is completely off-target. Technical skills may be important, but each role will require some upskilling or new learning to achieve proficiency. We need to focus on ensuring that team members can and will continue to learn. I believe we need additional emphasis on written and oral communication skills, people management, teamwork, and critical thinking.

How do we attract people to our industry?

We hear this over and over. Obviously, there is a lot of emphasis on women. There has also been discussion about younger generations, veterans, and career changers. We have an image problem. To many, construction is about the work in the field and discounts the wide range of careers that have nothing to do with tools, work boots, or hard hats. Getting the uninitiated to understand the immense impact our industry has on everyday life is crucial. Acknowledging the transferability of skills is equally critical.

I don’t fear AI and technological advancements. They are tools we will be able to leverage. We will need human beings to build our projects and have a positive societal impact. I would propose that we need more people who can solve problems, work in a team environment, and believe in continuous learning and improvement. Further, we should be thinking creatively about the skills applicable to the construction industry and the long-term prospects for those industry changers. Infrastructure may not be sexy to the outside (I find it exciting, vital, and interesting) so we all need to make the case. See you all in Houston!

Michael Riegel

MRiegel@AECBusinessStrategies.com https://michaelriegel.substack.com/

516-238-0859