Are Degrees Enough? What Are the Skills No One Is Teaching?
Debating a contentious point can be fun!
When I was in high school, I debated at a Commonwealth level, and I have often mourned the loss of the robust discourse that was such a strong part of the debating community. I feel that, in many contexts, we have lost the ability to disagree respectfully and vocally, with strong, informed arguments to back up our position, and the resilience to handle disagreement.
THIS EVENT WAS FUN!
I was speaking FOR EDUCATION. As a third speaker, I am excellent at rebuttal, and I would say that I SLAYED ALL DAY! I love the opportunity to speak spontaneously, and the whole discussion was great fun while exploring a very serious topic facing the next generation, as well as our educational institutions.
I am a strong advocate for the work of The Harvard Negotiation Project. Check out their books, Difficult Conversations and, more recently, Thanks for the Feedback by Bruce Patton, Douglas Stone, and Sheila Heen.
I strongly encourage anyone who encounters challenging conversations, or who wants to advance their career in leadership, to read these books. The ability to navigate disagreement, receive feedback, and engage in meaningful conversations is a skill that extends far beyond formal education.
Key Takeaways
- Education is more than qualifications – We need degrees to provide knowledge and expertise, and validate that learning in the work place. But the ability to communicate, collaborate, and navigate complexity is what allows that knowledge to have impact once taken into the workforce.
- Disagreement is a skill worth developing – Strong ideas require strong conversations. The ability to challenge, listen, and respond with curiosity is essential for leadership and innovation.
- Human skills shape future success – We need educational institutions to ensure the correct teaching of technical skills. But we equally need to foster critical thinking, communication, resilience, and emotional intelligence (soft skills) to enable the technical skills to be applicable in real life to people and industries.
