Skills Assessment and Development What skills and attributes

Skills Assessment and Development What skills and attributes will be needed by heritage professionals across the sector in the future? Claire Messenger & Emma Croft

Our aims and objectives § Why it is important to continuously develop your professional skills? § What are professional skills needed for museum careers? § How to assess your personal skills? – Self-assessment workshop § How you can acquire and develop new skills? § Planning for the future

Why it is important to continuously develop your professional skills? Learning supports: - § § § freedom of choice control over individual destinies health and well-being identity and tolerance career progression and promotion continued development – training in early career can become outdated or irrelevant – new technologies emerge – new legislation is passed – changes in your organisation’s practices or structure occur And according to the 2012 Learning Survey by Learning and Work Institute, there's a strong correlation between learning and sustained employment. www. learningandwork. org. uk

What are the professional skills that are needed in museum sector?

You will need to be… § § § § § Diverse Flexible Multi-skilled Knowledgeable of other cultural sectors Job sharers Multilingual Risk-takers (who are willing to try, fail and try again) Project managers Leaders Fundraisers ‘Media savvy’ Publishers International networkers Confident Enterprising Bold, uninhibited Fearless . . . a daunting list of skills – are you ready? ?

Where are you now? How to assess your personal skills? Technical Skills (Hard Skills) Interpersonal Skills (Soft Skills) Teachable abilities or skill sets that Character, personality and experience can be easily defined and measured driven skills § Certificates or degrees in specific § Effective communication disciplines § Collaboration § Mastery of a foreign language § Time management § Operation of specific machinery § Motivation § Use of software programmes § Flexibility / Adaptability § Bookkeeping/accountancy § Patience § Strong work ethic § Problem solving § Leadership § Creativity § Persuasion § Listening and engaging

Skills Audit - Analysing the past Session 1 - Outline your career pathway § § Study Work Volunteering Hobbies Session 2 - What skills did you acquire at each stage? § Hard skills § Soft skills

Technical Skills (Hard Skills) Manager, International Training Programme Coordinator, International Training Programme Senior Administrator, Ancient Egypt and Sudan Membership of professional bodies Attending/speaking at conferences/workshops Publications Workplace training Administrator, Prints and Drawings Hobbies Life experience Secretarial Course Volunteering BA History and Classics Part time jobs

Interpersonal Skills (Soft Skills) Manager, International Training Programme Strategic planning; understanding of UK museum & international cultural sector; managing programmes and staff; communication and advocacy; training practices and pioneering international standards; flexibility and adaptability; risk management Membership of professional bodies Attending/speaking at conferences; workshops Publications Workplace training Networking; collaborating; public speaking; negotiating and influencing; increased knowledge of the sector; British Museum policies and procedures; Hobbies Stress management; collaboration; organisational skills; teamwork; creativity; leadership Life experience Self awareness; relationship skills; time management; patience; persuasion Volunteering Research skills; confidence; critical thinking; engaging; motivation Part time jobs Leadership skills; cooperation; communication; customer service; financial skills; listening; work ethic

Filling in the gaps – planning the future Things to consider…… § What would you like to achieve in your work life? § What skills would you need to acquire to make this happen? § Plan ahead and structure your development. § Can these skills benefit you and your institution in your current role? § Make sure your ‘personal future plan’ is flexible and adaptable.

How can you acquire and develop different skills? § § § § Learning on the job through shadowing and mentoring Private study and reading Attending conferences and seminars Preparing papers and presentations Committee work Collaborative work with colleagues Skills sharing Visiting other similar organisations Work place exchanges Conversation and discussions with others Courses and e. Learning Researching the solution to problems Working with others outside the organisation Joining professional networks

Additional Resources International Council of Museums http: //icom. museum/the-committees/nationalcommittee/icom-armenia/ Museums Association http: //www. museumsassociation. org/professional-development/ama-paperwork Museums, Libraries and 21 st Century Skills https: //www. imls. gov/impact-imls/national-initiatives/museums-libraries-and 21 st-century-skills/museums-libraries-and-21 st-century-skills-definitions Online Learning College https: //www. online-learning-college. com/ Open Learn through The Open University http: //www. open. edu/openlearn/free-courses Future Learn https: //www. futurelearn. com/ Massive Open Online Courses https: //www. mooc-list. com/