What 'skills first' really means: Panellists at SkillsFuture Forum talk culture, systems, mindsets

Industry leaders say it involves rethinking how skills are measured, work is structured and success is defined

- Gabrielle Chan

Every six months, the employees of Singapore's tech giant Grab receive feedback from their peers, not just on what they have accomplished, but also on the areas where they truly shine.

This helps managers to identify desired behaviours and strengths, further aiding them in assessing each employee's skills and proficiency.

It is also part of the ride-hailing giant's ongoing journey to build a skills-first culture, said Grab chief people officer Ong Chin Yin.

"You are truly 'skills first' when your job descriptions, your goals and your people are tagged more by skills than by descriptions of work to be done," she said.

Moving towards a skills-first workforce involves rethinking how skills are measured, work is structured and success is defined, said industry leaders at a panel on July 7.

At the annual SkillsFuture Forum, they shared how they are reimagining workforce practices around skills, the challenges they have faced so far, and some solutions as they adopt a skills-first mindset.

The panel was moderated by Mr Jeremy Au Yong, associate editor for newsroom strategy at The Straits Times.

The forum, held at Raffles City Convention Centre, was the first event of the SkillsFuture Festival that runs from July 7 to Aug 18.

The festival features roadshows, job fairs and learning events held at venues across the island.

Panellist Sagar Goel, managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group, said that going "skills first" involves changing mindsets and practices.

Mr Goel said that organisations should start by asking what business outcomes they want to achieve, and then work backwards to identify the skills needed to get there.

This sort of business thinking indicates the shifting mindset today, he said.

It also extends to performance evaluations, Mr Goel added.