5 Types Of Skill Sets-A Guide From 1 To X Employee Expertise

The hard truth to swallow:

If you’re a great professional in your specialty, that might not be enough.

👇 There are 5 types of skill sets depending on the breadth and depth of knowledge and skills:

1) I-shaped: Deep expertise in one area but may lack versatility.

2) T-shaped: Expertise in one area with broad skills across disciplines.

3) M-shaped: Expertise across multiple specialties for versatile adaptability.

4) V-shaped: Excel in two complementary fields, bridging gaps between disciplines.

5) X-shaped: Deep expertise with leadership skills for diverse team management.

When I was at the beginning of my career path,
I believed that being I-shaped was sufficient.

But before starting my own business and becoming a leader,
I transitioned from being I-shaped to X-shaped.

📌 Here’s how to progress from I to X:

↳ From I-shaped to T-shaped:
Broaden your skill set horizontally by gaining proficiency in related areas.

↳ From T-shaped to M-shaped:
Diversify your expertise across multiple disciplines.

↳ From M-shaped to V-shaped:
Excel in complementary fields, leveraging your diverse skills to innovate and bridge gaps.

↳ From V-shaped to X-shaped:
Develop leadership and collaboration abilities while retaining deep expertise in your area.

Success isn’t reserved for those who master just one thing.
It’s achieved by those who embrace their full potential.

Skills open the doors to opportunities.
Nothing else is that powerful.☝️

On the spectrum from I to X, where do you think you fall?
Have you ever hired someone using this framework?