Skills Labor Shortage

In the Mittelstand business magazine of the BVMW, there is an article titled “With Generation Z Against the Skilled Labor Shortage”

It says, among other things, that many medium-sized companies fail to engage Generation Z because they do not understand their needs. I can very well imagine that, because 95% of all people have great difficulties with changes that affect their personal values. The greatest fear is questioning one's own thought processes. A person must first realize that they can change something. But most people fail at that already.

Why is it so hard to understand someone else's needs?

It is because this is not trained in school, studies, and education.If one hardly cares about consciously getting along better with oneself and one's environment, being successful in life, and having better relationships, one will hardly be interested in one's own personality and psyche and those of the people one deals with on a daily basis.

The general consensus is there are specialists for that, such as psychologists and psychotherapists. That the majority of these specialists hardly develop themselves further and have less of a claim to discharge their clients healed after one to three sessions, but rather prefer to keep them as long-term subscribers is another topic.

The article recommends, among other things, that leaders must act as coaches who support employees and develop their talents.

Leaders as coaches - in reality, almost impossible.

90% of all executives struggle to lead themselves, so how can they lead others?They have a lot of technical know-how, have been promoted due to their age, so to speak as a bonus, have little time, or do not see the need to further educate themselves in the area of personnel management and social competence.

As a result, these hard-headed individuals remain on the payrolls of the companies and cause significant harm to their employees and the company itself without realizing it. And because a similar species sits in the management, this has been practiced for decades, resulting in increased sick leave and turnover among employees. I know of a case in the healthcare sector where, in two consecutive waves, first eight and then 13 employees resigned. Both times, it was not enough for the management to reconsider their own leadership. How pathetic.

I am convinced that these are the very companies that complain the loudest about the shortage of skilled workers.

Here's my opinion: There are already skilled workers, but they are not with you.Because, if I am not understood by my supervisor, it is uncertain when I will find an environment at work where I feel valued, can develop myself, continue my education, and be critical.

Due to their inability to handle criticism, these leaders look for the problem externally.The new process is supposed to solve it now, or more recently, AI will fix it.

If you look at a rather hidden aspect of these leaders, it becomes apparent that their partner at home also suffers, because "how they do anything is how they do everything."

Too bad, really, because there is a remedy.

He begins with his own personality and the ability to critically question himself and his way of thinking and acting, and to take responsibility for it.

In this context, the Bible also gives us an important clue in Matthew 7:3:

"Why do you see the speck in your brother's eye but do not notice the log in your own eye?"

Recognizing why I think, believe, act, and react in ways that often do not serve me and my environment already takes me one step further.

The more I get to know my personality, the more I recognize the great potential within it and become motivated to move forward step by step.

Already after a few weeks, I notice the positive effect on my environment, my relationships, and my overall satisfaction.

And finally, I lead a happy life.

If you recognize yourself in one of these situations, that is already the first step: your awareness.