Chapter nine
The toolbox of the professional
In Chapter 3, I wrote about competences and told you the following:
A competence is the ability to deliver, in a given context, in a certain role, solid achievements making use of appropriate tools.
You may have noticed in Chapters 2, 4, 6, etc., that every competence was described as a set of three achievements that are delivered. But how about the appropriate tools?
In many cases, the tools of professionals are tangible such as hammers, pipe wrenches, or computers. Other tools are in your head, for instance, people skills, or architectural insight. There are four kinds of such “mental” tools. Together, they are referred to as “KISA,” an acronym that stands for:
| Knowledge | = | what you know |
| Insight | = | what you understand |
| Skills | = | what you are able to do |
| Attitude | = | who you are |
For the competences that have been dealt with so far, a lot of these tools have been mentioned. I will present you with a brief overview.
Knowledge:
- The concept “consequence scope” and “consequence period” (R1, Chapter 2)
- The Triple P: people, planet, profit (S2, Chapter 6)
- Linear and non-linear processes (F2, Chapter 8)
- Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (F3, Chapter 8)
Insight:
- You distinguish between facts, assumptions, and opinions (E2, Chapter 4)
- You position the system within its context (S1, Chapter 6)
- You recognize flaws in the fabric and sources of vigor (S2, Chapter 6)
- You understand the difference between tackling symptoms and removing causes (F1, Chapter 8)
Skills:
- Create a stakeholder analysis (R1, Chapter 2)
- Listen actively (E1, Chapter 4)
- Cooperate in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary ways (E3, Chapter 4)
- Perform a function analysis (F3, Chapter 8)
Attitude:
- You feel and show personal responsibility (R2, Chapter 2)
- You respect values (E1, Chapter 4)
- You think and act integrally and chain-oriented (S3, Chapter 6)
- You think innovatively, creatively, and out of the box (F3, Chapter 8)
If you have all these tools in your repertoire, you possess a well-equipped toolbox to work sustainably. This is also true for the tools of the next two competences, which will be described in the coming chapters (10 and 12), especially the first one in Chapter 10, which deals with your personal attitude.