Chapter 1: Understanding the Skill/Will Matrix

Recognizing your position within the skill/will matrix can significantly enhance your business outcomes.

Imagine a scenario where an employee, let's call him John, struggles to meet work expectations. After a discussion, you find his responses unsatisfactory—not because they validate your concerns, but because they fail to clarify the underlying issues. It becomes evident that John may not fully grasp the problem himself.

This is where the skill vs. will management framework, introduced in Max Landsberg's book The Tao of Coaching, becomes useful. Landsberg explains that any coaching interaction involves a blend of skill and will that influences an employee's performance. By evaluating John through this framework, you can tailor your coaching approach for optimal results.

• Low skill and low will: Requires direction
• Low skill and high will: Requires training and guidance
• High skill and low will: Requires motivation
• High skill and high will: Requires delegation

Let’s shift our perspective. This model aids countless managers globally in applying the necessary skills, guidance, and motivation to drive change. However, the matrix’s application extends beyond management—it’s relevant to our personal business journeys as well. When faced with challenges or uncertainty, it’s crucial to discern whether you’re encountering a skill issue or a will issue. This requires a high level of honesty and self-awareness. For instance:

• Are you equipped with the skills needed to boost your sales?
  • If not, you need training. If you lack both skill and motivation, mentorship is essential.
• Are you motivated to execute the task?
  • If you possess the skills but lack the desire, it’s time to examine the reasons behind your demotivation. If both skill and will are high, consider hiring others to expand your capacity.

This enables you to focus on areas where you may have high motivation but lower skill sets.

Continually evaluating your skill and will dynamics can propel your success. This approach is versatile; for example, when I write on Medium, I see tremendous opportunities for self-expression and audience growth. Yet, I occasionally grapple with clarity and editing—a clear 'skill' issue. To address this, I’m investing time in improving my writing skills through daily practice, studying admired authors, and enrolling in online courses.

While I have a decent command of WordPress site creation, I often procrastinate on these tasks due to a lack of motivation. To combat this, I reconnect with my "why"—building a business to support my family and achieve financial independence. This reminder keeps me focused, even in low-motivation moments.

I also explore tools and applications that simplify website creation and engage in skill swapping with others, allowing us both to benefit. Rather than paying for services, I leverage my writing skills in exchange for website creation help, essentially creating a barter system.

Regularly evaluate each component of your business using the skill/will lens. Assess your most pressing tasks: Where do you need to improve? What can be automated? Gaining clarity can propel you far beyond your expectations.

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This video explores how to address performance issues using the Skill/Will Matrix.

Chapter 2: Building a Successful Team

This video delves into the nuances of assembling a team with the right balance of skill and motivation.