Competence

Do you have “what it takes?” It’s a common phrase. Having what it takes to succeed in life is something we all strive for. Being competent—having competence—means we have what it takes. We have not just the skills, but the drive, the judgment, and the opportunity to achieve our dreams.

So how do we become competent? I’ve devoted my life to helping young people, our nation’s youth, gain the competence they need to live with confidence.

As parents and marketplace leaders, we look to our education system to enable our kids to be competent. Sadly, in far too many sectors of this country, we are failing at that objective. If our schools were given a report card, far too many would not receive a passing grade. Why is that? Is it the curriculum? Is it the environment? The teachers? The funding?

There are no easy answers, but it starts with recognizing that to be competent requires more than just knowing the right answer to a problem. Consider your current favorite song. You can sing the melody line in time with the words to the song. However, if that’s all you heard in your head, I suspect it wouldn’t be your favorite song for very long. Why? Because what you hear in your head is a beautiful assembly of instruments, artfully arranged. You hear the rhythms, horns, keyboards, guitar licks, and harmonies, all working together to create the magic that you hear with your ears and that stirs your soul.

So it is with creating competent kids. Yes, they need certain basic knowledge. But having the right information is not enough. That knowledge needs to be paired with the motivation to use it and with the wisdom and judgment to apply it properly. That knowledge needs to be given the right opportunity.

As a leader, how can you inspire competence? Look around you. Consider where you can promote these components of competence:

1. Knowledge. What do you know that needs to be shared with others? How can your training and experience be passed on?
2. Motivation. How can your words and actions inspire people to rise, to dream to achieve, to be the best version of themselves possible?
3. Judgment. People make choices every day, not all of them good. How can you impart wisdom that will help those around you make better judgment calls?
4. Skill. Experience breeds skill. The more you do something, the better at it you get. Practice makes perfect. Where can your experience be used to enhance competence?
5. Strength. Sometimes it takes real willpower, persistence, determination, and fortitude to press through. You know the old saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” How can you inspire strength in others?
6. Opportunity. To become competent requires some level of opportunity. What doors can you open for others? How can you create opportunity for someone else to become more competent?

As a nation, we are always one generation away from greatness or failure. Let’s rededicate ourselves to creating competence, especially in our young people.