Skill Gap
You may have heard me use this term a time or two. Let's define it:
A skill gap, or skills gap, refers to the discrepancy between abilities you currently possess, and those required to perform a task-or fill a company role or position. By pinpointing the differences between your existing skill sets and additional competencies needed for various roles, an organization or team can devise training to foster skill development. Furthermore, recognizing these gaps (on our own) enables us to identify where we need to learn, and become equipped with the qualifications necessary to meet an organization’s demands.
The term "Skill Gap" is not meant to be critical, and it is certainly should never be used to disparage a colleague. It's just soberly observing facts, acknowledging that we're all lifelong learners in IT work: the term identifies when you're lacking a specific skillset needed. And in identifying that skill gap, we work together to figure out how to address the capability you're missing, and get training and skill up for you. In essence, we work to close the gap between "what you know" and "what you can do" for the team. We all have skill gaps at times, of some kind, that is the very the nature of technology knowledge-work! And what matters most is how we manage those situations and continue growing.
Taking responsibility for a gap in skill, being accountable and responsive to address it, is where we all want to be as Knowledge-Workers in technology: because that's where growth and professional-development will happen!