What Are Complementary Skills, and Do I Need Them?

Complementary skills should not be underestimated and can be massively valuable. They can significantly improve your overall marketability, making you far more adaptable and helping you rise to the top of your industry. Often people refer to this as a skill stack.                                 

When planning personal or professional development, it’s wise to identify skills which are complementary whilst offering you that uniqueness, to get you noticed within the marketplace.

For example, web developers may not be widely known for having amazing public speaking skills. As a result, if a developer focused on this as a complementary skill, they would offer something that typically isn’t available in the market, making it more valuable and appealing.

The team have listed below some areas for you to consider when deciding what complementary skills, you may need. Think about yourself, what skills you currently possess and what you want to achieve long-term.

Enhanced Versatility: Complementary skills make you a more well-rounded individual. You can adapt to different situations, roles, and challenges more effectively because you possess a broader range of abilities. This versatility can be invaluable in a rapidly changing job market or life in general.

Career Advancement: In the workplace, having complementary skills can make you a more attractive candidate for promotions and career advancement. Employers often seek individuals who can fill multiple roles and contribute to a variety of projects.

Problem Solving: Different problems require different solutions. Complementary skills enable you to approach problems from multiple angles and come up with creative and effective solutions. This can be particularly beneficial in complex or ambiguous situations.

Collaboration: In team settings, complementary skills can lead to better collaboration. When team members bring diverse skills to the table, they can work together more efficiently and tackle a wider range of tasks. This diversity can lead to more innovative outcomes.

Resilience: Having a diverse skill set can also make you more resilient in the face of challenges. If one skill becomes less in demand or obsolete, you can fall back on your other skills to remain competitive and adaptable.

Personal Growth: Learning new skills can be personally fulfilling. It can boost your self-esteem, increase your sense of accomplishment, and provide a sense of purpose. It also keeps your mind active and engaged.

Networking: When you develop complementary skills, you often interact with a broader range of people. This can expand your professional network and open up new opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and career development.

Innovation: Innovation often arises at the intersection of different fields or skill sets. By having complementary skills, you are more likely to make unique connections between ideas and drive innovation in your work or industry.

Adaptability: The job market is constantly evolving, and the skills in demand today may not be the same tomorrow. Complementary skills help you adapt to these changes more easily, reducing the risk of potential obsolescence.

Entrepreneurship: If you’re an entrepreneur or aspire to start your own business, having a diverse skill set is crucial. It enables you to handle various aspects of your business, from product development to marketing to financial management.

In summary, having complementary skills enhances your value by making you more adaptable, collaborative, innovative, and versatile, ultimately benefiting both your personal development and your contribution to the organisation you work in.