The author recounts how a once-niche skill in online course development became oversaturated during the pandemic, illustrating that even valuable expertise can lose relevance. The core lesson is that lasting value lies not in any single skill but in cognitive flexibility-the ability to adapt thinking, embrace new perspectives, and change strategies as conditions evolve. Leaders who foster this adaptability build more resilient teams, as markets, technology, and organizational priorities continuously change.
Leaders who encourage learning build more adaptable teams. , I carved out a little niche for myself as being the online “guru. ” At the time, the field of onlinewas exploding and that skill was incredibly valuable.
I became known as the go-to person for online course and program development, instructional technology, trouble-shotting, etc. Job offers, promotions, and recognition came. The world shifted. The pandemic hit and suddenly everyone was an “expert” in online teaching and learning. The market became oversaturated and what used to be niche was now mainstream.
The important lesson I learned is that possessing a unique skill does not mean the skill will be permanently valuable. It’s a lesson many others have learned as well. Technology changes. Coding used to be incredibly valuable and sought-after.
NowEconomic conditions shift. During recessions, companies often freeze hiring, reduce spending, or eliminate positions that were once considered indispensable. Organizations reorganize. A new CEO arrives, strategic priorities change, departments merge, and suddenly the work that earned you praise last year is no longer what the organization values today.
The harsh reality is that markets don’t care how hard you worked to master yesterday’s “hot” skill. The skill that seems to remain valuable, no matter how the market changes, is flexibility. The ability to adapt to current and forthcoming conditions quickly and well. In psychology, this ability is known as cognitive flexibility—the capacity to adjust your thinking, consider new perspectives, and change strategies when circumstances change.
People with high cognitive flexibility don’t cling to “the way we’ve always done it. ” They recognize when old approaches no longer fit the situation and are willing to experiment with new ones. Research has linked cognitive flexibility with better problem-solving, Great leaders understand this. They don’t simply reward today’s expertise.
They create environments where learning is expected, experimentation is encouraged, and employees feel safe admitting they don’t know something yet. Creating space for professional development, encouraging employees to learn new skills, and recognizing continued growth help people stay up-to-date with the latest skills and abilities as the workplace evolves. Don’t wait until your skill becomes obsolete. Always be learning something adjacent.
Always be looking for the next thing. , critical thinking, and relationship-building. These skills survive almost every technological shift and they apply across work contexts regardless of industry. Curiosity outlasts technical skills.
Technical jobs can come and go . Curiosity ensures you’re always learning something new. You are more than your current role. Expect reinvention.
Instead of wondering “Will my career ever change? ” assume it will and ask, “How many times? ”When I lost my “special” skill, it set me back for a while. I felt like I was having a workplace existential crisis.
The thing I was known for, the thing I was best at, was stripped away. What did I have left and what was the point in working so hard at something that just slipped away? The truth is, with time, I’ve come to see that this wasn’t the loss I initially thought it was. It was a gift because it forced me to become something much more valuable.
Someone who could learn again, adapt to change, and rise above. Not industries. Not technology. Not organizations.
Not job descriptions. But the ability to adapt? That’s the one skill that becomes more valuable every time the world changes. There was a problem adding your email address.
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