Skills Trading

On my last webinar "Maintaining The Passion In Your Business" a couple of weeks ago, I touched on the topic of skills trading.  This has sparked some major conversation with the listeners and some of my clients since the webinar.

What is skills trading and how can it help me?  Do you have a particular task that makes you cringe when you have to do it?  Is there a task that you don't have the skill set for?  I am sure you have answered yes to at least one of these questions.  I actually answered yes to both of the questions.

Whether you are a stay at home Mum, small to medium business owner or working in a large organisation there are tasks that just don't fit with our drivers or skill set.  We are all very different beings and something I love to do is a loathe to another.  As a small to medium business owner I don't have every single skill required to run a small to medium business.  I have my limitations.  The smart thing is I know I have limitations and have identified them.

Skills trading is not new, it has been around for centuries.  You have what someone else needs and you barter for a win/win outcome.  The difference  is there is no physical product exchange but  trading of your skills.

A few months ago I had a task that needed completing.  I didn't have the time, the skills or the inclination to even attempt doing this particular task and I was on a dead line. I dug deep intp my little resources kit of 'people I know and trust' and phoned around to see if anyone in this little kit had the time and the skills I required.  After a couple of phone calls I hit jackpot.  Another small to medium business owner had exactly what I was looking for and enough time on their hands.  After some discussion we came to an agreement my task would be completed by the other business owner and in return I shared my skills and did some of her tasks.  It was a win/win for all involved.  The best part was there was no financial exchange which kept our costs down and our jobs completed.

An ideal way to identify skills you can share and trade is to complete a skills and resources assessment.  This assessment helps you to identify areas you can trade.  It is amazing when you are working to a limited budget what can be achieived by thinking out side the square.  Ask yourself what skill do I have that would be a benefit to another and I love doing?  This is an ideal way to kickstart you in thinking beyond financial payment and into a skill trading mindset.

For me, I use skills trading on a regular basis.  Just this week I used skills trading to have manuals and seminar bags made up for next weeks seminar.  I have less stress, less mess and all my seminar manuals and bags ready to go for my seminar.  My manual maker has 2 hours of sales calls to potential clients to take her business to the next level.  How can you use skills trading in your life or business?  I would love to hear some of your ideas or how you have already used skills trading.