What is dejobbing and why is it important?

Early in my career, I read an article on the concept of dejobbing. Essentially, the idea was that in order to ensure job stability, one must be constantly developing skills to fill the needs of their employers, customers, or stakeholders.  This requires individuals to be forward thinking and recognize when a task or role needs to be performed without needing a formal job description and adapt their ability to fill the need.  As I progressed throughout my career, individuals who possessed this capability, stood out as both formal and informal leaders in their organizations.  I witnessed them in all roles, from the front desk staff who take initiative to develop a more efficient workflow for their customers, to the manager who redesigns a staffing model to maximize effectiveness, and the executive who adapts their communication style to motivate others.  These individuals whether these realize it or not, have been preparing for the current state that we now find ourselves in.  In our own way, we are all experiencing the concept of dejobbing.  Relying on developing new skills such as working remotely, utilizing technology in a new way, redesigning how patients receive care, ensuring people still have access to supplies, and more.  Although there are many unknowns regarding how long this “new normal” will last and what will actually return to normal, it is safe to say that the need to for continuous skill set evolution is needed now more than ever.