Staff Capability - The Great Unknown
Staff Capability - the hidden variable
In every organisation, there’s a hidden force that quietly determines whether strategies succeed or stall: staff capability. It’s not always visible on a CV, nor easily captured in a spreadsheet. Yet it shapes outcomes, influences culture, and drives - or derails - performance.
The Problem: What You Can’t See Can Hurt You
Most organisations lack a clear, real-time view of what their people are truly capable of. Job titles and tenure offer only surface-level insight. Beneath that lies a complex web of skills, experiences, and potential - largely unmapped.
Assumptions fill the void: Leaders often rely on gut instinct or outdated appraisals to assess capability. This becomes especially risky during periods of growth, restructuring, or rapid change.
Training misses the mark: Without a precise diagnosis, learning and development (L&D) becomes a guessing game. Some employees are over-trained, others are overlooked, and critical gaps remain hidden.
Capability gaps are costly: They manifest as missed deadlines, poor service, disengagement, and attrition. Often, the damage is done before the problem is even recognised.
Why It Matters Now More Than Ever
In today’s volatile business environment, agility is everything. Organisations must be able to pivot quickly, deploy talent strategically, and prove the ROI of every investment. Without a clear capability map, leaders are flying blind.
Strategic misalignment: Without visibility, it’s hard to align people development with business goals.
Inefficient spend: Training budgets are under pressure. Scattergun approaches no longer suffice.
Missed opportunities: High-potential individuals may go unnoticed, while others are placed in roles that don’t match their strengths.
A Smarter Way Forward: Diagnosing Capability with Precision
Traditional Training Needs Analysis (TNA) has long been the default for identifying development gaps. But in a fast-moving, resource-conscious world, it’s no longer fit for purpose. Enter Unlocked - a smarter, faster, and more strategic approach.
| Aspect | Traditional TNA | Unlocked |
|---|---|---|
| Speed & Efficiency | Manual, time-consuming, reliant on interviews and spreadsheets | Automated, fast, and scalable using integrated inputs (self-assessment, 360° feedback, CVs, role profiles) to generate a capability heatmap |
| Objectivity | Subjective and biased | Data-driven, fair, and benchmarked against a defined framework, removing guesswork |
| Granularity | Generic and high-level | Individual-level insight. Identifies specific gaps and strengths across roles, levels, and teams |
| Cost | Labour-intensive and expensive | Cost-effective. Delivers a full TNA at a fraction of the cost, with evidence-based spend plans |
| Impact Measurement | Rarely tracked | Progress tracked against competencies with measurable ROI and continuous improvement |
| Integration with L&D | Often disconnected | Fully integrated with tailored learning journeys – training, coaching and growth plans |
| Scalability | Difficult across large teams | Easily scales across functions, levels and geographies. Ideal for growing or transforming organisations |
| User Engagement | Often a tick-box exercise | Engaging and empowering with visible growth plans and progress reports |
| Strategic Value | Seen as compliance | Becomes a strategic enabler—aligning people development with business goals |
Our Solution: Unlocked
Unlocked makes capability visible. It’s a diagnostic tool that maps individual and team capability against your chosen framework - creating a heatmap of strengths, gaps, and development priorities.
Think of it as an MoT for your workforce. It shows what’s working, what needs attention, and where to invest for the greatest return.
But Unlocked is more than a tool - it’s the engine behind our all-inclusive L&D service. From assessment to action, we design and deliver tailored learning journeys that build capability, boost performance, and prove ROI.
References
[2] Treehouse Learning and Development
[3] Increasing Team Contribution Through Insights Discovery - Treehouse
our Learning and Development Service
Find out more about our fully managed Learning & Development service providing all the benefits of an in-house L&D manager, without the cost or complexity: