Are We Facing a Competency Crisis?
Details
Note to Attendees: Please consider making a $5 donation to contribute to the running costs of this Meetup.
For years, we’ve assumed that progress naturally produces greater competence. More degrees, more information, more tools — surely that means more capability. Yet across industries, many leaders sense something isn’t adding up. Skills gaps persist. Decision-making feels weaker. Basic execution often falters.
Alvin Toffler famously argued that the illiterate of the 21st century would not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. That raises an uncomfortable question: are we actually getting better at doing that — or are we becoming dependent on systems that think, decide, and structure work on our behalf?
If we are more educated and technologically supported than any generation before us, why does it sometimes feel like genuine competence is thinning out?
At our next Brisbane meetup, we’ll explore a confronting theme: Are we approaching a competency crisis? Not just in technical skill, but in judgment, accountability, resilience, and the capacity to take responsibility without constant oversight.
The questions we will address at this meetup are as follows:
- Are we approaching a competency crisis?
- Is technology strengthening our capabilities — or quietly replacing them?
- Do degrees and certifications reflect real ability — or inflate perceived competence?
- Has our culture of low accountability made incompetence harder to confront?
This event will be held at The Osbourne Hotel in Fortitude Valley.
After the discussion, we’ll stay on for a meal and a drink together — a chance to continue the conversation in a more relaxed setting and support the venue.
PLEASE NOTE:
Please support the venue by purchasing a drink or meal during the event.
This is intended to be a good-natured but robust discussion. Please be respectful and prepared to have your ideas challenged. If you are easily offended, this event may not be for you.