Companies are facing unprecedented challenges in talent acquisition, development, and retention. Traditional approaches based on static job descriptions, titles, and degrees are proving insufficient to meet the pace of change in skill requirements and workforce expectations. Skills-based talent management offers an alternative—providing a flexible, high-resolution language for describing work that can adapt as quickly as business needs evolve.

This playbook provides HR leaders with a practical roadmap for implementing shared skills taxonomies within their organizations. Rather than building a skills framework from scratch—a time-consuming and resource-intensive process—our shared taxonomies provide a vetted foundation that can dramatically accelerate time-to-impact. Developed and rigorously validated across 11 of America's largest employers spanning diverse industries, our taxonomies offer a common language for skills that works across organizational boundaries.

By adopting a staged implementation approach focused on solving concrete business problems, organizations can quickly demonstrate value, build momentum, and establish the infrastructure necessary for true skills-based talent management. The implementation strategies outlined in this playbook have been proven effective across industries and organization sizes. They directly address common barriers to adoption—from securing leadership buy-in to managing technological constraints—and provide tactical guidance for each stage of maturity.