The best and most competitive organizations are in a never-ending search for employees who possess the top skills and the most sought-after abilities. Although there are numerous skills (technical and non-technical) that individuals must have for high-paying jobs and a great career, these qualities also have an order of dominance. While tech skills can be studied, the people or human skills that will be in more demand will also differentiate valuable work from work that can be done by AI Artificial Intelligence. Some skills are in greater demand than others.
After a throughout observation among my key corporate clients, Fortune 500 companies that push the envelope in leadership and change, here are the top five skills that ma clients report will be looking for in the future from consulting tom technology and pharmaceutical companies:
1. Critical Thinking
In this era of fake news, social media bubbles, and information overload, critical thinking is at the top of the list of the most vital skills to cultivate for success. Thinking critically means analysing issues and situations based on evidence rather than hearsay, personal opinions, or biases. When you are practicing critical thinking, you can question the validity of evidence and figure out what’s true and what’s not in a variety of situations.
2. Creativity
Have you ever wondered what creativity really is? One way to define it is “the act of turning imaginative ideas into reality.” Creativity will be one of the most desirable skills in the future workplace, especially as we hand more and more routine tasks over to machines. Creative thinking, like coming up with new ideas, problem-solving, imagining beyond the status quo, and implementing ideas to fix issues and make things better, will be critical in the workplace of the future.
3. Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to express and control our emotions. An emotionally intelligent person is aware of how their emotions influence their own behaviors and impact others around them and can manage those emotions accordingly. I believe empathy – the ability to see the world from someone else’s perspective – is a key component of emotional intelligence.
4. Flexibility
Are you open to change? In the workplace of the future, change is going to be even more of a driving factor than it is today. We’ll have to continually contend with new technologies, rising automation, the rapidly evolving pace of work, and vast business disruptions. We must all develop the mental resilience to thrive in times of constant change. Adaptability – the ability to adjust to new conditions – is key to developing flexibility. Adaptable people are open-minded, curious, and willing to learn new things because they focus on opportunities, not obstacles.
5. Self-Management
Whether you work from home, work full-time in an office, run your own business, or work for an organization, the ability to manage your time effectively is essential for your workplace performance. Self-management skills are the abilities that allow people to control their thoughts, feelings and actions. If you have strong self-management skills, you’re able to set goals independently and take the initiative to achieve them. Purposeful self-management can help you direct the trajectory of your career and ensure you seek opportunities that get you closer to your goals.
Cultivating effective time and self-management skills is also important for your mental health. When you can manage your time effectively, you create a better work/life balance to ensure you have room in your life for the things that are most important to you.
Tags Future of work, skills of future, critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, flexibility, self-management
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