My favorite motto these days: “What got us here won’t get us there” in other words, what brought us here so far, might not be enough to take us further. It’s time to recognize that our individual and collective strengths are the foundation for success. We must actively enhance our human skills, continuously upskill, and be open to reskilling ourselves. The responsibility doesn’t solely rest on our employer or boss; it’s predominantly on us. It’s like driving our own career car; we’re in the driver’s seat, steering our own path toward future success. So let’s gear up, rev our engines, and embrace the exciting journey ahead!
- Excellent Communication Skills: Essential in a Tech-Driven World
Effective communication bridges gaps within organizations and translates complex data insights into understandable language. The ability to inspire human heart and minds, but also to converse with machines in natural language is also gaining importance.
A Gallup survey reveals a startling fact: 70% of employee engagement is directly linked to the quality of communication from leadership. In the era ahead, communication isn’t just a skill; it’s one of the core ingredients of leadership. The future’s leaders must adeptly use diverse tools and techniques to unify remote teams, embrace new technologies, and offer impactful feedback, fostering team growth and progression. The art of building networks based on trust and common goals remains a timeless skill, essential for personal and professional growth in a tech-enabled world.
- Emotional Intelligence: The Human Edge
As we approach increasingly digital future, understanding and managing emotions becomes a cornerstone for successful leadership. The ability to navigate complex conversations and conflicts with emotional intelligence is indispensable. With AI’s rise and teams often geographically dispersed, nurturing emotional intelligence is more critical than ever for anyone in the organization, not only leaders.
Remember the words of Andrew J. Scott, Professor of Economics at London Business School: “As machines get better at being machines, humans have to get better at being more human.”
- Strategic Thinking: Navigating the Unknown
In an era of relentless change, leaders who can steer through uncertainty with confidence are invaluable. Strategic thinking involves spotting/predicting trends, making decisions based on these insights, and balancing a long-term vision with agile strategies. But this time is different, because the leader/manager will need to embrace the mindset of an Expedition Leader. Like an expedition leader who maps out the route but must be ready to take alternate paths in the face of unforeseen obstacles, strategic thinking requires a balance of solid planning and the agility to navigate new challenges.
Leaders must be ready to prepare for risks, foster innovation, and inspire their teams towards new horizons. Strategic decisions will also have to be linked to sustainability going forward. Your ability to develop sustainability skills will depend ony our views on prioritization of net zero targets and sustainable operations, skills in identifying and implementing eco-friendly solutions are becoming increasingly important.
- Adaptability: The Art of Pivoting
The ability to adapt is not just a skill; it’s a survival trait in the business world. With global CEOs believing that their organizations won’t remain economically viable over the next decade without significant changes, adaptability becomes a key leadership trait. Embracing change, committing to continuous learning, and viewing transformation as an opportunity rather than a challenge will be the hallmark of successful leaders. A successful manager and leader in 2024 will have to polish Project Management skills, and master the art of orchestrating people, technology, and problem-solving skills. Make no mistake, while AI may assist, you’ll still have to have strategic oversight and a clear prioritization criteria which are uniquely human traits.
- Data Analytics and AI skills. In the past, I might have hesitated to recommend tech and AI skills universally. But the reality today is starkly different. As a team leader or manager, if you’re not keeping pace with evolving tech skills – while your team, increasingly younger, and your clients, possibly light years ahead, are – you’re at a significant disadvantage. Embracing these skills with a growth mindset isn’t just an option; it’s essential. Without it, the relevance and longevity of your leadership and organization are at stake. Here are tech skills you want to keep in your radar, chose ethe ones that give you a strategic edge as a leader in your job or future roles:
- Data Skills: In an AI-driven world, understanding and ethically managing data is key. Data science skills are essential to ensure trustworthy and transparent AI applications.
- Cloud Computing Skills: With the cloud computing market burgeoning, technical expertise in this area will be crucial for guiding businesses through digital transformation.
- Generative AI: The rise of tools like ChatGPT marks a significant shift. The ability to identify opportunities, develop solutions, manage change, and address ethical implications in this context will be highly sought after.
- Machine Learning Engineering: Despite the rise of generative AI, the demand for skilled human machine learning engineers continues to grow.
- Cyber Security Skills: As cyber threats escalate, skills in building security and resilience are increasingly vital to protect data and maintain business integrity.
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