Changes in the workplace are being driven by automation and AI. These emerging technologies have advantages for organizations but also impact the skills employees need to bring into most jobs. Demand for higher cognitive, social, and emotional skills are also expected to rise. With technology continuing to radically enhance the workplace, those who prepare for whatever roles the future holds will have an edge. Let’s explore the top 5 skills you’ll need to cultivate and maintain over the next 10 years.
Relationship Building
Good working relationships increase employee engagement and productivity. According to Gallup's meta-analysis of the link between engagement at work and organizational outcomes, companies with greater employee engagement led to a 21% boost in productivity and 37% less absenteeism. Many company leaders are aware of the connection between relationship-building skills and employee productivity and seek out candidates with these skills. Strong interpersonal skills at work can help you take the next step in your career, often as a contributing factor to a promotion or a completely new role.
At Net Friends, we place a strong emphasis on teamwork and value growing and maintaining relationships with our colleagues. When interviewing a potential candidate, it is one of the skills we look for.
Social and Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive emotions and feelings and use emotional information to influence your thoughts and actions. The secret is to modify your emotions so that they conform to the environment you are in at any given time. Social and emotional intelligence consists of a blend of interpersonal management, social awareness, and self-awareness.
The world has been incorporating the use of artificial intelligence into the workplace, and it has begun to take the place of various jobs. Two of the only human-specific qualities that cannot be replaced by digital technology or artificial intelligence are emotional and social intelligence. Mastering these skills will make you more desirable to employers in the future.
If you are interested in seeing how your emotional and social intelligence skills score and how you can improve them, take this free quiz.
Strategic Thinking & Logistics
In an increasingly complex world, with things going at faster speeds, those with the ability to understand, design, and troubleshoot a complex series of tasks or strategic plans will be well-suited to thrive. The ability to map logistics is leveraged in the workplace frequently, including:
Decision-making: You can use your knowledge of logistics to make informed choices about the productivity and efficiency of a project. You may use these critical analysis skills to alter certain practices or regulations within the workplace.
Measuring progress: You may use logistics expertise to gauge the efficiency of a system and plan out strategies to reach objectives. You can use these skills to assess both team and individual productivity, and even identify gaps in a process.
To strengthen your strategic thinking and logistics skills, consider attending business management classes that include supply chain procedures or attending industry conferences or seminars on the subject. You can also get in touch with logistics experts in your network to gain knowledge about the techniques they deploy on the job.
Resourcefulness
Businesses today are in a constant state of flux and transition which is why employers seek out employees that can successfully manage changes in the workplace. When you can handle change easily, you save the time you might have spent being stressed out when a new challenge arises, which in turn increases productivity. In addition to demonstrating your ability to be resourceful, these individuals demonstrate leadership skills, determination, analytical skills, and more. You can improve your ability to be resourceful by:
- Finding the positive
- Being curious
- Be willing to take advice
- Improve your problem-solving skills
- Keep an open mind
Innovation and Creativity
For an organization to succeed with ingenuity, its employees will need to possess innovation skills. This skill set includes the ability to produce new and improved strategies, capabilities, processes, and services. Building your own innovative abilities can help you stand out as a candidate for top jobs and advance your professional achievement. Innovation skills can include:
- Imagination
- Critical thinking
- Persuasion
- Creativity
- Problem-solving
If you are having trouble sparking creativity, there are many things you can do to get out of the creative rut. One of the best things you can do is go to places that will challenge your brain in ways entirely outside your norms and what you typically do at work. You can go to an art class, read fiction books, pick up a musical instrument or go to a local park to take a stroll. One study showed that walking increased creativity by 60 percent. You can also give your mind a break and put your digital devices aside, even if it’s just for one hour. This will let ideas come to you naturally rather than trying to stuff your head with extra knowledge.
As the world of work changes, employees everywhere will need to update their existing skill sets or acquire new ones. Hard work will grant you professional opportunities, but without growing your business skills your career advancements will stagnate. With the business skills provided above, you can feel confident in your professional reputation, as the workforce continues to change. If you are interested in learning more about the skills we look for in a Net Friend, check out our Career page.
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