Must-Have Skills for the Future Workplace
In business, the ability to stay ahead of the curve and respond to changing technological and social trends is a key differentiator. To stay competitive requires recruiting talented people with skills that will become even more in demand soon.
Global Communication Skills It seems simple, but, with the ongoing evolution of communication technologies, the world is only becoming more connected—and it is a trend that is not slowing down anytime soon. As the barriers to doing business on a global scale continue to come down, the ability to communicate with people from around the world and from all walks of life will be more important than ever.
Remote Work Disciplines The advancement of technology is not just changing the way we communicate; it’s redefining the way we work. Today, it is easier than ever to work remotely. The traditional model of going to an office every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. is changing as many workers now have the freedom to work from anywhere they can connect to the internet. Of course, with this freedom comes great responsibility. The discipline to stay organized and on task away from the structure of an office setting will be an increasingly important soft skill and a business will also need to be open to remote work opportunities.
Interdisciplinary Expertise Knowledge is already at our fingertips, and will only become more attainable in the future. To stay competitive, workers will need to be masters of multiple disciplines within their organizations. It is not going to be enough to just know your job, at least some working knowledge of other roles will be necessary. With the growing recruitment war, those who develop a broader range of skills will be in a better position to help fill the gaps in the workforce that are becoming more difficult to fill. Also, showing interest in your career after the hours of your typical work day will not go unnoticed.
Interpersonal Communication Skills You may be surprised as to what you may learn if you read articles regarding the skill of business communication. With all the promise social media brings, one of the major pitfalls can be seen in everyday life— everyone is staring at their phones instead of interacting with each other face to face. Have you ever seen a sporting event and looked at the crowd of “fans” and seen how many are watching the game? It is the same in business. What effect technology will have on interpersonal relationships and social skills is yet to be seen, but being able to connect with other people in real life may become one of the most important skills that job seekers can bring to a potential employer. On that note, do not slack on business etiquette. Written and verbal business communication are equally important.
The Classics Will Still Reign Supreme Soft skills in many ways transcend advances in technology or changing work environments. In a survey business leaders were asked what were the most important soft skills a job applicant should have. The results revealed that although the workplace is constantly evolving, some skills will always be in high-demand, including:
Dependability/Reliability – 72%
Motivation – 48%
Verbal communication – 44%
Teamwork – 39%
Commitment – 39%
No matter how the workplace may change in the future, people will always be the heart and soul of the business world. Some of the most important qualities of great employees cannot be programmed into a machine or easily expressed via a virtual meeting space. Investing in great people is the single best strategy for any business to prepare for the future.
(2017). Portions retrieved from http://www.refreshleadership.com/index.php/2017/05/musthave-skills-future-workplace-demand/.
