DISRUPT OR BE DISRUPTED: Experts see “mega-trends” that have the potential to significantly alter the nature of work. In our world today, an OECD paper warns, this rate of "disruption" is accelerating. We see its unstoppable power even as the world came to a stop due to COVID. Now, the paradigm shifts — driven by AI, big data, biotech, new energy, e-commerce, meta verse — are happening in a mutually-reinforcing sort of confluence. They won’t take a break even after the pandemic is over. The world of work is being reshaped as a result. Some of the critical skills to help us thrive in these times:
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1. LEADERSHIP: In business, quotas won't go away. There are numbers to be hit. But the ways to get there are changing rapidly. Leadership does not always mean being able to hire and fire people, or having the skill to supervise and manage others. For the most part, leadership is about communicating your vision, goals and strategy well, reminding and encouraging others — and embracing feedback from colleagues (welcoming even negative ones) and superiors. It’s also about being a good example, being self-aware and holding yourself accountable. These are important qualities that never fade away, and crucial in these uncertain times. It’s about improving your oral and written communication skills, boosting your inter-disciplinary and “cross-cultural deposit”, understanding human relations, understanding and using data, negotiation and management — all critical to effective leadership.
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2. FLEXIBILITY/ADAPTABILITY: What you know today may be irrelevant tomorrow. That's why inflexibility is deadly, it means being glacial, if not frozen in time. It makes one brittle, too. In the last two years, we had been forced to reflect on what matters the most, change our set ways of thinking or doing things. Flexibility, or a least a willingness to adapt, is a crucial skill today. The pandemic-driven changes we’ve been forced to embrace may stay or go — and change some more — perhaps with a new, unforeseen challenge. It’s not just mobility in terms of geography: It’s about meeting targets, working under pressure, adjusting to new/unexpected deadline, prioritising tasks, taking on additional responsibilities, and yes, being down to earth. In short, having an open mind amid a fast-changing environment help people face new realities.
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3. CRITICAL THINKING: Our present is defined by quick takes and “fake news”. We’re often confronted with conflicting data. Just look at the ruinous debate over vaccines, for example. Yet, being able to think clearly and rationally, evaluating information objectively, verifying and fact-checking — these are key skills today. They help us arrive at informed decisions, both on a personal and professional level. Asking the tough questions, digging a little deeper, questioning your own thinking — these are key to understanding the bigger world, the cross-pollination of cultures and ideas, which are invaluable skills today.
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4. TECH SAVVY: Even before the pandemic hit, having basic digital skills that help businesses and individual navigate the “new normal” is key. One HR industry data revealed that 82% of job vacancies require digital skills of some kind. COVID forced the issue: those who posses digital skillsets and able to harness the different technologies and platforms gets things done and bump up their profile in the job market.
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5. COMMUNICATION: The ability to communicate, and doing it well at the gut level, bolsters genuine human connections. This is also crucial in understanding your role, doubly important today in the time of social distancing and remote work settings. Good communication skills are critical: clarity in digital/virtual meetings is a must. Clearly-defined goals, roles and deadlines help build trust, boost productivity, team work and overall job satisfaction.
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6. CREATIVITY/INNOVATION: You don’t have to be an artist to be creative. Every industry requires such people. Creativity and passion tend to go together. They drive innovation, and help increase value. To thrive in an increasingly ultra-competitive environment, people and businesses need to tap into this creative spirit present in everyone. Do you feel the need to evolve and adapt? That’s the inner voice to try new things, create new pathways. Sure, there are machines, digital tools and data analytics that help us. But nothing can replace human ingenuity, our unique ability “think outside the box”.
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7. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: In the workplace, it begins from the inside out. Just as there’s intelligence quotient, there’s also something called emotional quotient. It involves recognising various aspects of your feelings and emotions. Moreover, it means taking the time to work on the elements of self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation and social skills. Experts suggest a number of ways to boost your emotional intelligence, such as: utilising an assertive style of communicating, responding (instead of reacting) to conflict; mastering “active listening” skills; being self-motivated; keeping a positive attitude (without being over-the-top optimistic); practicing self-awareness; taking criticisms well. A key trait to practice is empathising with others.
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8. TEACHABILITY: Granted, it’s impossible to learn everything. But investing in yourself to understand and use new tools that will bump up your productivity is essential. This is where the so-called “up-skilling” comes in. It’s rather simple: being teachable comes from a willingness to be taught and learn things, not just because they’re new, but because they’re useful. Yes, it’s unlikely master every system or platform. Yet, there are complex emotions, challenges and mind-bending involved in this process. Demonstrating a solid working knowledge and productive use of data, computer programming, the Cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and more, are today’s key ingredients to setting your profile above the rest.
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9. ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE: Psychologist Robert Emmons, the world's leading scientific expert on gratitude, is a professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis. He wrote: “There is scientific evidence that grateful people are more resilient to stress, whether minor everyday hassles or major personal upheavals.” It turns out that understanding and practising gratitude — thankfulness — in the workplace, or in any situation is fundamental to happiness. It comes from the Latin word “gratus”, which means "pleasing, thankful", feeling of appreciation felt by the recipient of kindness, gifts, help, favours, or other types of generosity, to the giver of said gifts. Right now, many people are thankful just to be alive. Having a job, or hoping to land a job is already a bonus. One fascinating thing about gratitude is this: Studies suggest that gratitude and kindness seem to form a positive loop in the workplace. Just as gratitude leads to altruistic behaviour, research suggests that an attitude of gratitude helps people see beyond one disaster and recognise their gains. Ideally, it gives them a tool “to transform an obstacle into an opportunity,” wrote Emmons.
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