Even in a rapidly-changing world, some skills just take you places. You can learn all the latest digital tools and stay ahead of all the tech trends. Those skills are important and can play a big part in making you an attractive hire. Still, to be truly irreplaceable, you should consider improving the foundational skills on which all the rest are built.
- Communication Skills: Communication skills involve the ability to convey information clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. Strong communicators can articulate their ideas. Still, an often-overlooked aspect of communication is being able to truly listen. Improve these skills with the following:
- Courses: Take courses in public speaking, business writing, and interpersonal communication.
- Practice: Engage in public speaking, join a debate club, or write regularly.
- Feedback: Seek constructive feedback on your communication and work on areas of improvement.
- Leadership: Leadership involves guiding and motivating a team to achieve goals. Traits include decisiveness, integrity, and the ability to inspire others. Don’t sleep on this counterintuitive trait that falls under leadership though–the ability to follow other leaders with a good attitude. Improve these skills with the following:
- Leadership Programs: Enroll in leadership training programs or MBA courses.
- Mentorship: Seek a mentor who can provide guidance and feedback on your leadership style.
- Experience: Take on leadership roles in projects, volunteer organizations, or community groups.
- Follow: No, seriously. The best leaders also know how to follow.
- Project Management: Project management involves planning, executing, and overseeing projects to ensure they are completed on time and within budget. It requires organization, time management, and leadership skills. If you can do this one, you can fit into so many different organizations and industries. You know the difference between being on a poorly managed project and one that runs smoothly. If you know how to make it run smoothly, then bam!, you’ve just made yourself extremely valuable. Improve these skills with the following:
- Certifications: Obtain project management certifications.
- Software Training: Learn to use project management tools like Asana, Trello, or Microsoft Project.
- Experience: Manage small projects or volunteer to lead initiatives to build practical experience.
- Critical Thinking: Critical thinking is the ability to analyze facts objectively. It involves logical reasoning, evaluation, and problem-solving skills. Improve these skills with the following:
- Reading: Engage with materials that challenge your thinking, such as philosophy, logic, and complex non-fiction.
- Exercises: Practice puzzles, games, and activities that require strategic thinking (e.g., chess, Sudoku).
- Courses: Take courses that emphasize critical thinking and logic.
- Emotional Intelligence: Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to communicate effectively, empathize with others, and manage interpersonal relationships judiciously. Improve these skills with the following:
- Self-Reflection: Regularly reflect (journaling has proven benefits!) on your emotional responses and seek feedback from others.
- Practice: Engage in activities that require teamwork and empathy, such as volunteering or leadership roles.
- Adaptability and Flexibility: Adaptability is the ability to adjust to new conditions, while flexibility involves the willingness to change or compromise. These skills are vital in a world where change is constant. Improve these skills with the following:
- Challenging Situations: Put yourself in new and unfamiliar situations regularly.
- Feedback: Seek and act on feedback to improve your ability to adapt.
The Bottom Line
Improving these core skills will pay dividends for your future.
