5 Future Skills To Learn For Great Careers
If you aspire to become one of the 'greats' – someone who is truly successful in their chosen field – you need to start planning for it now. There's no point waiting until you finish school or university, because the world of work is constantly evolving and the future skills required for a successful career are always changing.
So, what are the key skills that you need to start learning now? It's not an easy question to answer, because the answer will vary depending on your chosen career. However, there are some skills that are essential for almost any profession, and we've listed five of them below.
Communication
No matter what career you choose, communication skills will always be important. Whether you're dealing with clients, colleagues, or even a business mentor, you need to be able to express yourself clearly and effectively.
Why? Because humans are social animals, and we need to communicate with each other to get things done. Good communication skills help to build strong relationships, which are essential for success in any field.
The hallmarks of great communication are:
- Listening: Paying attention to what the other person is saying, and taking the time to understand their point of view.
- Clarifying: Asking questions to make sure you understand what the other person is saying.
- Responding: Giving feedback that shows you've understood the other person's point of view.
- Empathizing: Putting yourself in the other person's shoes, and understanding how they feel.
If you want to develop your communication skills, start by practicing these techniques regularly. You'll be surprised at how much further you'll get with your colleagues, clients, and customers when you can effectively communicate with them.
Focus
Our fast-paced world is an advocate for multitasking, but the truth is that multitasking doesn't work. In fact, our brains are actually bad at multitasking – we're not really doing multiple tasks at the same time, we're just switching between them really quickly.
This constant switching takes a lot of energy, and it's actually much more efficient to focus on one task at a time. So, if you want to be successful in your career, you need to learn how to focus on the task at hand, whether you are trying to prepare your W-2 form or write a paper.
How can you do this? By creating a focused environment for yourself. This means eliminating distractions, such as notifications from your phone and email, and focusing on one task at a time. It might take a bit of practice, but eventually, you'll be able to focus on the task at hand and get more done in less time.
Computer fluency
This is a skill most people take as a given, but it's worth mentioning nonetheless. In the world of work, computer fluency is no longer a bonus – it's essential.
If you want to be successful in your career, you need to be able to use computers for everything from creating documents and presentations to managing data and communicating with colleagues. You don't need to be a computer expert, but you do need to be able to use computers for basic tasks, like generating your 1099 forms.
If you're not confident with computers, now is the time to start learning. There are plenty of online tutorials and courses available, so there's no excuse for not getting up to speed!
Conflict management
In any career, there will be times when you have to deal with conflict. Whether it's a disagreement with a colleague or a dispute with a client, or even an internal conflict over a decision, you need to be able to manage conflict effectively.
Conflict management skills involve:
- Understanding the different types of conflict.
- Identifying the warning signs of conflict.
- Responding to conflict in a constructive way.
- Resolving conflict effectively.
If you want to be successful in your career, you need to be able to deal with conflict head-on. It's not always easy, but it's essential for maintaining healthy relationships with colleagues and clients.
Resilience
No one is going to be totally competent when they first start their career – it takes time and practice to develop the skills needed for success. This means that you're going to experience setbacks along the way, and you need to be resilient enough to pick yourself up and keep moving forward.
Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks and disappointment, and it's essential for anyone who wants to be successful in their career. So, how can you build resilience?
- Believe in yourself: When you experience a setback, it's easy to doubt yourself and your abilities. But if you don't believe in yourself, you won't be able to bounce back.
- Stay positive: No one succeeds without experiencing some setbacks, so don't let them get you down. Stay positive and focus on your goals.
- Take action: When you experience a setback, take action to overcome it. Don't just sit around and feel sorry for yourself – get up and do something to improve the situation.
- Learn from your mistakes: When you make a mistake, learn from it and don't make the same mistake again. Mistakes are an essential part of learning, so don't be afraid to make them.
Building resilience takes time and effort, but it's worth it in the long run. If you can bounce back from setbacks and disappointment, you'll be well on your way to a successful career.
Future Skills: Conclusion
The skills listed above are essential for anyone who wants to be successful in their career. Start learning them now, and you'll be well on your way to a great future!
