Johannesburg, 24 Jan 2019
The World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs and Skills, stated 65% of children who entered primary school in 2016 would ultimately end up working in completely new job types that don't yet exist. Amy Dempsey, principal consultant at Bizmod Consulting, says there has been a dynamic shift in skills requirements and the work environment, and this is continuing every day. For individuals and organisations to stay relevant, they need to stay abreast of this and adapt constantly.
Organisations that embrace engaging, empowering and inspiring leadership are not only leading in their fields, but are also attracting the best-of-breed employees that are connected and engaged with the company. "We have all come to expect instant gratification and this applies to customers in every industry and all walks of life. It is therefore imperative for organisations to focus on outputs. To achieve this, organisations have to collaborate with one another and share information across different companies and industries," says Dempsey.
Looking forward, Dempsey says there are core skills that will differentiate employees and organisations.
She lists the top five she believes will stand out:
* Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise your own emotions and how they impact those around you. Unfortunately, if this doesn't come naturally to you, it is a rather difficult skill to learn. However, as organisations increasingly want more engaging and connected employees, it is becoming a vital attribute to bring to the office environment.
* The lines of responsibility and expertise will become even more blurred, and having the ability to think out of the box and apply complex problem-solving techniques will be a growing requirement.
* We are connected more than ever before and with this is the importance of being a global citizen. We all have a role to play on this earth and it extends across geographical locations and nationalities. News stories such as Sky's Ocean Rescue: A Plastic Whale has seen the coming together of people from across the globe to limit single use plastic. Kenya introduced a plastic bag ban; Wimbledon has experienced a spectator outcry about single use plastic bottles; and 23-year-old Boyan Slat, a Dutch inventor and entrepreneur, is actively trying to stop plastic being dumped into the ocean. Organisations need their employees to be part of the global community.
* Being able to think on your feet and adapt is no longer a nice to have, it is a vital requirement. By being part of a global community, individuals and organisations are interacting with people they may never have previously. We have seen advertising campaigns become global news for all the wrong reasons when different cultures and markets have not been considered. And then there is speed to market. Gone are the days of waiting for the latest product to reach your shores; you can now order it the day it is launched wherever you or the product may be in the world. Companies therefore need to be able to adapt and create their own USP, quickly.
* Having the ability to move from one task to responding or thinking about multiple concepts at the same time is known as cognitive flexibility. This skill enables employees to adapt, respond quicker and think more creatively when trying to solve problems. The ability to shift thinking and adapting to new environments is becoming ever more important.
For more, visit www.bizmod.co.za and Bizmod on LinkedIn.