There is one thing in the world we can always count on happening, and that is change. Nothing is constant or stays the same way for very long. In every aspect of our lives, the pace of change accelerates faster and faster. Using technological advancements as an example, smartphones evolve quicker than the blink of an eye. Smartphones continue to change our lives and how we communicate and stay connected with each other on a day-to-day basis. Likewise, today, the world is changing at lightning speed. The modern workplace is also shifting dramatically, and it shouldn’t surprise you when you need to update your work skills more frequently than once in your career. Now more than ever, power skills are in demand in a competitive job market. However, if you haven’t been looking for a new role lately, you may not know the most coveted power skills employers want today.
Just fifteen years ago, smart phones didn’t even exist. Today, it seems we can’t live without one. We carry them with us everywhere we go. Some of us even wear them on our bodies using smartwatches to track our health and wellbeing. We use them to access news, banking, education, entertainment, social media, and more. The way we interact with each other and consume information has been transformed by them. Use is so rampant that we must schedule time-outs from technology and screens just to balance our lives better. This change is an unmatchable example of how we must adapt in society to flourish. The same goes for our professional life and career. Everyone who wants to be successful will need to learn to adapt in some way to keep up with the changes in the workplace, especially when it comes to upskilling and skills that are in demand.
Embrace Upskilling and Growth
Upskilling should no longer be viewed as a milestone but rather a mindset every worker must embrace. This is a new era where needs and expectations for balance and well-being will require companies to do more with less and for employees to step up and take control of their own career paths. You can’t be afraid to go after what you want in this market. Fear has no place in growth.
Growth is no longer something a company is solely responsible for when it comes to employees. More and more, employees need to own their development plans and seek out opportunities to learn and grow. Recently, in a stakeholder meeting, Serena, a recruiting manager, said, “It isn’t just hard skills that candidates need to stay on top of at work; they must be proactive and seek out training for soft skills that are in demand. Sometimes, it is in experiences that these are best learned, which is why I often suggest candidates take on philanthropy positions to supplement growth.”
According to trending reports, the most in-demand skills today fall in the range of what has traditionally been known as a “soft skill.” These soft skills have been reframed and are now more popularly called power skills. Power skills have risen to the forefront of leadership and are the most sought-after skills employers want. Power skills employers want are desired for all levels of employees, not just management candidates. These power skills employers want are more attainable than you may think.
What Are Power Skills?
Power skills are the leadership skills most needed in the workplace today. They are focused on a critical set of interpersonal skills. Although they have always been important, these power skills have gained attention as the workforce has confronted increasing change and crisis after crisis. Some examples of well-known soft skills/power skills are empathy, emotional intelligence, communication, influence, etc.
On the other hand, hard skills, historically perceived as more valuable, refer to mainly technical competencies or computer skills. Hard skills encompass Google Suite, Microsoft Suite, Slack, Monday, SQL, Python, Excel, and others. Soft skills refer to a more human-centered set of skills like critical thinking, work ethic, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving. Changing the term from soft skills to power skills allows employers, trainers, and coaches to stay ahead of the technical curve. Power skills aren’t just nice to have, nor are they less important to finding success in the workplace — they are essential skills for an ever-changing workplace. Power skills are even used in methodologies for project management, such as Disciplined Agile.
While it is true that power skills can be more challenging to acquire than hard skills, they can usually be taught. They are often character qualities or talents that people have developed over time and through lived experiences. They can be challenging to perfect in a short period of time due to the fact that they are organically practiced in real-life experiences. Many coaching practices, Authentic Cadence included, offer upskilling sessions or power skills workshops for candidates to apply what they learn in a group or professional setting with instant feedback. The more you know about power skills employers want, the more empowered your career path will become.
Top 7 Coveted Power Skills Employers Want
In the review of both published research and analysis of hiring companies, it was established that seven power skills emerged as the most requested workplace. Take a look and see how you measure up and where you could improve your skills.
7 Power Skills To Have:
- Emotional Intelligence
- Communication
- Adaptability
- Creativity
- Collaboration
- Leadership
- Time-Management
How To Learn Power Skills
These 7 power skills, and more, are highly sought after by employers in job candidates. The caveat is that power skills are best learned through experiences. So, how can you learn them to level up your skills? First, know these power skills and then learn how to get them. Second, put them into practice in real life experiences and gain valuable knowledge.
Emotional Intelligence Skills
What is it?
Emotional intelligence involves recognizing your emotions and how they impact the people around you. Research indicates it impacts relationships, health, and workplace performance.
How to learn it: Develop this power skill by practicing self-awareness. Consider your emotional strengths and where there’s room for improvement. Also, consider how your emotions affect your performance on the job.
Communication Skills
What is it?
Good communication in the workplace provides many benefits. Among them are reduced conflict, increased employee engagement, improved productivity, greater job satisfaction, and strength.
How to learn it: Practice your communication skills with friends, relatives, and those you encounter daily. Work on active listening skills such as paraphrasing, reflecting, and summarizing. Communicate with empathy, open-mindedness, and respect.
Adaptability Skills
What is it?
A person who is adaptable is someone that is flexible when change happens. The pandemic is a prime example of the value of adaptability. Someone who lacks this skill has a difficult time with change and transitions.
How to learn it: One strategy is to adopt a growth mindset or a willingness to try new things. You can also seek out classes to promote your skills. Stay apprised of current events and updates at the office and abroad. Consider offering to sit in a place at dinner that is not your normal spot. These can all help you prepare for any upcoming transitions.
Creativity Skills
What is it?
Creativity can drive innovation. When you are creative, you have a desire to explore new, better ways to do things which make processes smoother or more efficient. It offers never-before-considered alternatives to workplace issues.
How to learn it: Creativity is one of the skills that you can have a lot of fun developing. Hold a brainstorming session when you have an issue that needs to be solved. Remember to follow the general rules of brainstorming and make no suggestions off-limits – no matter how absurd they seem (without criticizing). This helps you accept the creativity of others while learning about your own creativity and how to think outside of the box.
Collaboration Skills
What is it?
Collaboration is when you have a willingness to work with others for a greater purpose. You know the value other people add and understand more can be achieved in bigger numbers.
How to learn it: To help enhance this skill, use team-building activities and work together to obtain desired results. If you want to take this one outside the workplace, you can arrange for everyone to meet at a local escape room. This helps teach them how to rely on each other’s strengths to escape successfully.
Leadership Skills
What is it?
Even though not everyone enters their career with the goal of securing a leadership role, everyone can benefit from having basic leadership skills. Taking the time to motivate and inspire others is a good place to start.
How to learn it: One sure way to become a better leader is by learning to keep a positive attitude in all circumstances. Another way to learn better leadership is by openly asking for feedback, accepting it, and using it for growth.
Time-Management Skills
What is it?
Good time-management skills help you stay on track with your work, and tasks, even in distractions and interruptions.
How to learn it: Practice and grow time management skills by offering to manage a meeting at the office, make to-do lists and prioritize tasks, or make a time log for tasks to measure productivity.
Hard Skills, Power Skills Employers Want, and Everything In Between
In a vastly transforming employment landscape, learning to adapt is the best skill you can acquire. Even if your hard skills get you in the door for a new role, your professional skills may be what makes you an invaluable part of the team. In essence, all skills, whether you call them soft, power, hard, or professional skills; are the currency of the future.
Companies will always need candidates who keep up with technology skills and are not afraid of working with technology because of the replacement of humans. Instead of fearing something that may never happen, people should embrace the idea of jobs being augmented by technology and be willing to adapt and grow with that idea. Their interpersonal skills, or the way they can solve problems, collaborate, and strategize, are most valuable because only humans can do these things.
The future may be a moving target, but you can still aim at the skills that don’t expire or lose relevance.
There is no time like the present to own your future!
Very informative and interesting article! Thanks for sharing all these great tips!
I am happy to help you!
You are very welcome!