Last Updated on November 16, 2022 by Editors Desk
Gone are the days when hard and technical skills are the only qualifications you need for a job. Recent industry surveys revealed that one in three UK employers regard soft skills as more important than academic achievements.
With this trend, 98% of senior managers in the UK recommend that individuals invest more time in enhancing soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and leadership, to remain competitive in the job market. Although technical skills are required, your soft skills will make you unique from your fellow applicants, helping you advance quickly.
But among the various soft skills you should improve, here are the top qualities you have to enhance to help you thrive in the workplace:
Time Management
Time management is your ability to wisely organize and plan how to divide your time between specific activities and work priorities. If you possess this skill at work, you can improve your work-life balance and increase productivity, allowing you to achieve your goals faster and easier.
More importantly, effectively managing your time can reduce workplace stress levels so you’ll lessen and avoid feelings of burnout. A Harvard Business Review article claimed that time management skills are among the most desired workforce skills today, but it’s also among the rarest skills to find. It shows how this is a necessary skill you should focus on, whatever your profession or field.
Agility
With the continuously changing trends in society and technology, being adaptable to changes quickly and successfully is a crucial workplace skill. In LHH’s list of the top soft skills you should develop, they explained that to be truly agile at work you must be open to learning new skills and embracing new ideas. In addition, you should also exhibit enthusiasm to collaborate with colleagues and be curious about the changes around you.
If you have these characteristics, you can overcome any sudden challenges in your workplace effortlessly with little to no issues. Because of this, it’s not surprising that 24% of respondents listed agility as their top soft skill to develop this year.
Creativity
Creativity is another skill that employers value. It refers to your capacity to think outside the box and try unconventional ideas, especially if you think they’ll produce better results. In adopting a creative mindset, LHH goes on to say that you should similarly remain open to new ideas and ways of solving problems. You can develop this skill by participating in creative tasks, such as taking a painting or dancing class.
If you showcase this skill at work, your employers will see your value as a team member who can bring fresh and unique ideas to the table. Today, more individuals acknowledge the importance of creativity at work, with 19% of the survey participants claiming that they will expand this specific skill in 2022.
Emotional Intelligence
No matter how prepared you are, changes in your environment can still affect your emotions. You may feel anxious, nervous, frustrated, and afraid. Our previous article on emotions and feelings explained that these are normal and there’s no shame in having these emotions since it helps you connect to the reality of your present situation.
What’s important is that you keep your emotions in check by displaying emotional intelligence to avoid misunderstandings and disputes with your colleagues. Emotional intelligence (EQ) refers to your capability to perceive, reason with, understand and manage your emotions and of others. By practicing EQ in the workplace, you can have better relationships with your colleagues and be more successful at work through these relationships. Because of this, most individuals ranked EQ as their top upskilling priority.
Learning how to manage your emotions should not be a difficult task. Check out our online courses on emotional intelligence to help you become a better person and professional today.
