According to recent research from Deloitte, two-thirds of jobs will depend on soft skills more than hard skills by 2030. As workplace automation becomes more common in heavy industry, medicine, and all markets in between, human workers will need to learn how to leverage their humanity to succeed.
These are the top soft skills for managers and workers in 2018.
1. Written Communication
Back in the day, people dropped by their coworkers’ desks or made phone calls to discuss projects. Now, emails and instant messaging systems (like Skype and Slack) own much of our office communications. Employees must learn how to communicate on these platforms to stay productive.
When writing an email or an instant message, keep it brief and related to the project at hand. When you stray from your central message, your recipient becomes confused about what you want, reducing the likelihood of a reply. Try a grammar tool like Grammarly to assist in eliminating typos and mistakes.
Don’t be afraid of the occasional smiley face. While excessive emoticons come off as unprofessional, a smile can turn an otherwise stern-sounding email into a polite request.
2. Growth
Not every employee needs to aspire to be the CEO, but everyone should be excited to learn new things. When people get stuck in a workplace rut, they get depressed, lowering productivity and increasing the chances they will leave the company.
Managers should provide opportunities for employees to explore new interests and test their skills. Conferences, speaking events, and competitions can all scratch that itch to learn. Employees should feel comfortable asking their managers about potential training opportunities, whether those opportunities involve travel or a simple webinar.
3. Respect
In the wake of the sexual harassment scandals of the last few months, some offices (especially offices made up predominantly of men) are confused about where to draw the line on workplace behavior. The answer, fortunately, boils down to one thing: respect.
Is asking a person in the office about his or her sex life respectful? No. Is it respectful to grope someone, make a racially insensitive joke, or shoot a lewd gesture at someone else, even if it’s “all in good fun?” No, no, and no. Everyone in the organization, from the CEO to the part-time intern, should consider whether a thought is disrespectful before acting on it.
4. Self-Forgiveness
Perfectionism is a plague on the modern office. Thanks to the transparency of workflows and the immediate response culture of email, workers feel like they must produce at every moment of the day to be successful. Countless studies prove that workers who take their full lunch breaks and enjoy regular breaks away from work are more attentive, creative, and productive than people who attempt to power through.
No one in 2018 needs to be a martyr in the office. According to research from Stanford University, people who work 70 hours a week don’t accomplish any more than people who work 55 hours a week. Managers should encourage employees to use their vacation leave and take regular breaks, while employees should accept these opportunities to trade spreadsheets for a breath of fresh air.
The world still needs programmers, machinists, and doctors, but all these people still have to work with other people during the day. By emphasizing these soft skills in 2018, managers and their teams can look forward to a happier, more productive year.
Preston Wickersham is a co-founder of friendsTED. Preston is a premier content marketing expert and ghostwriter. He has produced books, articles, and whitepapers for CEOs and executives in healthcare, technology, marketing, and dozens of other industries. Preston’s clients have been featured in some of the top online publications, including Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., and the Harvard Business Review. Preston is the owner and founder of Preston Wick Content.
Source: http://www.friendsted.com/blog/friendsted-blog/4-soft-skills-every-office-needs-2018/