Work in the 2020s: 5 Essential Skills to Succeed
As the pace of digital transformation in the workplace accelerates, the next decade will pose challenges for employees as they are pushed more quickly into different types of jobs and teams.
Skill demands are changing so rapidly, say futurists, that even when a company lays out what it requires now, by the end of the 2020s that will look very different.
Jason Wingard, Dean of Columbia University School of Professional Studies, believes some skills will not be relevant. “You are going to have to look at the market and keep abreast of what are transferable skills,” he says. “You will need to measure yourself against that and ask yourself, ‘Do you have what it takes to be competitive?’”
So what are the five essential skills that workers will need to navigate a changing work environment — and flourish in the next decade?
Adapt to thrive
As the gig economy grows, more organisations will hedge their bets on hiring contract workers. These contractors will need to adapt quickly to a company’s culture and be flexible and resilient.
Be creative
Creativity will become one of the most in-demand skills and will cut across many sectors, from media to transport. Companies will look for people who can work with technology and make the best use of their creativity, even working alongside a “cobot” — collaborative robots that work with humans on tasks. Demand for cobots is expected to grow extremely quickly in the next decade.
Develop emotional intelligence
So-called “soft skills“, such as collaboration and active listening — making a conscious effort to concentrate on what is being said, and also focusing on the speaker’s body language and other cues — will become more valuable.
Become tech savvy
We may already feel we are being bombarded with different versions of software and new programs. It will be those who can learn to “swim in the ocean of it” who will thrive, says Jerome Glenn, executive director of the Millennium Project, a global think-tank of futurists, scientists, business partners and policymakers.
Build your personal brand
Employees will need to improve how they take care of their professional brand online because it will become increasingly competitive to stand out in the digital marketplace, especially if people no longer meet regularly.
Vocabulary:
pace – (noun) the speed at which something happens, moves, or develops, “The pace of technological change is making it hard for older companies to keep up.”
digital transformation – (noun) the integration of digital technology into all areas of a business, fundamentally changing how they operate and deliver value to customers, “Our company’s digital transformation allowed us to move all of our paper files onto a secure cloud database.”
accelerates – (verb) starts to happen more quickly, or makes something happen faster, “As the holiday season approaches, the demand for delivery drivers accelerates rapidly.”
pose challenges – (expression) to present or create difficult situations or obstacles that need to be solved, “The sudden loss of funding will pose challenges for the research team.”
skill demands – (noun/plural) the specific abilities, expertise, and knowledge that employers require from their workforce, “Modern skill demands now focus heavily on data analysis and programming.”
futurists – (noun/plural) scientists, researchers, or social scientists who study and predict future trends, technology, and human developments, “Many futurists believe that humans will soon live and work on other planets.”
lays out – (phrasal verb) explains, designs, or presents a plan, rules, or details in a highly clear and organized way, “The employment contract clearly lays out the duties and payment terms of the new position.”
relevant – (adjective) closely connected, appropriate, or significant to what is being done, discussed, or considered, “Please include only your most relevant work experience on your one-page resume.”
keep abreast of – (idiom) to stay fully informed about the most recent facts, news, or developments in a specific area, “Medical professionals must read research journals to keep abreast of the latest treatments.”
transferable skills – (expression) talents, abilities, and experience that are useful and can be applied in many different jobs, roles, or industries, “Good communication and public speaking are highly valuable transferable skills.”
measure yourself against – (expression) to compare your own abilities, achievements, or standards to someone or something else to judge your progress, “It is not healthy to constantly measure yourself against the idealized lives people show on social media.”
have what it takes – (idiom) to possess the necessary qualities, skills, strength, or courage needed to succeed at a difficult task, “After years of training, she proved she did have what it takes to win the gold medal.”
essential skills – (noun/plural) basic, crucial, or absolutely necessary abilities needed to perform a job or live effectively, “Basic mathematics and reading are essential skills for almost any modern career.”
navigate – (verb/figurative) to successfully manage, handle, or find your way through a difficult, complex, or changing situation, “The new manager helped the staff navigate the complicated company merger.”
flourish – (verb) to grow, develop, or succeed exceptionally well in a particular environment or situation, “With the right mentorship and support, young employees can flourish in their careers.”
gig economy – (noun) a labor market characterized by the prevalence of short-term contracts, freelance work, or independent jobs as opposed to permanent employment, “Many young people enjoy the flexibility of working in the gig economy as freelance designers.”
hedge their bets – (idiom) to protect oneself against potential loss, failure, or risk by supporting more than one option or not committing fully to one path, “Instead of investing all their money in one stock, the firm decided to hedge their bets by spreading their investments.”
resilient – (adjective) able to quickly recover, adapt, or bounce back from difficult conditions, shock, damage, or setbacks, “To survive in the competitive business world, you must be highly resilient when facing failures.”
in-demand – (adjective) wanted, needed, or highly sought after by many people or employers, “Software developers are among the most in-demand workers in the tech industry today.”
cut across – (phrasal verb) to affect, apply to, or be relevant to many different groups, areas, industries, or sectors, “Environmental issues cut across all political boundaries and affect everyone.”
sectors – (noun/plural) distinct parts of a country’s economy, society, or industrial landscape, “The government is trying to create more jobs in the technology and agricultural sectors.”
make the best use of – (expression) to use something in the most effective, productive, or beneficial way possible to achieve a great result, “The team managed to make the best use of their limited budget to produce an incredible video.”
emotional intelligence – (noun) the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships empathetically and sensibly, “Managers with high emotional intelligence are much better at resolving conflicts among their staff.”
soft skills – (noun/plural) personal attributes, traits, and social abilities (such as communication, empathy, and teamwork) that enable someone to interact effectively with others, “While technical knowledge is important, soft skills are what help you get promoted into leadership roles.”
active listening – (noun/expression) a structured way of listening and responding to another person that involves full focus, understanding, and feedback, “By practicing active listening, the counselor made the client feel truly heard and understood.”
conscious effort – (expression) a physical or mental attempt that is made deliberately, intentionally, and with full awareness, “She made a conscious effort to stop checking her phone during family dinners.”
concentrate on – (phrasal verb) to direct all of one’s attention, thoughts, focus, or efforts toward a specific activity or subject, “The noisy environment made it very difficult for him to concentrate on his work.”
cues – (noun/plural) signals, signs, or hints that guide someone on how to behave, respond, or act in a social or professional setting, “Pay attention to social cues, such as eye contact and body language, during your interview.”
tech savvy – (adjective) exceptionally proficient, knowledgeable, and comfortable with using modern digital technology, “My grandmother has become surprisingly tech savvy since she got a tablet for her birthday.”
bombarded with – (expression) overwhelmed or repeatedly hit with a large amount of questions, information, requests, or physical objects all at once, “Customers are constantly bombarded with online advertisements while browsing the web.”
think-tank – (noun) a group of experts gathered to conduct intensive research and propose ideas, strategies, or solutions to social, political, or economic problems, “The economic think-tank published a detailed report suggesting new tax policies.”
policymakers – (noun/plural) members of a government, business, or organization who are officially responsible for making new rules, laws, or guidelines, “The policymakers met today to discuss new strategies for reducing carbon emissions.”
personal brand – (expression) the unique combination of skills, experience, and personality that you want the world to associate with you, especially online, “Writing helpful articles on LinkedIn is a great way to build your personal brand.”
stand out – (phrasal verb) to be much better, more noticeable, unique, or more impressive than other people or things, “Her unique dress and bright smile made her stand out from everyone else at the party.”