FUTURE SKILLS
Shawn Hunter
Shawn Hunter , Founder & President of MindScaling Entrepreneur , author , idea developer . Shawn has collaborated with hundreds of business authors , executives , and researchers to create learning solutions . Shawn ’ s first company , Targeted Learning , was acquired by Skillsoft in February 2007 . He is the author of Out • Think and Small Acts of Leadership . mindscaling . com
THE SURPRISING SKILLS NEEDED IN THE FUTURE
Are You Ready ?
IT ’ S a chaotic , fast-changing time we live in . Automation , artificial intelligence , augmented reality , cyber-threats , business bots , and the internet of things . It would seem that in this age of hyper-accelerating technology , we would need the techie skills to match . Maybe , maybe not .
Recently Deloitte conducted a survey to understand the millennial generation and get their view on the future of business , productivity and what millennials think of the emerging younger GenZ generation . It ’ s mostly good news .
Eight thousand millennials were surveyed from all over the world and it turns out millennials are pretty optimistic , particularly when it comes to job readiness for the emerging younger population . The advice of 30-somethings to their younger generation emerging now doesn ’ t appear too different from advice from the past .
From the study :
• Learn as much as possible : Begin your career openminded and be ready to learn from others .
• Work hard : Do your best and do not be lazy .
• Be patient : Take your time when entering the workforce and go step-by-step .
• Be dedicated : Be committed to succeeding and persevering .
• Be flexible : Be open and adaptable to change and try new things .
Sound familiar ? Thomas Jefferson , Michelangelo , John F . Kennedy and Martin Luther King , Jr . all gave similar advice at different times in history .
But the surprising discovery in the study regards the specific skills needed to perform at a high level in the future . According to millennials working today , it ’ s not technical skills that are needed . Analytic skills , IT skills , programming , social media skills ,
even language skills and a global mindset , all ranked below the importance of leadership , flexibility , creativity , communication and professionalism in the workplace .
That ’ s right . The strongest traits needed in the future to build innovation , and growing economies , are not technical skills , but human to human skills . Relationships drive progress in the world , not tech skills .
This is also good news for those of us who aspire to happiness and lifelong fulfillment . Harvard recently completed a study of over 75 years following the lives of 268 individuals from 1938 until now .
Through wars , marriages , career triumphs , personal tragedies , parenting , habits and daily behaviors , the Grant Foundation followed these people as they lived ( and sometimes died ) for 80 years . What they discovered is pretty simple .
They learned that the characteristics of a long , healthy and joyful life are strong relationships with other people , and resiliency through hardship . Religion , political opinions or sexual orientation made no difference . A happy childhood is helpful , but not necessary .
They learned that learning is a lifelong pursuit , and not restricted to childhood and adolescence . They learned that the habits you establish before 50 become predictive of mental and physical stability decades later , and the inevitability of a mid-life crisis is a myth popularized in the 70s .
According to the study , the strongest behavioral contributors of a joyful and successful life are the ability to create quality relationships with those around us , being altruistic with others , not taking oneself too seriously , finding joy in alternatives , and persevering through adversity .
Work on the strength of your relationships . It could be the most important thing you do , both for yourself and your community .
24