As marketers , there is a need to think on your feet . Anything can change , there must be a way out . When things go wrong , as they tend to do , always think of your plan B and plan C and plan D . In fact , prepare these contingency options so that you gracefully slide into the solutions without batting an eyelid . common objective . So when was the last time someone asked you to help , and you said that wasn ’ t your job ? What of your concern for the corporate brand and reputation ? Or do you say you aren ’ t in the communications department so that doesn ’ t affect you ?
COACHING
Skills Of The Future
By Thrity Engineer-Mbuthia
A recently released research report by the Federation of Kenya Employers ( FKE ) explored an area of interest to both employers and employees alike . One of the things that stood out was the skills that employers would want to have in employees . There is a certain irony , when the current unemployment rate is high , to hear the constant cry from employers that they are unable to find the right staff . Sit down and talk to entrepreneurs running small and medium sized organizations . They will tell you of their struggles to find the effective salesperson , the impactful digital marketer or even creative graphic designer . What seems to be the problem ? Is it technical skills or soft skills ?
The FKE report highlighted seven key skills that employers would want to see in employees . How do these key skills fit within the marketing profession ?
Effective Communication
This one must be the easiest to tick off . Marketers cannot function without
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marketing communications . So marketers must be experts at communication . But is marketing communication different from interpersonal communication ? Marketing communication is supposed to translate ( eventually ) into revenue for the organization . Interpersonal communication is about communication via speaking , listening , writing and observation .
Critical Thinking
This is a soft skill that is quite complex . Someone once said , Thinking is such a chore ,” highlighting the amount of energy needed to reflect , to compare and to critique . For example , what comes first , is it marketing or branding ?
Collaboration
This can be understood to be teamwork . However , this assumes people are in the same function and therefore this is the only place to work together . Collaboration is much more encompassing and brings together people from different functions who have an interest in delivering a
As marketers , there is a need to think on your feet . Anything can change , there must be a way out . When things go wrong , as they tend to do , always think of your plan B and plan C and plan D . In fact , prepare these contingency options so that you gracefully slide into the solutions without batting an eyelid . common objective . So when was the last time someone asked you to help , and you said that wasn ’ t your job ? What of your concern for the corporate brand and reputation ? Or do you say you aren ’ t in the communications department so that doesn ’ t affect you ?
Time Management
This is a pet peeve . Time management and timekeeping are related but are also quite different .
Time keeping is adherence to deadlines , showing up at the agreed time and starting meetings on time . Managing time is about efficient use of the hours available to you .
Some people manage to do so much in an average 8-hour day . Others will require an entire month to accomplish the same . Is this an attitude problem or is it an adherence to the famous saying - there is no hurry in Africa ? Prioritize your day , and work on things that are both urgent and important . Take time to schedule things that are important so that you can address them in good time . Practice delegation and avoid things that are time wasting like spending 4 hours on social media with nothing to show for it .
Creativity
Not all of us are blessed with the ability to be creative . Or perhaps we are , just that we have decided to lock it away in a certain area of our brains . Think back to when you were a child . You played games , you used your imagination , you were eager to learn new things . You could innovate with such limited resources . As you grew up , adults told you what you could or couldn ’ t
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