Today's workforce is incredibly demanding! The competition is fierce, and once you have a position you love, you really want to do everything possible to keep it. There is a certain skillset that can help you do exactly that, and it applies no matter what profession you are in. Here are five skills that no modern worker should ever be without:
The ability to establish boundaries and maintain them. If you think that giving up your entire personal life is going to win hearts at the office, think again. Instead, learn how to set boundaries for yourself, and your boss, coworkers, and customers will respect you more for it.
The ability to manage your time wisely. No matter what task you take on, you should have an idea of how long it will take and how that fits into your overall schedule for your day. The same applies when you're looking ahead to next week or next month. Where your work day is concerned, any time that you waste on irrelevant tasks is just going to create obstacles for you later.
Strong written and oral communication. The way you write an email can make or break the underlying message. Your word choice when speaking can be the difference between coming across as a thought leader vs. coming across as an arrogant know-it-all. Most importantly, a firm grasp on spelling and grammar is essential in every field, no exception.
The capacity to think one step ahead of the game. Being a forward thinker not only improves your job performance, but it enhances your ability to get the jobs you want. You should always be thinking about the next task or what you can do to receive a promotion in the next 3, 6, or 12 months.
The ability to "play nice" with others. Even if you choose the most secluded line of work and you work as a freelancer for most of your career, there is no avoiding the fact that you are going to have to interact with others. So, hone your ability to play nice! It will serve you well for many years to come.
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