When it comes to making the next move in a career, it can be easy to prioritize hard skills and talents at the expense of so-called “soft skills,” such as interpersonal and communication skills. However, research coming out of organizations from Google to MIT Sloan is showing that soft skills may actually be the key to increasing productivity and advancing your career.
Regardless of industry, developing these skills can reap significant professional benefits and help improve your career. Below are LinkedIn’s most in-demand soft skills for 2019.
Creativity.
Every industry and organization can benefit from people who are able to bring innovative ideas and out-of-the-box solutions to their job. Whether developing creative fixes to problems or proactively planning for the future, creativity can make organizations and individuals more productive and better prepared for market changes.
Persuasion.
Persuasion isn’t just useful for sales and advertising. The ability to convince managers, clients, investors or staff to buy into an idea is a valuable skill no matter your profession. Effectively communicating the benefits of your ideas, whether presenting them orally or writing them in a proposal, gives you an edge.
Collaboration.
With companies increasingly using teams to solve problems and brainstorm new ideas, collaboration is a must. This means not just being a supportive teammate, but also bringing new ideas to the table, managing conflict, and working through decisions.
Adaptability.
We’ve seen how rapidly technology and markets shift, and career fields are no different. Being able to adjust to new projects, responsibilities and timelines will make you a valuable employee to your organization.
Time management.
Efficient time management is one of the most important skills you can develop. Not only does it help your organization meet its deadlines, it also gives you time to better manage your workload and develop strategic and new ideas.
While hard skills are certainly important for whatever career path you choose, taking time to develop these soft skills can help you advance through the ranks. If you’re interested in furthering your career by taking the next step in your education, whether a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree, click here to learn more about your educational opportunities.
