The recent turn of events has seen a sudden shift toa work-from-home culture. Technologyin the form of high-speed broadband, video calling and conference toolsand other productivity applications has facilitated remote working, allowing many employees to continue to meet their professional commitments.
However, what primes anemployee for success is not just theability to use these applications but, also how one is able to deal with people and situations, in the absence of a physical connection. Often termed as ‘soft skills’ these are the attributes of a person’s behaviour which reflect the abilityto think,solve complex problems, and interact withand lead others.
What makes ‘soft skills’ as crucial as say, ‘software skills’?
According to the LinkedIn Global Talent 2019 report, 92% of talent professionals and hiring managers agree that strong soft skills are getting increasingly important and impacting the future of recruiting across the world.
Skills such as discipline, commitment, communication or empathy cannot be replicated by technology. Thus, they have the potential to make someone stand out in a crowded marketplace for talent. These skills are even more important for remote workersbecause unlike an office setting, there is no physical connect, no manager tomonitor you constantly or a colleague to turn to for quick advice.
For professionals who are pursuing a journey towards leadership, particularly in the context of remote working, I would like to highlight three ‘soft skills’ that are essential. These are vitalskills, irrespective of your function or stage of career.
Empathy: The ability to understand other people’s thoughts, emotions, and experiences, without being judgemental is important when you are working remotely. An empathetic leader or co-worker listens deeply and makes the other person feel wanted and respected, through appropriate communication and support.
Collaboration: When working with a team, your ability to collaborate creates an environment where multiple people or groups come together to achieve a common objective, allowingthem to share ideas freely and, dealing with conflicts in a proactive and positive manner.
Persuasion: Convincing others to part with their valuable resources for whatever you are offering them in return, is anyway difficult and it becomes tougher when done virtually. To be persuasive, it is essential that you are genuine in your interactions and also use appropriate techniques of logic, emotion, and role-taking in communication.
Adding a repertoire of these skills to the talent portfolio is imperative for every professional to succeed in the future of work.
Srinivasa Addepalli is the founder & CEO of GlobalGyan, an ed-tech firm that helps students and managers build their careers.
