3 Skills to Propel Your Career

Keeping up with the skills companies need most is important for career development. Many employers focus on essential skills to drive their businesses forward, and today that includes digital literacy, emotional intelligence, and creativity. How can these skills help you expand your career opportunities and align with your goals? 

By embracing new challenges and being open to new ways of doing things, individuals can develop the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world. But what skills should you focus on? In our round-up, three high-level skills bubble to the top, digital literacy, emotional intelligence, and creativity.  

Three Skills for Career Development  

Digital Literacy 

According to a report by Deloitte, companies like IBM, Microsoft, and Amazon are seeking candidates with digital skills like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud computing. “Companies that invest in digital upskilling programs are seeing higher productivity, increased employee engagement, and stronger financial performance,” said Deloitte’s Managing Director, Burt Rea. 

With the increasing use of technology in the workplace, employees must be proficient in using digital tools to perform their jobs. According to a survey conducted by LinkedIn, the top five in-demand hard skills in 2021 were all related to technology. These skills include cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. 

Roles that Require Digital Expertise 

Some job titles that require digital literacy skills include software developers, data analysts, and marketing managers. A software developer needs to be proficient in programming languages, software development tools, and cloud computing to develop software applications. A data analyst needs to be proficient in data visualization tools, SQL databases, and machine learning algorithms to analyze and interpret data. To develop and implement marketing campaigns, a marketing manager needs to be proficient in digital marketing tools, search engine optimization (SEO), and social media marketing. 

Improving Your Digital Savvy 

There are several options for acquiring digital literacy skills, and the path you choose may be specific to technology or your industry specialty, for example, getting certified in a technology area like CompTIA, Cisco, or Microsoft. You can also take online courses on platforms like Coursera, edX, and Udemy. Many companies and industry organizations also offer webinars and workshops on technology-related topics.  

Emotional Intelligence 

Emotional intelligence is another critical skill that employers are looking for in the next five years. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, navigate, and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. It is a critical skill for employees in any role, as it can help them build better relationships with colleagues and clients. According to a survey by LinkedIn, emotional intelligence was the most in-demand soft skill in 2021. 

Where Emotional Intelligence Is a Big Plus 

Some job titles that require emotional intelligence skills include human resources managers, sales representatives, and teachers. A human resources manager needs to have high emotional intelligence to communicate effectively with employees, resolve conflicts, and create a positive work environment. A sales representative needs to have high emotional intelligence to build rapport with customers, understand their needs, and negotiate effectively. A teacher needs to have high emotional intelligence to connect with students, understand their learning styles, and provide support and encouragement. 

Emotional Intelligence Can Be Learned 

There are several options for acquiring emotional intelligence skills. While regularly reflecting on your emotions and how they impact your interactions with others can also help you develop your emotional intelligence, you might want to look to external resources for assistance. 

Yes, you can take a course or workshop specifically on emotional intelligence. Many organizations offer these courses and workshops.  

1. Six Seconds: This organization offers a wide range of emotional intelligence courses and certifications for individuals and organizations. Their courses cover self-awareness, empathy, and communication topics, and they offer in-person and online training options. 
2. Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence: This center offers a range of training programs for individuals and organizations, including the RULER Approach, which is designed to help schools develop emotional intelligence skills in students and educators. They also offer workshops and training programs for businesses and organizations. 
3. Emotional Intelligence Academy: This academy offers a range of online courses and certifications in emotional intelligence for individuals and organizations. Their courses cover emotional self-awareness, empathy, and relationship management topics. 

 There are also many books on emotional intelligence, including “Emotional Intelligence 2.0” and “The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book” both by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves.  

Creativity and Creative Thinking Skills 

Finally, creativity is the ability to ideate innovative concepts. As the world becomes more complex and competitive, companies are looking for employees who can creatively solve problems. 

Companies like Johnson & Johnson and PwC also highly value creativity skills. “Creativity is critical for innovation and for staying ahead of the competition,” said PwC’s Global Talent Leader, Michael Fenlon. “We’re looking for candidates who can bring fresh perspectives and new ideas to the table.” 

Creative Roles 

Some job titles that require creativity skills include graphic designers, writers, and entrepreneurs. A graphic designer needs to have strong creative skills to develop visually appealing designs for websites, marketing materials, and visual media. A writer needs to have strong creative skills to develop engaging content for books, blogs, social media, and other platforms. An entrepreneur needs to have strong creative skills to develop innovative products, services, and business models that solve customer problems in new and unique ways. 

Developing Creative Skills 

There are a variety of learning alternatives available to explore your creative potential. One option is to take courses or workshops offered by organizations on creativity and innovation. Platforms like Coursera, edX, and Udemy offer a range of online courses on various creative topics, including graphic design, writing, and photography. Adobe offers tools and resources for developing creative skills, including Adobe Creative Cloud, which includes applications like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Additionally, many people have developed creativity out of their own practice of a hobby like painting, writing, video editing, or music.  

Also, there are some great books for inspiration:  “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield and “The Creative Habit” by Twyla Tharp can provide inspiration and guidance for developing creative skills. 

There are also competitions designed to encourage creative thinking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship in business. By providing participants with resources, mentorship, and funding, these competitions can help turn innovative ideas into successful businesses. 

1. PwC’s Innovation Challenge: This competition encourages employees to develop innovative solutions to business challenges. 
2. Accenture Innovation Challenge: This annual competition invites students from around the world to develop innovative solutions to real-world business challenges. The competition provides students with mentorship, training, and networking opportunities to help them develop their ideas. 
3. Salesforce Accelerate: This program provides startups with mentorship, resources, and funding to help them grow and scale their businesses. The program includes a pitch competition where startups can showcase their products and ideas to investors and industry experts. 
4. Intel Global Challenge: This competition invites university students from around the world to develop innovative solutions to social and environmental challenges. The competition provides students with mentorship, training, and networking opportunities to help them develop their ideas and bring them to market. 
5. Hult Prize: This competition invites university students from around the world to develop innovative solutions to social and environmental challenges. The competition provides students with mentorship, training, and funding to help them develop their ideas and bring them to market. 

A New Currency: Your Skills are the Key 

Overall, the demand for digital literacy, emotional intelligence, and creativity skills is only set to increase in the coming years. By investing in these skills, employees can not only meet the demands of their current jobs but also position themselves for success in the future.