This is Week 2 of our journey of collaboration to collate "99 Skills for 21st Century Market Place". We are attempting to unwrap 99 key skills that are essential for success in the 21st century market place. Last week we looked at Adaptability and Flexibility, Technological Savviness & Creativity and Innovation. This is aiming to gain a comprehensive understanding of the skills that top performers possess and how we can develop them for ourselves.
Again remember that the 100th skill is you. This evolving compilation will not just be a manual for career success, but a guide to personal transformation. By the end of our journey, we'll have a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us, and be equipped with the tools and confidence to achieve our wildest career dreams.
4. Digital Literacy
It's not computer literacy that we should be working on, but sort of human-literacy. Computers have to become human-literate - Nicholas Negroponte
An Example: During the COVID-19 pandemic, digital literacy has played a vital role in ensuring that businesses and organizations can continue to operate and communicate effectively, even as people are forced to work and learn remotely. For example, remote communication tools such as Zoom, Skype, and Microsoft Teams have become essential for virtual meetings, teleconferencing, and webinars.
An example of how digital literacy helped save the day is when schools had to switch to remote learning due to the pandemic. Teachers had to learn how to use digital tools such as learning management systems and online collaboration platforms to deliver lessons and communicate with their students.
A Definition: Digital literacy refers to the ability to use digital technologies and tools effectively and responsibly to find, evaluate, and communicate information.
A Checklist:
Stay up to date with the latest technologies and trends by reading blogs, attending webinars, or taking online courses.
Practice using various digital tools and platforms, such as social media, email, and collaboration tools, to become more familiar with their features and functionality.
Learn how to search for and evaluate online information, including the credibility and reliability of sources.
Be mindful of your online presence and how you represent yourself on social media and other digital platforms.
Finally, make sure you understand the potential risks and dangers associated with using digital technologies, such as cyberbullying, identity theft, and online scams.
Digital literacy is not only crucial in times of crisis, but also for the future of work. As technology continues to advance, digital literacy skills are becoming increasingly important for professionals in all industries.
5. Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence, more than any other factor, more than I.Q. or expertise, accounts for 85% to 90% of success at work I.Q. is a threshold competence. You need it, but it doesn't make you a star. Emotional intelligence can. - Warren G. Bennis
An Example: When Indra Nooyi became the CEO of PepsiCo, she travelled to India to see her mother. While she sat in her mother's living room, a never-ending stream of guests and strangers began to arrive, praising her mother for the job she had done raising her daughter. At that time she realized that her parents deserved the credit for a large portion of her accomplishment.
Indra Nooyi, in her unique display of gratitude to her executive team, helped her. She wrote a letter to the parents of each of the members of her executive team, thanking them for the gift of their child to PepsiCo. Nooyi believes the best way to hold on to employees is by "hooking them emotionally to the job" through the company's business model and what it stands for. Nooyi connected with her executive team in a passionate and very personal way through her unique and distinctive expression of thanks, which helped her foster loyalty and morale. It makes sense why she has had a 75% internal approval rating.
A Definition: Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to identify, understand, and manage one's own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.
A Checklist:
Practice self-awareness by paying attention to your own emotions and how they influence your thoughts and behaviors.
Develop empathy by actively listening to others and trying to understand their perspective.
Learn how to communicate effectively, both verbally and non-verbally, and use your communication skills to build relationships with others.
Practice self-regulation by managing your emotions and reactions in a healthy and constructive way.
Finally, work on your social skills by developing your ability to work in teams, resolve conflicts, and negotiate with others.
6. Written communication
Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity. - Nat Turner
An Example: The ability to write effective marketing materials is an essential skill for professionals in the business world, as it can help a company to achieve its goals and objectives. By communicating in a clear and compelling way, businesses can build brand awareness, generate leads, and drive revenue. For instance, a company's marketing team may use written communication to create marketing materials that promote a new product or service. The marketing team must use clear and concise language to describe the features and benefits of the product, highlight its unique selling points, and encourage customers to make a purchase.
A Definition: Written communication is the process of conveying information, ideas, or messages through written words.
It involves using written forms of communication such as emails, memos, reports, letters, and other written documents to convey information and ideas. Written communication is an important skill that is essential for effective communication in many personal, professional, and academic contexts. It allows you to convey information with clarity, precision, and formality, and provides a permanent record of the information shared.
A Checklist:
Practice writing regularly, whether it's through journaling, blogging, or writing emails.
Learn how to structure your writing effectively, including using clear headings and subheadings, organizing your ideas logically, and using appropriate formatting.
Practice using a tone that is appropriate for your audience and purpose, whether you're writing a formal report or a casual email.
Learn how to edit and proofread your writing to catch errors and ensure your message is clear and concise.
Finally, practice receiving feedback on your writing and using it to improve your skills over time.
Effective written communication in marketing can drive sales and contribute to the success of the product launch. On the other hand, poor written communication can result in confusion, miscommunication, and a failed product launch.
Come & Collaborate
I invite you to share your thoughts, experiences, and insights with me. Your responses will help shape the content of this work and ensure that it meets the needs and interests of our audience. This is a win-win voyage for all of us, and I look forward to learning from you as we navigate the exciting world of career development together.
Meanwhile do connect with us to have an intentional voyage plan to navigate your journey to significance. Book a DISCovery Session at https://go.johnsonodakkal.com/DISCover