7 Most Requested Power Skills in a Complex COVID Workplace

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The workplace is in a constant state of evolution requiring leaders, employees, consultants, and partners to upgrade their skills in continuous fashion.

The top 7 power skills, also known as power skills trade places in the rankings based on the changing dynamics of politics, financial markets, public health, and technology advancements, among others.

Soft Skills Shuffle in the Rankings

In an environment of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), the shuffling of organizational priorities is not a surprise. For example, communication and adaptability rank higher overall than earlier studies. Emotional intelligence is at the top.

Here are the top 7 most requested power skills: emotional intelligence, communication, adaptability, creativity, collaboration, leadership, and time-management.

We generated the list by cross-referencing multiple studies, and comparing them to recent articles from researchers and subject matter experts on how the COVID workplace has influenced hiring managers in their rankings. We tallied how many times each of these skills was included on the list of most needed skills.

While emotional intelligence has risen to the top ranks in recent years, what is most notable is the rise in importance of communication and adaptability. In the age of remote work and disruptive change, these two traits are likely more valuable this year than past years.

With large groups of employees working virtually, it also makes sense that time-management is increasing in importance.

The companies and research studies in this analysis included: Deloitte, LinkedIn, IBM Institute for Business Value, Indeed.com, Institute for the Future (IFTF), McKinsey, Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), Udemy, Willis Towers Watson, and World Economic Forum.

The rankings also included insights from thought leaders like Josh Bersin, Bernard Marr, and Meghan Biro. We referenced a few university studies where the student and intern interviewing results were measured.

It will be interesting to see how the pandemic, civil unrest, and economic difficulties will change LinkedIn’s top 5 ranking of soft skills in 2021. Here is where they landed in their 2020 report before COVID: creativity, persuasion, collaboration, adaptability, and emotional intelligence

Their data is impressive as it draws from 660+ million professionals 20+ million jobs and hiring rates.

Why Power Skills Matter

The chaos year of 2020 is a complicated beast, yet the drumbeat of change is a constant workplace companion as we ushered in the 4th industrial revolution. The rapid progression of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and bioengineering are a few examples of revolutionary technology advances.

To be the most valuable contributor as a leader or on a team, forward thinking individuals keep their eyes on what complements their core technical skills. When viewing identical resumes, the workers with noticeable power skills become the frontrunners for the win.

The case for these skills is strong. Elon Musk has exercised his creativity skills to influence: payment systems innovation, the advancement of electric cars, the development of battery solutions, and space travel. Innovation would not exist without exercising the creativity muscle.

The Value of a Specialized Set of Skills

There is a debate over what to call the skills necessary to succeed in the workplace beyond your technical or industry knowledge and abilities.

If these non-technical skills are so important and help you stand out in a competitive workscape, the reference to soft skills feels weak. Soft is the opposite of strong, isn’t it?

As Josh Bersin, a visionary in enterprise learning and talent management leader makes the case for branding them as power skills, I applaud the rebranding of soft skills to power skills.

These skills will advance you and differentiate you in the work environment. Power skills will land you the job when compared to someone with similar technical knowledge.

The tie-breaker when interviewing for job roles!

The table refers to how HR professionals and others have referred to these vital skills. It appears technical know-how without the magic complement is not as valuable as a well-rounded grouping of professional capabilities.

What is the Definition of Power Skills?

Let’s review the definition to understand the value. Well, there are multiple definitions.

They are referred to as managerial skills or the skills you are born with. When discussing this with a colleague, I described them as forever skills.

“Soft skills are more often seen as personality traits you may have spent your whole life developing. They are called upon when you manage your time, communicate with other people or confront a difficult situation for the first time.”

Indeed.com

“These skills don’t relate to what work you do, but how you work.”

Personnel Today

"Desirable qualities for certain forms of employment that do not depend on acquired knowledge: they include common sense, the ability to deal with people, and a positive flexible attitude.”

Collins English Dictionary

This one appeals to me, “how you work and interact with people” as a short hybrid version of existing definitions.

Virtual For the Win 

The biggest change in the workplace lexicon is the addition of the word virtual. The following phrases emerged in recent months: virtual meeting, virtual collaboration, virtual leadership, and virtual communication.

When hiring managers are asked for what’s needed now in the workplace, they combine virtual with the personal attributes most important to them.

The Top 7 Power Skills

A few of the studies made use of combo skills in describing the one power skill. Examples include culture and diversity, critical thinking and sense-making, and innovation and creativity.

To simplify the results, the skills are organized under one category.

Emotional intelligence

As a catch-all bucket for describing a related variety of valuable traits, this skill is packed with the ability to sense what is going on with others, making it easier to collaborate with, communicate to, and manage people.

One of the critical elements of emotional intelligence is empathy. Other aspects of emotional intelligence include self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, and social skills.

Communication

This capability includes active listening, translating, and interpreting what is being said, and expressing concepts and directions in understandable language. Most of an organization’s biggest HR problems can be solved with transparent timely communication.

And today, if you don’t master the skills of communicating virtually, you will have a tough time in the future of work.

Adaptability

For this ranking, we included flexibility and agility in the mix. Those who developed the rankings often included these related terms in the same description. Although it does not have its own category, resilience is an integral part of this behavior.

Adaptability is how well a person responds to change and their ability to pivot and flourish in an environment of fast and persistent change. It is defined by adaptability intelligence (AQ).

Creativity

This skill is expressed via ideas, noticing patterns, and connecting the dots to design inventive solutions. Creativity contributes to the seeds of innovation.

Companies cannot survive without a steady drip of ideas and ways to implement those ideas.

Collaboration

People who work together toward a common goal collaborate. The power of the win and the accomplishments of the team swamp individual focus.

Those who can virtually collaborate through facilitation, communication, and organization are strong contenders for highly valued employees during and on the other side of the pandemic.

Leadership

The act of leading a group of people and setting strategy to accomplish tasks, build a company, or move toward a common goal. This can be done in a variety of ways. Steve Jobs’ exacting and relentless quest for excellence was accomplished through control and authority, while Oprah Winfrey’s inspirational style is in stark contrast.

Time-management

As a scarce resource, time is the workplace’s precious commodity. The ability to use one’s time efficiently enables daily progress and the opportunity to reach goals.

Especially during COVID times, those who work remotely and manage time well will make an impact and stand out.

In Support of Training and Cultivation

Yes, you are born with certain power skills, however you can cultivate these magic capabilities. Organizations like LinkedIn Learning, various training companies, and leadership development consultants make this possible.

As the skills priorities adjust to meet the future, what is the one skill you will cultivate?

Virtual Speaking, Training, and Workshops

Ask me about my agility, adaptability, and personal branding workshops that will help you, your teams, and your organization rebound in a time of a change and disruption. Available for teams, managers, and senior leaders.

We've adapted our content for virtual platforms. Looking for a keynote, workshop, or training on the topics of agility, change management, personal branding, or future of work for your organization? Send an email: [email protected] and we will schedule a call. Check out topic ideas for speaking and training. 

?Konstant Change, 2020