The world is changing rapidly, with increasingly sophisticated technology acting to further globalize the world’s marketplace and expand business and employment opportunities. Yet, at the same time, as technology succeeds in automating many business processes, we are finding that specific skills, referred to as “power skills” and traditionally known as “soft skills”, are more critical for employees to possess than ever before. That makes lifelong learning, the improvement of skills, and the plugging of any skill gaps crucial.
Technology is redefining the very nature of jobs and work itself. In order to remain ahead of the competition, organizations are well-advised to ensure the upskilling of their employees. This upskilling and reskilling is of crucial importance in edtech, and especially in edtech startups that endeavor to improve the teaching experience. Indeed, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly integrated into business. Although there have long been fears that this increased technological integration will result in job losses, more people are being employed due to the successful financial results of the implemented improvements.
However, although digital technology creates more jobs, there are still specific talent shortages. Considering the average employee, we can identify that what truly makes them successful is their efforts, skills, and attitudes — and that these attributes are formed primarily due to a passion for learning.
Employers face many challenges in hiring and developing new talent, as requirements for new skills are developing significantly faster than education and training can keep up. It transpires that it is not technical competence that is the answer. This is something that Capabilia, as an experienced Edtech company, has long been aware of.
Power Skills in the Workplace: Why They Matter
Undoubtedly, employees must possess technical skills and competence. Yet the human touch remains as crucial as ever. As the world and workplaces continue to undergo extended upheaval, hard skills related to business, such as computer coding, analytics, and business and financial management, are undoubtedly crucial. However, soft skills training has been proven to be the most vital to a company’s long-term success.
Soft skills make employees successful, contributing to their ability to be creative, compassionate, and flexible towards customers and their colleagues. They enable employees to transfer their experiences and expertise into new functions, bringing new ideas and solutions. They also would allow employees to take on new challenges and opportunities.
Indeed, Google spent several years on an internal study to discover what makes the perfect team, and the company found that the best teams are not the ones that are filled with top analysts or scientists. On the contrary, the most successful teams were composed of those employees who strongly displayed their soft or power skills. Indeed, as Google’s Project Aristotle emphatically revealed, the most successful teams are formed by those who say a range of soft or power skills: “equality, generosity, curiosity toward the ideas of your teammates, empathy, and emotional intelligence.” Power skills enable employees to transfer their experiences and expertise into new functions, bringing new ideas and solutions. They also allow employees to take on new challenges and opportunities.
What Precisely Are Power Skills?
Indeed, these soft skills are “complex and behavioral in nature”, and machines cannot replicate them. Power skills are ways of thinking and acting that direct our social interactions. Examples of power skills include understanding power bias, communication, mindfulness, resilience, creative thinking, and empathy.
Previously in business, power skills were considered desirable. Yet recent studies have revealed their importance, and a significant study from the Harvard Business Review has shown that skills in emotional intelligence comprise at least 90% of the characteristics of high-performing leaders.
Fostering relationships in the workplace is often seen as a critical factor in production and profitability. Able employees who deliver good service, maintain productive relationships and manage their time effectively tend to be better at what they do and therefore generate more revenue for the organization. When employees feel valued, motivated, and empowered by their work, productivity increases, and workplace engagement improves. As a partner to companies and universities worldwide, Capabilia works to develop innovative and effective online learning experiences, integrating these vital power skills into our programs.
