Every year, new groundbreaking technologies break into the forefront and change the state of the global tech industry. In fact, for decades now, the only fundamental constant in technology has been change. As technology around us grows more complex, so do the skills workers need to excel.
However, unlike technology, human beings are creatures of habit, and it’s often hard to break out of our learned patterns. That is why it’s vital for business leaders in the technology industry to foster a positive workforce culture from the very beginning, one that is open to learning and improving with each collective challenge it faces.
Is The Future of The Tech Industry Holistic?
We already know how vital a diversified technological skillset is in the industry, from software proficiency to coding and data analysis. Of course, the modern tech industry demands that workers be like walking swiss army knives. Still, many industry experts now believe that soft skills and high emotional intelligence are equally, if not more important, for workers to possess.
Many experts believe that soft skills are essential today and include teamwork, communication, creativity, and adaptability.
“Not finance, not strategy. Not technology. It is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and rare.” – Patrick Lencioni. Author of ‘The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate the Three Essential Virtues.’
A recent report by IT company SolarWinds elaborates upon how the role of human workers is changing within the industry as automation spreads in the age of AI. According to the study, skills that are now in demand include public speaking and presentations and business and budget planning.
How to Improve Your Soft Skills
The question remains, how does one improve their soft skills?
Free Online Courses: There’s a wealth of free online courses you can avail, to help improve various skills you feel you might lack, from practical communication skills, leadership skills, and even team-building methods. These courses also look good on your resume and set workers apart from the rest of the pack.
Find a Mentor: Sometimes, the best person to learn from is someone who’s been in your shoes. Look to senior members of your company, and don’t be afraid to seek their guidance; the chance to learn from someone with more experience than you can be invaluable to your personal growth and achievements.
YouTube: There are some great resources on YouTube that can teach you essential soft skills that can be useful within the workplace.
The Smartest Person In The Room, by Christian Espinosa: Christian Espinosa was the former CEO of a cybersecurity firm; he wrote The Smartest Person In The Room to teach others about the importance of soft skills and a high EQ in the modern workforce. You can find out more about his book here.
“No doubt, emotional intelligence is rarer than book smarts, but my experience says it’s more important in the making of a leader.” – Jack Welch, Former CEO and Chairman of General Electric
Want to know more about Christian Espinosa and his book? Visit his website or any of his social media channels (Facebook, Twitter)
