5 Professional Skills That Can Accelerate Your Career In 2021
The pandemic has hit the world hard in more than one way. Business owners and professionals bore the brunt of the situation. While businesses sustained losses, professionals were at the receiving end of pay cuts and job losses. Thankfully, the situation is much better now as the worst seems to be over. But you need to salvage and rebuild your work life again. If you are a working professional, you can accelerate your career in the new normal by acquiring new skills or refreshing the existing ones.
The pandemic has hit the world hard in more than one way. Business owners and professionals bore the brunt of the situation. While businesses sustained losses, professionals were at the receiving end of pay cuts and job losses.
Thankfully, the situation is much better now as the worst seems to be over. But you need to salvage and rebuild your work life again. If you are a working professional, you can accelerate your career in the new normal by acquiring new skills or refreshing the existing ones.
Think beyond the tech skills and pick additional ones that make you stand apart. Here are the ones you must prioritize in 2021.
Interpersonal Skills
Business is back to usual, but things are far from the way they were before the pandemic. Some companies have decided to go hybrid for the long run, so employees need to get better with their interpersonal skills. These qualities let you connect, understand, interact, and respond to others. You can build a good rapport with colleagues, customers, or clients with these qualities. Build on them, and climb a rung up the career ladder.
Time management
Whether you go back to the office or continue working from home, time management is vital in the post-pandemic world. It benefits professionals who struggle with quality and deadlines. The corporate scenario is unpredictable, and clients and employers do not want to encounter delays.
Time management skills become essential for workers who wish to stay relevant and competitive in the job market.
Learn Six Sigma
If you want to give a winning edge to your profile, lean six sigma certification can work as a growth catalyst. You can start with the basic white belt if you are a beginner, but consider reaching at least the Six Sigma Yellow Belt level this year.
At this level, you learn the specifics of the lean approach and where and how to apply them. The approach enables you to boost your productivity, avoid mistakes, and become better at your work. It also makes you more employable as a professional.
Problem-Solving
Another critical skill you must develop in 2021 is problem-solving. Since more problems will be around after businesses resume in the new normal, the ability to solve them can make you successful. Reaching the root cause and eliminating it is the best approach because it enables you to do more with less. The skill also makes you capable of devising plausible solutions and testing them to pick the ideal one.
Planning And Organizing
Success in the current situation hinges on the ability to plan and organize. So these skills are critical for all professionals. Planning gives you a clear road map, while organizing ensures that you stick to it. Additionally, these skills let you divide big tasks into smaller milestones with realistic timelines. So you end up achieving them easily despite the challenges that come in the way.
A strong skill set makes you an employable asset and sets you apart in the competitive job market. There couldn’t be a better time to ramp up your skills, so start working on them right away.