Whether you’ve just entered the workforce or have years of service under your belt, developing the following skills will help you thrive in your current position and pave the way for future opportunities. These five skills are complementary to each other, and mastering them will serve you well in any endeavor.

Collaboration

Collaboration skills are essential for working effectively in teams, fostering a cooperative work environment, and achieving common goals. They help in leveraging diverse perspectives and skills for better outcomes. By engaging in team projects, participating in workshops or other training sessions that focus on team-building. Effective collaboration skills demonstrate an ability to work well as a team, but also when engaging with individuals across the organization, and beyond. You can enhance this skill by accessing the Building Collaborative Relationships Skill Benchmark.

Adaptability

The ability to handle unexpected challenges or changes within an organization help you nimbly navigate the unexpected, but allows your outlook to shift from fear of the unknown, to embracing changes as they come. Changes in work environment and unforeseen hurdles can be some of the best learning opportunities, and produce qualities that will assist you in future roles. By developing resilience, open-mindedness, and resourcefulness you will be well prepared for the next challenge, and the next role in your career. By being adaptable, you will see challenges as an opportunity for continued learning and growth. Practice this skill in Percipio by accessing the Adaptability Skill Benchmark

Time Management

Good time management skills are essential for maximizing productivity, meeting deadlines, and aiding in developing planning skills. Prioritization of tasks, and the ability to predict time commitment to various projects are also valuable skills to develop to meet the expectations of your team and to meet organizational goals. Additionally, using a combination of tools like Excel or Google spreadsheets, task-tracking software, and calendars help with scheduling, tracking of time spent on projects, a visualization of deadlines, and they produce a record of work completed in addition to breaking tasks into smaller more manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Proficiency in use of tools like these is also beneficial for future roles. The Time Management Channel in Percipio has courses, books, and Skill Benchmarks available to master this skill.

Interpersonal Skills

Building and maintaining positive relationships at work not only aids you in your current role, but can also support you in the pursuit of a new role. These skills contribute to improving overall communication skills, such as active listening help to develop respect and understanding of other’s perspectives, networking at professional development events and engaging with colleagues opens the door to new and exciting opportunities. Building a professional network is also a demonstration of your ability to make connections and foster relationships. Watch a replay of Active Listening from last year’s Elevating Cougs conference to learn how listening will positively impact your professional relationships.

Presentation Skills

Many people fear public speaking, but developing this skill helps in overcoming this fear and boosting overall confidence. Developing these skills translates into other areas of professional and personal life, thus they are essential skills to have in your repertoire. Overcoming the fear of speaking publicly whether it’s a team meeting or a speech in front of thousands will build your self-esteem; each time you present further reinforces your belief in your abilities and encourages you to take on more significant challenges. With confidence in presenting comes the ability to persuade, facilitate dialogue and feedback, and ultimately drive positive change in an organization. Check out the Presentation Skills and Oral Communication Skill Benchmarks to learn techniques for creating and delivering memorable presentations.

By leveraging skill development content within the Percipio content library such as Skill Benchmarks and CAISY AI simulations, you can equip yourself with these skills needed to thrive in future job roles ensuring you remain agile and competitive in today’s dynamic employment landscape. In today’s rapidly evolving job market, staying ahead means continuously improving your skills, and Percipio’s robust content library is an invaluable asset for professional development opportunities.

Registration for Elevating Cougs 2024 opens July 8th, don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn directly from the experiences of your WSU colleagues in these areas. To learn more and sign up for the newsletter, visit the Elevating Cougs 2024 website.

Content Credit: Ariana McDonnell, Learning and Organizational Development Analyst