ENCG

Ten Human Skills for the Future of Work

These core strengths are key not only for building and leading effective teams, but for
thriving in the constantly evolving workplace.

o We’ve all heard how we sure we don’t become monsters?

Whether it’s the emotional cues spinning by in a meeting headed for disarray,
curiosity that could turn a business-as-usual day into an internal spark reminding you
why you got into this darn job in the first place, or the art of making space for conflict
resolution that’s going to save us all, here are ten ways to salvage our better selves
and keep us from mutating into workplace monsters.

1. Empathy Mindset

Empathy gives us the ability to put ourselves in other people’s shoes so we can see
and feel from their perspective. It is a mindset and a comprehensive approach to
being – in the workplace and in life.

 Listening: The first step in understanding is to ask questions. Then pause to

hear how your colleague explains what they are thinking and feeling. By
listening you’ll gain valuable context for where they’re coming from.
 Appreciation: Showing sincere appreciation and celebration of others’
contributions allows you to show that you value them.
 Self-Awareness: Part of feeling what others feel is also about understanding
your own biases and limiting beliefs.
 Judgment: When people seek advice or share a problem, they are not looking
for your criticism. Consider that they may already have the answer, which you
can help tease out. Sometimes just acknowledging what they’ve said is the
best first step.
 Presence: Before meetings, take a moment to think about who you’ll be with
and what they are dealing with at work – and in life. Time is one of our most
valuable assets, so be there fully.

2. Emotional Intelligence

This is primarily about the self: building self-awareness, self-management, social

awareness, and relationship management. Being cognizant of how your behavior
affects others is at the heart of emotional intelligence.

Think about these questions: What types of behaviors drive you crazy? Where does
your anxiety show up? What do you do when you don’t feel heard? How do your
resentments show up in interactions with others?

3. Effective Communication
What gets in the way of good communication? Frustration, lack of trust, stress, and
avoiding problems, which all add up to endless hours wasted. It’s important to start
from a place of active listening, and consider the following principles.

 Intention: Know what you want to say and be clear about your objective.
None of us are mind readers. 90% of communication is non-verbal so make
sure the words you are using accurately convey the point you want to make,
and that you’ve dealt with your feelings before speaking.
 Organization: Take the time to organize your thoughts and deliver them in a
straightforward way.
 Framing: The courage to say what’s really on your mind is important, but
remember that “I think, I feel” is much more effective than starting with “you,”
which puts people on the defensive.
 Affirmation: Do people understand what you are saying? Asking if information
makes sense may reveal a potential problem.

4. A Growth Mindset

“Becoming is better than being.”

― Carol Dweck, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

So much of what we do is driven by fear, even in the workplace. This fear mindset
promotes a culture of anti-change, even in “innovative” companies. Allowing for
calculated risk-taking is essential for new product development and innovative
solutions. Rather than stigmatizing failure, a growth mindset embraces it as a
necessary part of progress. As Stanford University Professor of Psychology Carol
Dweck points out, proactively finding positive outcomes despite any challenges helps
build resilience.

5. Curiosity + Instigation

Curiosity is a natural part of any creative cycle. It paves the way for “possibility
thinking,” rather than business as usual. Instigation is an invitation to challenge quick
fixes, lackluster solutions and mediocrity. Start by embracing discomfort and the
unknown, allow space for dissonant ideas, diverging opinions, and seemingly
improbable outcomes. Challenging rigid ways of thinking and working enables new
ideas to form. Allow yourself to experience moments of awe and wonder, and bring
that practice to your work. Great ideas often arise when the mind is still and at ease.

6. Strategic Analysis and Analytical Thinking

People often jump into the execution phase right after discovery. The missing step,
strategic analysis, ensures the right questions are asked before a team moves into
problem solving. Strategic analysis helps to identify complex problems by providing a
top-level view into the interconnected web of what can often seem like isolated
issues. Analytical thinking enables people to suspend emotional decision making,
and instead look logically at evidence-based research and tests. As part of the
analytic process, one looks at everything from cause and effect to pro versus con to
cost benefit analysis. It’s a mistake in any product development process that strategic
analysis and analytical thinking rest on the shoulders of just one person. The most
successful project requires that solutions are sourced from a multidisciplinary team.

7. Complex Problem Solving

Complex problem solving is most effective when members of a team look at a project
brief with the eyes of a strategist. Long before solutions are offered and significant
time is spent, make sure to identify the real problem before jumping into solutions. In
order to get into problem-solving mode, you need to understand the true problem at
hand, identify challenges in the way, resist simple solutions, identify constraints and
pathways to feasibility, and, above all, make sure you’re open to experimentation.

8. Conflict Resolution

It’s inevitable that conflict arises in a team at some point or another. It arises most
frequently when roles aren’t clearly defined, there’s been a breakdown in
communication, when assumptions are made, and when workflows and processes
are poorly designed. Most of us have little to no training with expressing negative
emotions: frustration, hurt, outrage. Our default reaction is to avoid discomfort,
pretend nothing is wrong, or unconsciously become passive aggressive. Allowing
conflict to fester can be hugely detrimental to morale and productivity. Among the
most effective skills to learn in order to resolve conflict are mastering deep
listening, mediation and facilitation. Giving people the benefit of the doubt and
leading with curiosity are also powerful tools.

9. Negotiation and Persuasion

On top of understanding another’s perspective and being resilient, work demands

that we find pathways to being effective. This requires negotiation and persuasion.
It’s not just for the sales team. You need to be clear about what you want and what
you’re willing to let go of to get it.

Given the future of work and the growing gig economy, more and more professionals
will be forced to become more entrepreneurial. Part of what makes an entrepreneur
successful is the ability to pitch and sell their services which is where negotiation and
persuasion will fit in – not only for freelancers, but also for in-house employees.

10. Leadership

A great leader recognizes that trust, transparency, inclusivity, and respect are
essential pillars upon which a vibrant company culture is built. They understand that
it’s not enough to build culture, it needs to be protected and maintained. A great
leader also needs to make difficult decisions and hold everyone, including
themselves, accountable.

Ultimately, being adaptable to the shifts happening in today’s workplace is about

putting these human skills into practice on both an individual and organizational level.
While technical skills and needs may change, understanding how to interact and be
more human in the workplace may remain the only constant.