What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills are important for everybody to learn, for both their personal and professional life.
They refer to a set of attributes that every working person needs to help develop their career.
They are different from ‘hard skills’, which refer to trade skills and subject matter expertise-
like programming, accounting, financial analysis, or chemical engineering- any specific
knowledge or skill you would need to perform your job. Soft skills include leadership,
interpersonal skills, critical thinking, problem solving, and many more. They play a huge role
in your career development, so it is important to learn and progress in as many as possible. We
have assembled a few of the most important.

Personal development

It can seem obvious that you should develop as a person, however developing as a person and
developing as an employee are two quite different things. By taking on new challenges,
building new partnerships, and getting your teeth into collaborations you will pick up on the
fresh things you are exposed to each day and they will help you grow.
What Exactly Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills are the personal attributes, personality traits, inherent social cues,
and communication abilities needed for success on the job. Soft skills characterize how a
person interacts in his or her relationships with others.

Unlike hard skills that are learned, soft skills are similar to emotions or insights that allow
people to “read” others.

These are much harder to learn, at least in a traditional classroom. They are also much harder
to measure and evaluate.

Soft skills include attitude, communication, creative thinking, work ethic, teamwork,
networking, decision making, positivity, time management, motivation, flexibility, problem-
solving, critical thinking, and conflict resolution.

Here's more information on the difference between hard skills and soft skills.

Why Do Employers Care About Soft Skills?

It’s easy to understand why employers want job candidates with particular hard skills. After
all, if you are hiring a carpenter, he or she needs skills in carpentry.

However, soft skills are important to the success of almost all employers. After all, nearly every
job requires employees to engage with others in some way. Therefore, being able to interact
well with others is important in any job.

Another reason hiring managers and employers look for applicants with soft skills is because
soft skills are transferable skills that can be used regardless of the job at which the person is
working. This makes job candidates with soft skills very adaptable employees.

Also, because soft skills are acquired over time – as opposed to those acquired in a short time
during a class or training program – people with soft skills are often seen as having unique and
broad backgrounds that can diversify a company and help it run more efficiently.

Soft skills are particularly important in customer-based jobs. These employees will typically
be in direct contact with customers. It takes a number of soft skills to be able to listen to a
customer and provide that customer with helpful and polite service.
Tips for Highlighting Your Soft Skills

First, make a list of the soft skills you have that are relevant to the job you want. Look at a list
of soft skills, and circle the ones that you have. Then, compare your list of soft skills with
the job listing. Which of these soft skills are mentioned in the listing? Which of these do you
think would be most useful in this job? Make list of 3-5 soft skills you have that are also needed
for the job.

Then, include some of these soft skills in your resume. You can add them to a skills section (or
a section titled “Transferable Skills”). You can also use them as keywords throughout your
resume, mentioning them in places such as your resume summary, and in descriptions of your
duties for each job in your "Work History" section.

Pick one or two soft skills you have that appear to be the most important for the job you’d like.
In your cover letter, provide evidence that shows you have those particular skills.

Finally, you can highlight these soft skills in your interviews. You can mention examples of
times you have displayed some of these skills in the past at work. However, you can also
demonstrate your soft skills during the interview. For example, by being friendly and
approachable during the interview, you’ll show your ability to interact with others. And by
paying attention while the interviewer is talking, you will show your listening skills. These
actions will demonstrate your soft skills clearly to the hiring manager.
  Soft skills for your career

1. Communication Skills

What are communication skills?

Communication essentially means that you are transferring information. This can be via ver-
bal, written or visual communication, or via body language. If you have excellent communi-
cation skills that means that you can interact easily with others and impart information on
them as well as take in information they give you. WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT? It is in-
tegral for your career that you can communicate effectively – without this there can be mis-
understandings, wrong timings, and personal issues with other employees. When you have
mastered this, you will find that your work runs more smoothly and there is never any confu-
sion about what you are doing and why. You will also have an easier time being friendly with
your colleagues.

How do I pick up this soft skill?

 Think about the way you interact with others. Are you a talker or listener?
 A great communicator is both try to read the situation and see if it calls for you to give
your opinion or whether the other person just wants to vent.
 After some practice you should find your conversations flowing better. Written com-
munication
should al-
ways use
correct
grammar and
spelling, and
be respectful
to the person
you are writ-
ing. While
smileys are
generally frowned upon, with your closest colleagues they can be a great way of
bonding and softening any criticism you need to hand out.
2. Time management

What is time management?

Time management is the art of simply being on time. This includes delivering things before
deadline as well as being on time for work and meetings etc. This is achieved by managing
your time every day and being organised enough to stick to the schedule you have set out to
follow.

Why is it important?
If you are in a job but haven’t mastered time management, you will often find that you are
fallen behind on projects. This not only impacts you but your co-workers as well – and no one
likes being unable to do their job because someone else isn’t organised enough. Other than
keeping friendly with your colleagues, proper time management takes pressure off you and
ensures that you don’t end up doing most of your work at the last minute. This can lead to a
lesser-quality end product while you know that you can do better.

How do I pick up this soft skill?

This can be quite a difficult skill to maintain, but not a difficult one to pick up. Observe your
actions for a few days – how long do your tasks usually take to finish? Which are prioritised
over others? Once you have the answers to these questions you can set up a casual schedule for
yourself and, as long as you stick to it, never be late for work or a deadline again.
3. Teamwork
Why you need it: A company’s success is rarely dependent on one person doing something all
by him/herself. Success is the result of many people working toward a common goal. When
employees can synthesize their varied talents, everyone wins. (Bonus: Having friends at work
can also boost your job satisfaction, a Gallup poll found.)

Why employers look for it: Employers look to team players to help build a friendly office
culture, which helps retain employees and, in turn attracts top talent. Furthermore, being able
to collaborate well with your co-workers strengthens the quality of your work.

How to gain it: To generate goodwill, lend a hand when you see a co-worker in need. (“Hey, I
know you have a ton on your plate. How can I help?”) Another way to build rapport is to cover
for a colleague while she’s on vacation, says business etiquette and career coach Karen
Litzinger.

4. Numeracy skills

What are numeracy skills?

Numeracy is defined as the ability to use mathematics in everyday life. To many this probably
sounds like a given, however many people struggle with maths and dread having to use it. In
addition to what we traditionally think of as maths, numeracy also includes the ability to
interpret graphs and certain documents as well as doing certain calculations.

Why are they important?

With everyone carrying around a calculator in the form of a phone in their pocket – who needs
numeracy skills? The answer is: everyone. Being able to look at a complex spreadsheet and
interpret what you are seeing is a very valuable skill, along with doing quick and simple head
maths when you are sitting in a meeting or giving someone a quote. Some employers ask their
interviewees to complete psychometric testing before extending an offer. These tests have
mathematical components and it is vital to get a good result if you are hoping to work for the
company.
How do i pick up this soft skill?

If maths does not come naturally to you, keep testing yourself. Try to never use that calculator,
if you see a 20% off sale start calculating prices in your head, look around online for numeracy
tests. Usually, if it has been a while since you left school, all you need is a quick refresher and
the basics you need will come back to you.

5. Adaptability
Why you need it: Things don’t always go as planned, and instead of digging in your heels, you
need to be able to pivot and find alternate solutions. “Successful leaders are the ones who know
how to be flexible when problems arise,” says Robinson.

Why employers look for it: “The speed of change in any given workplace is so rapid,” says
Joel Garfinkle, executive coach and author of Getting Ahead: Three Steps to Take Your Career
to the Next Level. Consequently, employers need workers who can adapt to industry shifts and
keep the company current.

How to gain it: Push yourself to be an early adopter of change. “For example, adapting to
technology without mourning what used to be true yesterday is crucial for people to be seen as
someone who is capable of meeting new challenges,” says Garfinkle. Inquire about training
sessions and offer to teach your co-workers what you learn.
6. Numeracy skills

What are numeracy skills?

Numeracy is defined as the ability to use mathematics in everyday life. To many this probably
sounds like a given, however many people struggle with maths and dread having to use it. In
addition to what we traditionally think of as maths, numeracy also includes the ability to
interpret graphs and certain documents as well as doing certain calculations.

Why are they important?

With everyone carrying around a calculator in the form of a phone in their pocket – who needs
numeracy skills? The answer is: everyone. Being able to look at a complex spreadsheet and
interpret what you are seeing is a very valuable skill, along with doing quick and simple head
maths when you are sitting in a meeting or giving someone a quote. Some employers ask their
interviewees to complete psychometric testing before extending an offer. These tests have
mathematical components and it is vital to get a good result if you are hoping to work for the
company.

How do I pick up this soft skill?

If maths does not come naturally to you, keep testing yourself. Try to never use that calculator,
if you see a 20% off sale
start calculating prices in
your head, look around
online for numeracy tests.
Usually, if it has been a
while since you left
school, all you need is a
quick refresher and the
basics you need will come
back to you.
7. Problem solving
Why you need it: When something goes wrong, you can either complain or take action. Tip:
It’s the latter that will get you noticed. Knowing how to think on your feet can make you
indispensable to an employer.

Why employers look for it: Nothing is a given. Companies rely on problem solvers a.k.a. their
top performers to navigate unexpected challenges.

How to gain it: “Always approach your boss with a solution, not a problem,” says Robinson.
So when an issue crops up, sit down and think through how you’re going to address
it before bringing it to your boss’ attention.

8. Critical observation
Why you need it: Data doesn’t mean much if you don’t know how to interpret it. Is there a
pattern emerging? What else should you be looking for? Being a critical observer can help
make you a better worker all around.

Why employers look for it: Companies need critical thinkers—people who bring a fresh
perspective and offer intuitive solutions and ideas to help the company get a leg up on the
competition or improve internal processes.

How to gain it: To be a critical observer, you need to be able to analyze information and put it
to use. One tactic is to try to identify patterns of behaviour at work. For example, does your
boss actually read the weekly sales reports? What was her reaction to bad news in the staff
meeting? What’s the best time
of day to approach your
manager with a question? By
observing how people
respond to the constant flow
of information you can better
understand the critical aspects
of improving business
operations.
9. Interpersonal skills

What are interpersonal skills?

According to the Oxford Dictionaries, interpersonal skills is “the ability to communicate or
interact well with other people”. This includes verbal and non-verbal communication, listening
skills, negotiation, problem-solving, etc – essentially all the different ways you communicate
and interact with the people you work with.

Why are they important?

One of the most basic and important soft skills to master, interpersonal skills will help you in
every single step of your career no matter what industry you end up in. Being able to com-
municate effectively as well as interpreting others’ communication is highly valuable and will
always help you in your everyday working life and ensure that you will create great social
relationships. Employers often ask for candidates with ‘strong interpersonal skills’, and what
they generally mean by that is that they want those who are able to communicate and work
well with others like colleagues, clients or customers.

How do i pick up this soft skill?

You probably already do this every day without thinking about it! How do you interact with
those around you? Some things you can do to get better interpersonal skills are: Make sure you
listen intently when others speak
 Remember people’s names when they are introduced to you
 Speak with confidence and think twice before you do
 Try to be as sociable as possible; forging new friendships is great practice

Once you have these skills down you will always

be able to use them to change both your profes-
sional and personal lives for the better.
10. Conflict resolution

Why you need it: “Any time you put more than one person into an organization, there is going
to be conflict,” says Robinson. “It’s human nature.” Therefore, being able to resolve issues
with co-workers will help you maintain relationships with peers and work more effectively.

Why employers want it: Being able to constructively work through disagreements with people
is a sure indicator of maturity—as well as leadership potential. Someone like this helps to
promote a healthy, collaborative workplace.

How to gain it: The best way to resolve disagreements between co-workers is to address issues
directly but delicately. So, when stepping in as a mediator, let both parties air their grievances
in a judgment-free environment and then work together to find a solution.

11. Leadership

What are leadership skills?

In most groups of people there needs to be a clear leader in order for things to happen smoothly.
Whether this is a coursework task or a work project – without any form of leadership it will
most likely not be successful. Having leadership skills does not mean that you are a manager
or the leader of something, it simply means that you have the ability to take charge of a situation
and make sure that it gets resolved.

Why are they important?

Leadership skills are important
even if you might not use them
very often. Once you enter the
workforce you are bound to get re-
sponsibility of at least a project or
two at some point, and it is then
crucial that you know how to get it
done.
How do I pick up this soft skill?
It is often said that leadership is a personality trait – however it is also a skill that can be learned
by doing.
 Listen to everyone- let everyone in the group have a say. This is what leads to some
of the best ideas you can get and allows everyone to take some space and voice their
opinion. You never know who might have an excellent idea that could improve the
project.
 Do as much as you can yourself- do not throw all tasks to the rest of the group. Leader
or not, you need to set a good example and show that you are not afraid to ‘get your
hands dirty.’
 Keep it productive- if you set up meetings and brainstorms, make sure they are pro-
ductive and that the reason behind them is clear to everyone. Do not waste time and
become the leader who cried wolf.
 Take responsibility- if you are the leader, you need to take responsibility for the wel-
fare of the project. If something goes wrong, you should step in and ensure that a solu-
tion is decided on and implemented.

Five soft skills today’s employers are looking for

There is more demand today for

soft skills than ever before. A
study by Deloitte Access
Economics professes that soft-
skill intensive occupations will
make up two-thirds of all jobs
by 2030. But what exactly is
behind this trend?

The world of work is changing

at a rapid pace. Innovations in
the digital realm are altering the
way we operate, and the skills
relevant to the jobs created by
this are changing at a similar
pace. It therefore makes sense that employers want their staff to demonstrate fresh new skills
to succeed in the face of challenges that perhaps the last wave weren’t likely to face. Whether
it’s a more traditional requirement such as strong communication skills, to being more
adaptable and curious towards the role.

By filling over 1,000 jobs every day, at Hays we now know what soft skills are most commonly
asked by employers:

1. Are they willing to learn?

A willingness to learn is the most requested soft skill in the world of work today. Hiring
managers want the ideal candidate to be proactive and take the initiative to continuously
develop themselves as well as communicate this to others. This could involve:

 listening to webinars and podcasts on their commute

 looking at what the competition is doing

 keeping an eye on customer feedback

 recommending news articles to existing colleagues or;

 Creating email alerts for themselves surrounding this topic.

Regardless of the industry, a desire to stay on top of current trends and changes relevant to your
profession is valued by businesses both large and small. This also shows that you are self-
aware. By keeping an eye on changes within your industry, your knowledge will emerge to
spotting new gaps in your industry, and potentially seek to bridge them.

2. Do they understand our customers?

Technology has helped evolve consumer behavior. Businesses are now steered towards
customer experience and behavioral patterns of how users engage with their products and
services. For instance, sports fans will now buy match tickets via a third party app rather than
at a stadium box office, holiday makers will go on price comparison sites for the best deal
before booking their flights, and jobseekers will apply for roles online.
This is why organizations now require someone who can keep up with these technological
changes within their sector and suggest new ways for the business to adapt.

3. Can they adapt to change?

Employers want people who can move out of their comfort zone and see change as an
opportunity for growth and innovation. Having the ability to accept and adapt is important as
adjusting to a new environment is now part of the modern world of working. Reasons to adapt
could be a variation of organizational and technological changes, or on how to evolve and
develop your skillset to stand out in any stage of your career. Some may not always be
expected, but it primarily falls down to how you immerse yourself in that process and are able
to rise above the challenge.

4. Do they have strong interpersonal and communication skills?

Learning something new and thinking of smart solutions to challenges is a key part of
progressing in your career, however these will get lost if you’re not able to communicate your
knowledge to others.

“I want to hire employees who also have a clear view of the bigger picture, those that have a
vision for the future of the business and the industry they are working in and can communicate
this to their colleagues and teams.” Alistair Cox, CEO of Hays

Of course, bringing ideas to the table and communicating your views effectively will show
your value to the organization, but crucially, it’s how you communicate this is what makes a
difference. In workplaces that embrace diversity of thought and collaboration, debates
sometimes ensue and push people to come up with more innovative solutions to the problem
or issue at hand. Organizations therefore want employees who:

 can keep the debate on-task and professional, never personal

 would not put a fellow employee down for speaking her or his mind and;

 Respects other’s ideas.

Equally, employers favor jobseekers who are comfortable speaking with people at all levels of
an organization in a professional manner.

5. What are their organizational skills like?

Employers look for candidates who have attention to detail in organizing their time to ensure
productivity is maximized, deadlines are met and all resources are coordinated with no room
for error. The world of work can be sometimes unpredictable, whether this is through cutting
budgets or being more conscious towards cost in this current economy. As an employee, they
want you to stay focused no matter what the situation may be.

With preparation and knowing what is expected within your new or existing role, these soft
skills will help you stand out to employers, both now and in the future. When you combine
these developed soft skills with digital literacy and relevant technical skills, you will be closer
to achieving a successful career.

If you are looking for support with your employment needs please contact your local office.

Are soft skills essential for the workplace?

Soft skills are a common feature of job descriptions in today's working world, as many
employers recognise their importance to business success.

While technical qualifications and specific work experience will always have their place, a high
level of emotional intelligence is vital for workers looking to attain success in both their lives
and careers.

Now a major coalition of businesses, policy experts, campaign groups, trade associations and
academics are being asked to come together to
demonstrate just how important soft skills are
to the UK and bring about a whole-scale re-
evaluation of their value.

McDonald's has launched the campaign after

research it commissioned found these personal
attributes are worth £88 billion to the country's
economy, while 97 per cent of employers view soft skills as central to commercial success.
Among the organisations it will be canvassing are The Work Foundation, Barclays, the
Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Association of Colleges.

 Soft skills and HR

The risk attached to not prioritising soft skills can be severe, as not only could they face
increased operating costs and problems meeting quality standards, they may also lose business
to competitors and face delays in introducing new products or services.

This is why HR departments have such a vital role to play, as they are responsible for aligning
the goals of both the employer and employee with regards to these attributes. HR professionals,
more so than any other workers, also need to have great soft skills to clearly explain
professional development plans.

If you think about what a manager wants from staff, the answer is very often being good at
collaborating, capable of working on their own, or someone who shows leadership - all of
which are soft skills. Indeed, as people climb the career ladder, there is an even bigger shift in
focus towards soft skills, as a person's technical skill set and ability to complete functional
tasks becomes less important.

The bottom line is that soft skills matter, so staff and businesses have to look for practical ways
to increase their development. Businesses are ultimately made up of people, so people skills
will always be needed.
Importance of Soft Skills for an Employee and for the Organization

Introduction:

Many people ask the question: Is there any sure-shot formula or mantra for success?
But there is really no definite answer for this. Does the magic prescription lie in a company’s
band of talented people or in the company’s innovative products? Or is it something else that
is missing from the equation for success?
An increasing number of companies are recognizing the fact that in order to get some compet-
itive advantage, they will have to make sure that their people know how to handle themselves
at work and how to relate to their customers outside their organization and with their peers
inside.
From showing empathy and optimism and self-awareness to knowing what is going on around
them, there are some competencies that make up an integral part of a progressive organization.
These and more fall under the umbrella of soft skills.

Soft Skills:
Soft skills are crucial not just for a person’s growth but also that of the company’s.
Otherwise, how could you explain the differential growth curves of two people with the same
qualifications working for the same company, yet one is very successful and the other only
moderately so? For example, you must have seen two shopkeepers selling the same product.
But one of them is able to do a better business than the other because of the dignified way he
invites his customers, gives them respect, listens to them and caters to their requirements while
the other shopkeeper tells his customers that if they don’t find his goods any good, they can
move ahead. It matters a lot what you say from your heart than what you say with your mouth.
Another example can be taken of two doctors, of which one of them is more qualified but does
not treat patients with compassion while the other doctor, though less qualified is more humane
and considerate towards his/her patients. You will find that there will be more patients in the
second doctor’s clinic than in the first one.
The answer lies in their different hold over their soft skills. In a constantly changing and chal-
lenging work environment, to gain a competitive advantage, employees need to know how to
handle themselves at work and how to relate with their customers and peers. These skills are
vital not only for a front-office job, say as a receptionist, who is expected to wear a smile and
be polite at all times, but also in the back-office environment, as well. After all, front-office
jobs are more people-centric and they require you to be at your best always—even in terms of
your appearance.
It always helps if you are well-groomed and project a positive image to the world.
In the service industry, in particular, where the back-office team has to cater to all types of
customers, a person always has to be at his/her best. In an industry where you are involved with
relocating people, including foreigners, you just cannot afford to lose your cool. Administration
officers at help desks are virtually swamped by calls from aggrieved customers, requesting a
new telephone connection or complaining about their malfunctioning generators or even gyms
that charge exorbitant fees. The team of officers has to learn to be patient with such customers.
There are no two ways about it.

Significance of Soft Skills:

The importance of soft skills can also be gauged from the following incident, wherein an HR
manager refused to take a person on board because he was impolite on the phone. Even while
this person was making inquiries about one of the job postings, it became apparent that he had
little interest in the job. He had preconceived notions about employers being bad and short-
sighted and the HR manager got completely put off by his caustic remarks and verbal tirade.
In his mind, he was convinced he would never call this man for an interview as his ‘soft skills’
needed a lot of polish.
These soft skills should be inculcated in an individual right from childhood. At home, the child
should be taught how to behave in a decent way with not just his/her parents, siblings and elders
but also with the people around like neighbours and friends.
Children should be made aware of their responsibilities towards their society. Here the role of
the school is very important.
Qualities of team work, empathizing
with others, working together to
achieve a goal etc. should be developed
and efforts for overall development of
personality of the individual should be
made. Even while grading of the stu-
dents, emphasis should be given to de-
velopment of soft skills.
 Why soft skills are so important to the future of work

Employers often use the term “soft skills” as a catch-all for everything that’s not considered a
core, cognitive ability related to a job (like writing code for a programmer or running data
analysis for a marketer). Those soft skills might include everything from creativity to
collaboration to punctuality, and they’re increasingly important as our work changes in the face
of automation and artificial intelligence.

AI will radically reorient the nature of all work. The emotional economy that emerges will be
dependent on workers who have the skills to utilize their unique “human” talents. Moreover,
those specific talents, broadly encompassed by the idea of soft skills, will become the
most sought after abilities by employers over the next half decade. In fact, our economy is
already tilting more toward a reliance on social and service skills.

The 7 essential (future of work) skills

Education researcher Ellen Galinsky identified seven essential life skills that encompass most
of the soft skills necessary for the future or work. They are:

 Focus and self-control

 Perspective taking

 Communicating

 Making connections

 Critical thinking

 Taking on challenges

 Self-directed, engaged learning

Galinsky’s research deals with

children and how development of these essential skills affect achievement later in life (spoiler
alert: kids who develop these skills at a young age achieve higher levels of education), but
they’re also relevant to adults. “These skills weave together our social, emotional and
intellectual capacities,” says Galinsky. “They help us go beyond what we know—and tap our
abilities to use all that we have learned in these different areas.”
 When hiring, alongside assessments for the cognitive functions of the job (the programming or
data analysis), measure the soft skills that candidates bring to the table. Here are a few ideas
for ways to assess those skills during the hiring process:

 If your company spends most of the day communicating in writing over Slack, invite prospec-
tive candidates into Slack during the interview. Ask them complex questions and gauge their
ability to make themselves understood via the written word.

 Test final candidates with real-world challenges that require creativity to solve (I don’t mean
the “how many ping pong balls can fit in a school bus?” stuff, but actual problems related to
the role they’re hoping to fill). Give them a choice of challenges and see which they choose:
do they opt for the more difficult problem or take on the one with the more obvious solution?

 When talking to a candidate’s references, don’t focus on past job performance and results as
much as asking about specific instances in which the candidate collaborated with others or
spent time learning new things.

For existing employees, these soft skills can be developed and nurtured. Here are six things
you can do to set up your team for success in the future of work:

1. Bake it into on boarding – Help your employees succeed on day one by including soft
skills acquisition and development in your on boarding programs. Work with them to
understand the skills they’ll need to lean on most in their role and identify the areas
where they could use improvement. Pair them with a mentor who they can lean on to
work on skills gaps.

2. Set soft skill goals – Don’t just set performance goals around business objectives. In
addition to hitting a new customer acquisition milestone, for example, help employees
set soft skills goals like improving their public speaking. Then give them opportunities
to practice and hit those goals (like running internal meetings, speaking at a company
all-hands, or running a lunch and learn session).

3. Allow time for reflection – Humans are not machines. We need time to reflect and
process new information. Give your employees ample time to internalize new lessons
and think critically about their own strengths and faults.

4. Support continuous learning – As Galinsky says: “It is through learning that we can
realize our potential. As the world changes, so can we, for as long as we live as long as
 we learn.” That’s more relevant than ever in the workplace as AI rapidly remakes vir-
tually every industry and changes how we work. Give your employees access and space
to learn new skills and expand their minds.

5. Model the right traits – “If leadership values skills such as a positive attitude, strong
work ethic, teamwork and collaboration, the newer employees will naturally start to
inherit these very important traits,” says marketing executive Ed Mitzen. Mentorship
programs pairing younger employees with more seasoned pros are a good way to pass
along valued skills.

6. Provide creative outlets – Working for your start up is stimulating, no doubt, but oc-
casionally tackling completely novel problems helps spark creativity and critical think-
ing. You can help team members do that through things like company hacka-
thons or 20% time. At x.ai, we offer all employees a six week week paid sabbatical to
explore whatever they want when they hit their four year anniversary. Skills developed
through pursuits like this are almost always transferrable and will ultimately help job
performance.

We’re rapidly entering a world in which the work we do looks radically different than what we
did a decade ago, a year ago, or even yesterday. AI and automation are rewiring the nature of
work to focus more on the very
qualities and talents that make us
human. To succeed in this future,
we’ll need to embrace those abilities,
seek them out when hiring, nurture
them as managers, and hone them as
individuals.