Soft Skills In 2021:  10 Most Requested By Workers

From flexibility to emotional intelligence, here are the transversal skills most requested by workers this year

Beyond the technical skills, specific to each sector and profession, it is very often the transversal skills, the soft skills, that really make the difference in the contribution that the person can give to the team and the company and to make a professional unique. But what are the soft skills most requested for workers in 2021?

Here they are collected in a top 10 of the skills that cannot be missing in the new decade.

Problem Solving

At the top of the list of the most requested soft skills in 2021, we find problem-solving, a fundamental skill in a period of change like the current one, in a phase of the full transformation of organizational and business models.

In situations like these, we can find ourselves faced with completely new situations, for which there are no best practices or instruction manuals and in which it becomes essential to find logical solutions and creativity to complex problems.

The problem-solving ability combines a mindset more technical and analytical with strong skills lateral thinking and creativity, making the person able to keep the focus on their goals and find effective solutions even in the face of complex or unexpected problems.

Flexibility and ability to adapt

Always in great demand in the world of work and often connected with problem-solving, the ability to adapt has become a fundamental skill in times of change as fast as the one we are experiencing.

New habits, new tools and working methods, new technologies: with a socio-economic scenario and a world of work that evolves very quickly, it is not possible to think of using the same approach as in the immediate past.

A worker with this ability is able to fit into various contexts, can pass from one project to another without problems and still manages to prove effective even in the event of changes in the surrounding variables. This is why “flexibility” is already a watchword, essential to face the totally new scenarios that lie ahead.

Stress and pressure management

Although no worker should be subjected to excessive pressure, a certain amount of stress is an unavoidable element in any job and it is therefore important that the person is able to manage it properly.

A professional able to manage stress and pressure manages to remain productive and positive even in the most complex situations, without negatively affecting others but managing to optimize his work and positively influencing the team.

In light of this, it is already clear why this skill is one of the most sought after and appreciated in the world of work today, characterized by workloads and rhythms that can put the person to the test.

Communication

The union of ideas and facts, contextualized within stories, is one of the most powerful elements in today’s world.

Storytelling, the ability to tell and tell and, more generally, communication skills are essential in a world where we communicate at any time and through different channels, both digital and physical.

Possessing this ability does not only mean being able to express oneself clearly and effectively but also being able to listen to others, understand the shifts in communication and adapt one’s communication modality to the situation, the interlocutor, the topic and the circumstances of the moment.

Furthermore, in 2021, this competence becomes even more important as it is also useful to overcome the physical barriers given by distance communication.

Collaboration

More and more often you work in multifunctional teams or find yourself having to collaborate with different types of people and professionals, who sometimes are even on the other side of the world. If digital communication tools help in collaboration with the team, the ability of the person to be effective, remains fundamental.

working together with other people, even at a distance, and actively contribute to achieving the common goal, implementing negotiations and collaborating even without necessarily sharing the same point of view.

Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

“The moment I truly understand my opponent, deeply enough to beat him, at that precise moment I begin to love him. I think it is impossible to know a person, what he is and what he believes in, without loving him as he loves himself. “

The Ender’s Game

Simplified in the saying “putting yourself in the shoes of others”, empathy is the ability to put yourself in the position of another person, to try to feel or understand what another person is feeling, making an effort to see things from the point of view.

 out of sight of others. It has always been a highly sought-after skill in the job market which, we could say, “never goes out of style”.

This is because, in whatever context one operates, the empathic person is able to understand and relate better to others, creating harmony, stimulating collaboration and cohesion and ultimately leading to greater results. And this is fundamental in any era.

Ethics 

A relatively recent entry in the ranking of the soft skills most requested by companies is that of ethics.

Today, more than ever, people and organizations pay attention to the values that guide behaviour and that must be shared and aligned to achieve a fruitful and lasting relationship.

This ability defines the morality and integrity with which a person moves in the world of work and behaves in professional situations and relationships; more specifically, we can then speak of “work ethics”, referring to people’s belief in the importance of work and their ability to maintain their principles.

Leadership 

While not all job positions involve taking on a managerial role, leadership ability is valued positively in both senior professionals and workers with less work experience.

Complex and made up of different facets, leadership ability means knowing how to manage and motivate your team, making the decisions right at the right time, checking performance and supporting team members in their growth and acting as a guide even in complex situations and help solve them.

Time Management

Although time management has always been a skill of great importance in the workplace, it has taken on even more importance with the increase in remote working.

At home, in a context different from that usually associated with work and with a thousand external stresses and distractions. the ability to stay focused and give the right priorities to the activities to be carried out has become fundamental, also organizing thanks to the to-do-list and daily and weekly goals.

Not only that: time management also includes the ability to correctly manage the moments of pause, essential to guarantee the right rest and keep one’s efficiency and productivity high without the risk of overworking.

Sense of humour

It may seem particular, but the sense of humour and the ability to play down are skills that are highly valued by companies and colleagues.

Especially in a year that has put many to the test also from an emotional point of view, the ability to relieve situations stress and tension create a pleasant and more relaxed environment for everyone. Helping to bring attention back to the positive sides and fostering a positive working climate.

These are the skills that surveys and surveys indicate as the most sought after in the labour market, but it should be remembered that every work context is different and requires the use of unique skills and abilities.

Only from the encounter between the professional in possession of the right pattern of skills and competencies and the suitable context to demonstrate and develop them will a relationship be created that will bring benefits to both parties.