Future-proof your skills #2: persuasion and problem-solving

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They’re not words anyone wants to hear: global economic downturn, recession, layoffs – but no doubt they’ve crept into your news feed and conversations lately. Add to that a more competitive job market than ever before and the rise of AI and it’s likely even the highly skilled among us are feeling uneasy.

But what if you had the skills that employers desperately need to survive during a recession?

In our last post, we looked at an overview of what skills will be needed in the future, based on key global studies. In this post we’ll explore what’s driving the change and dig further into what skills are absolutely necessary for the future workforce of Australia.

Two major forces are driving the types of skills that people will need in the future: demographic change and automation. With an aging population, Australia will require a larger workforce with a diverse range of skills to meet the needs of older Australians, including caring skills, financial planning expertise (such as estate and retirement advisors), social services, and technology.

Meanwhile, as automation becomes more prevalent, a range of routine tasks will be automated, including data entry, simple customer service inquiries, and basic problem-solving. Software programming, data analysis, and digital transformation skills are, and will be, in high demand.

Research suggests that as automation takes over routine tasks, we will all spend significantly more time collaborating and communicating with others in the future. As the requirement builds for people to solve more complex problems, organisations will require increased teamwork and cooperation from cross-functional teams with a range of different skills.

Historic research into the specific skills that help people stay employed during previous recessions tell a similar story: cognitive skills and people skills are at the top of the list. In particular, problem-solving and the ability to persuade others to change their behaviours are two skills that stand out.

So, what does this mean for you? How can you build these skills in yourself and through your organisation?

Here are some specific behaviours you can adopt to problem-solve and persuade better:

Practice active listening and empathy to understand the perspective of others. Try paraphrasing the key point of conversation, and acknowledge the impact on how people are feeling, before adding your points or recommendations.

Use data and evidence to support your arguments and proposals. Using at least two different types and sources of data and evidence is a great way to demonstrate you’ve thought about your suggestions and helps others to see your decision-making process.

Be open minded to feedback and different viewpoints. If someone has taken the time to give you feedback, practice appreciating their point of view. Say ‘thanks’ before replying or if you disagree, and ask clarifying questions before countering with your point of view.

In our next post, we’ll explore more ways you can future-proof your skills and within your organisation.
If you found this interesting, you can watch our Future Skills webinar, you can here.

Or, if you're all about 'show me the data'; view our Future Skills Guide here.