Today organizations are becoming more complex with each following day. While trying to stay onboard, employees must constantly consider upgrading their skillset to address this changing environment. Processes are becoming leaner, and at the same time, organizations add complexity to them. People working within teams have become more sensitive to what we say and how we say it. And on top of that, what we may have missed is turning like a boomerang to us to show us how much we still need to learn to cope with the new reality.
Now let’s be honest. Even those who present themselves as experts in specific areas are not ready to cope with all that complexity created. In some cases, knowledge and skills are not enough to deal with what is coming to us but create more discrepancies than add value to the process and the environment.
In front of such a challenge, people need to focus on upgrading different skill sets to cope with the new normal situation.
The first group of skills and knowledge we need is upgrading our interpersonal skills. This group of knowledge and skills is the primary responsibility when situations get wild and strange.
From practical research and survey with more than 250 leaders of different types of organizations, I summarized several critical interpersonal skills needed to cope with the new environment.
Problem-solving knowledge and skills
We face problems every day. And many of us overlook or ignore these problems until they become a big deal in the room. And most often, this happens because people don’t want to deal with issues but don’t know how. Gaining knowledge on different problems is, in most cases educational task with significant value. No matter the situation, if documented or described correctly, it may become a good source for upgrading theoretical knowledge on what is possible to happen and what the outcomes can be if that happens.
Now there is a second part after the building blocks theoretical part. And this part is after the skillset we need to deal with the problems. No matter how good a theorist we are, without practical experience in dealing with issues, people can turn a balanced conflict or problem into a disaster. Building on theory, the second important thing to do when dealing with problems is to practically learn how to solve them without causing much disturbance in the already established environment
Creativity knowledge and skills
“You don’t learn creativity; it is something you have or don’t have.” – Sounds good, right? And it is wrong as a phrase. Creativity has different outlooks and faces. What may seem like a lack of creativity in one industry may be the most appreciated and highly rated creative thing in another. A clear example here are the regulated industries with a lot of standards. Imagine how people feel in these industries. From the outside, these industries look inflexible and dull. Still, even the most minor changes there result from a much higher rate of creativity than the creativity understood in the marketing industry. I have had such an experience and learning how to do something meaningful without hurting regulations and recognized standards, but still adding val,ue to your organizations is not easy.
The most important lesson people must learn about creativity is that they do not need to compete with everyone. But people need to know to be creative within the framework their industry creates and the enablement they have to be creative.
Knowledge and skill to cope with stress
Stress is a disaster in modern society. We live in a fast-paced world, and many of us fail to cope with the challenges and become dependent on drugs or sit back without enjoying anything. One of the most intricate skills to master today is dealing with stress because stress is everywhere. We experience stress at work, on the way back home, while driving our car, in the grocery store, and even if we go to the beach for a “relaxing day.” With so many stressors around us, it is unsurprising that people feel overwhelmed, pushed to the edge, and often give up even on accessible things. Learning how to cope with stress is one of the most crucial skills today. The way people manage stress is the prescript for the level of success they will achieve in life and work. Without a doubt, those who manage stress better than others find balance and make things happen faster, which predefines their success at work and in life. A leader who wants to succeed in their career and cope with all the challenges that arise must first learn how to cope with stress. Knowledge and skills in that area help build balance and support the building and execution of the agenda, leading to tremendous results. On the opposite, not making it to cope with stress can destroy someone’s personality and turn a happy person into a sad shadow of themselves and others.
Dealing with novelty
This is the last group of knowledge and skills that a leader must learn to deal with. In a changing world with new things every day, people are given opportunities, simultaneously experience a lot of stress, and face problems from different natures. Learning the essential skills for dealing with all new things in life and work creates flexibility and space for results. No matter the situation or the organization, new items come into people’s lives daily. Some are small and not recognizable at first, while others are visible and have a direct and huge impact. In this full of novelties world, the employees’ role is to help organizations cope with what comes in the best way by finding the best way to continue growth and development. The better the employee deals with novelty, the higher and more impactful results from their and the teams’ work for everyone else in the loop.
IN CONCLUSION:
Interpersonal skills are widely discussed, but after all discussions, they are still a hot topic for everyone. While they are essential for organizational teams, these skills and knowledge are crucial for the employees who lead change and groups toward growth.
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