A smart, formally dressed woman walks into an airport lounge – cool, confident, and savvy. She checks in, settles down into a chair, whips out her laptop and smart phone, and in the blink of an eye is immersed in what appears to be an extension of her professional day. Her nationality might be guessed by her physical features, but, otherwise, there is nothing that indicates whom she works for, or where she works. Welcome to the Flat World!
In a world leveled by globalization one’s workplace, colleagues, team, overseer are not limited by geographical boundaries. As the old order crumbles and the new one builds up, a new set of demands and challenges face the modern worker. An ongoing discussion, of course, is what would be the pocketbook skill-set for the global employee. It is, I believe, a metaphoric tool-belt of skills that has a combination of the old, classics that will always be relevant, and the new, skills heretofore never considered essential, but now, vital if one wants to thrive. Fitting snugly into the slots are:
Adaptability
The only constant is change - never has this been truer than in the current age. Be it the economic situation, technology, the modes of communication or the channels for marketing. The list of areas in a churn is endless. One’s skill in navigating choppy waters will prove crucial and could very well be a deciding factor in determining one’s career trajectory.
Communication
Successful articulation is a foundation skill that was and will always be relevant across the board. It goes beyond just putting across one’s thoughts in a coherent manner. An efficient communicator will not only ensure that his/her message is lucid, but also, that it reaches its target audience in a timely manner and is assimilated by them.
Cross-Cultural Sensitivity
This is a soft skill which is increasingly becoming indispensable in an integrated world, so much so, that in many organizations it is mandatory to undergo ‘Cultural Awareness’ trainings before an overseas trip. Innumerable case-studies are available about failed projects and products; the underlying cause being fatal lapses due to cultural differences. Any worker who has acquired the skill to transcend cultural barriers will testify that it has opened many more doors career-wise for him/her.
Networking Skills
It is another skill which will never go out of fashion and the ways to do it have multiplied exponentially with the emergence and wide-spread popularity of social media sites. It takes both time and effort to go out of one’s way and establish one’s presence, but the results more than justify the means. Whether it be having a contacts’ pool when one needs a sounding board or being able to provide timely input to an external team colleague, the network one develops is always handy.
Creativity & Innovativeness
Creativity and Innovation form the key to the treasure box of success for any organization. To be consistently and constantly improvising or to turn around a problem into a business opportunity is the rarest of skills. Any worker, who has imbibed innovation within, has found his/her key to grow to the very top echelons of his/her organization.
Vision
A quote by John Sculley puts vision into perspective: “The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious”. Not everyone can be a Steve Jobs, but to be able to observe, study, imagine and chart a roadmap for the future is a skill that puts one into top league.
Cognizance and Insight
Being cognizant - Staying abreast of the latest developments in one’s field - requires discipline and focus. The next step is undoubtedly the evolution of this information into actionable knowledge; the extension into insight. It is acumen that enables one to balance both, the short-term and the long-term, and to convert everyday learning into readiness for the future.
Technology Skills
The digital age has spurred in its wake a massive change in the way all industries operate. It has optimized and transformed processes in all businesses. One may not be in a technical career but technology is all around one. And the minimum that is expected of a person is that he/she be able to embrace the latest technical innovations in his/her industry with ease.
Initiative
Initiative has always been in the running as one of the qualities most looked for and valued by employers. It is what demarcates the go-getters and the laidback followers. Initiative highlights the confidence, the dynamism and the resourcefulness of an individual. It conveys the inherent ability of the individual to lead.
Knowledge & Expertise
Being versatile and multi-skilled, a wearer of many hats, is always a credit and looks great on the resume, too. But expertise can never be discounted and has always been in a stratum of its own. Honing one’s skill in at least one area, which will be what identifies one; one’s own niche. It could very well determine one’s career leap into the next level. Expertise empowers one to make career-changing shifts like implementer to designer, delivery to consultancy and even turning into an entrepreneur!
The above assortment of skills might seem a little too formidable, but, hey, Rome wasn’t built in a day! The world has never been so alive and interesting as it is now. Possibilities seem boundless. Following one’s dreams seems a distinct and very achievable reality. So in today’s world one can have either a story or excuses. Develop your skills, work hard and focus – go, write your story, ‘go, kiss the world’!
Editor's note: Most articles submitted to Chillibreeze go through a selection process. Only 30 percent of submitted articles are accepted for publication on the Chillibreeze.com featured article list. All accepted articles are edited and proofread for glaring errors of punctuation and grammar. Sentence structure is changed in certain cases and sometimes, entire sections are rewritten. If you notice any errors that have slipped through the cracks, do let us know! (Email us at info at chillibreeze dot com).
Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in February, 2012. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.
Out of 5 “chilies”, our editorial team gave this article...
—About our writer:
Rajani Nair is a qualified B.E.(Computer Science) graduate with over 10 years of work experience. In the past she has worked for some of the leading corporates like Infosys, Satyam and Accenture. Currently she is a newbie in the world of writing, who makes up for her novitiate by walking the extra mile to ensure quality and relentlessly honing her craft. Motherhood hasn’t cramped her style, only added a further zing to it.
>> Read more articles written by Chillibreeze writers:
Chillibreeze offers Indian writers the opportunity to work on customer projects. We are also India’s biggest writer network and a one-stop shop for Indian writers and editors. The writers’ section on Chillibreeze offers freelance writers and editors a variety of tools to advance their careers. Resources for writers include:
