Are you future-ready? 10 critical skills that’ll fly you there
When’s the last time you made a big change in your life? Maybe you moved cities or made a lifestyle change? The truth is, change is inevitable and it is constant. All we can do is embrace it and, whenever possible, prepare for it. That’s kind of the basis of what it means to be future-ready.
I recently made Berlin my new home. And in doing that, I changed careers. The moment I arrived in this magical city, I knew it was exactly where I wanted to be. Being an advocate for lifelong learning and workplace wellness, I promised myself that I’d only work for a company that is brave enough to invest in its people. Turns out, that’s exactly what I’ve found in SumUp.
Very early on in my role as a Learning and Development Operations Intern at SumUp, I was invited to take part in the Future Ready programme. The event was lovingly tailored to the interests and mindset of all of the company’s interns and working students, whether just out of university or in the midst of a career change. The sessions covered a range of essential topics including communication and the art of listening, collaboration and cultural intelligence, growth mindsets, mental health, time management and decision-making.
For me, these sessions were nothing short of fascinating, helpful and downright inspiring. That’s why I’d like to share my top 10 takeaways — or rather, critical skills — from the Future Ready programme that you can start mastering today.
1. Get to know yourself and own it.
Focus on who you are and what has shaped you to be that way. What has worked for or against you in the past and why? Discover yourself through prompts, journaling, diversifying your resources, external feedback and self-reflection. A time will come when you’ll need to rely on that self-awareness to make decisions and collaborate more effectively with others. So take the time to discover who you are and be that person on purpose. Your future self will thank you.
2. Say “hell yes!” more often.
Looking back, some of the most incredible moments in my life were the result of saying yes to new — often spontaneous — opportunities. Living in Instanbul, singing in a musical, travelling solo, exhibiting my art, moving to Berlin and joining SumUp. Accepting challenges is key to growing as a person and a professional. If we shift the focus from potential ridicule, rejection and failure to learning something new, we’re opening ourselves up to limitless possibilities. So ask yourself, what have you said yes to lately?
3. Understand the different types of biases.
I used to think most biases related to sexism and racism. I was shocked to learn there are actually dozens of different types of bias that cloud our judgement on a daily basis. For example, there’s confirmation bias, decline bias, availability bias and hindsight bias. Knowing what type of bias you tend to fall for will bring clarity and better judgement for your career. I realized I often fall prey to the affinity bias: gravitating towards people who behave, talk and think like myself in the name of feeling comfortable in the workplace, which is something I’m now trying to combat.
4. Communicate with confidence.
Through the training, I realized I often minimize or underestimate my own points by using non-commitment words like “just”, “I think”, “I’ll try” or “that’s just my personal opinion.” I also got to know my communication style better and realized I wasn’t serving my team’s interests by not being confident and clear in my statements. Discover what type of communication you lean on and educate yourself on the steps you can take to improve.
5. Be kind and don’t limit yourself.
Being kind to yourself is one of the most important, and sometimes hardest, things to do. I remember getting teary-eyed during the training when the thought crossed my mind: What incredible experiences have I missed out on by telling myself that I wasn’t good enough or able? I had the same thought about my loved ones. Where would they be? What could they have done if they lived without their self-proclaimed limitations? The training taught me to minimise my use of phrases like “I’m horrible at,” “I’m not that talented in” and “I could never.” Instead, I now use words that shift the energy in the room, like “yet.”
6. Say “yes, and…” if you struggle to say “no”.
If you find it gut-wrenching to set boundaries at work, this soft negotiation tactic is going to change your life. Let’s imagine your team lead proposes a new project. You’re already quite busy and don’t have much time to spare, but you’re afraid to say no. Instead, try starting with “yes, and I can get it done by…” or “yes, and I can do it with Joe’s help.” Doing this will help you set boundaries that’ll make things work for you without rejecting projects or missing out on opportunities.
7. Prioritise, prioritise, prioritise!
If you don’t set any boundaries, others will do it for you. This includes being the master of your tasks, your time, your hobbies, your relationships. Knowing what your long-term goals are will help you segment what’s important, what’s urgent and what needs to go before you find yourself overwhelmed by your own clock. Not sure how to start prioritising? There are countless free online resources to help you develop these skills.
8. Minimise, don’t eliminate.
All-or-nothing thinking can quickly spiral out of control and leave you feeling overwhelmed and underprepared for whatever task sits in front of you. It’s so easy to rely on the “I can’t” mentality when it comes to kicking negative thinking habits like worrying about what others think. Why? Because“elimination” is such a harsh word! Instead, I now try to focus on minimising or reducing and thinking in terms of balance and harmony, rather than in black and white.
9. Reframe the situation.
Jumping to conclusions is simple. But how often do you question those conclusions? What if a problem you’re having is actually not a problem at all? Learning to look at an issue from different angles, questioning the reasons behind what we see and solving issues by their roots is a skill worth developing for your future.
10. Forget work-life balance. Think work-life blend.
In the words of one of our Future Ready trainers from GradConsult, Rebecca Fielding, “Last time I checked, I was alive at work!”. This statement hit me like a rock. Why do we separate our work from our life? Isn’t work a massive part of our experience in life? Of course, everyone can and should set boundaries that work best for them. But that doesn’t mean you don’t get to enjoy life at work. I’ve made a promise to myself to bring my own personal values of wellbeing, balance and harmony into the workplace with me.
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I am grateful beyond words for having had the privilege to learn more about these crucial soft skills. Even after years working in different industries, I had countless “a-ha!” moments during training that’ll continue to guide my demeanour as a professional.
The world right now is filled with uncertainty and change. It’s nice knowing I’m with a company that has my back now and in the future.
