15 professional skills of the future according to the world economic forum

Below, we list the main professional skills according to a survey on the future of work carried out by the World Economic Forum.

1. Analytical thinking and innovation

Analytical thinking enables a more detailed perspective on tasks, processes and projects . By exercising analytical thinking, innovation is naturally cultivated and gaps become raw material for new initiatives.

2. Active learning and learning strategies

Active learning provides more independence and better absorption of knowledge through practice. With this skill, professionals are able to make better decisions and direct strategies assertively.

3. Solving complex problems

This skill allows professionals to assess priorities and focus their energy and time on more complex and urgent problems. It is related to the ability to ask the right questions , which will direct the professional towards a faster and more efficient resolution.

4. Analysis and critical thinking

Critical thinking is as fundamental as analytical thinking. It allows you to analyze circumstances more objectively, using logic rather than emotions . This competence helps the professional to form conclusions based on facts and make intelligent and strategic decisions.

5. Creativity, originality and initiative

Creative professionals are extremely important for a business. They help solve problems in innovative ways , gaining insights through new perspectives. They also boost counterintuitive ideas and encourage collaborative work.

6. Leadership and social influence

There is a lot of talk about leadership styles and the tendency is for the approach in the coming years to be transformational , that is, leaders who lead by example and use their power of influence. This type of leadership has the power to align the team's vision and guarantee better results.

7. Use, monitoring and control of technology

Another of the professional skills of the future is the ability to manage technologies remotely, ensuring that everything works correctly.

8. Programming and technology design

Another highly valued technical skill is the ability to program and build interfaces that guarantee a good user experience. Therefore, not only programming is fundamental, but also the design and usability provided.

9. Resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility

The pandemic scenario reinforced the importance of behavioral skills such as resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility. Professionals who have these skills show that they know how to deal with uncertainty and frustration , which strengthens emotional intelligence and high performance even in times of crisis.

10. Reasoning, problem solving and ideation

This skill is fundamental, especially for leaders and managers to be able to solve problems strategically, prioritizing the best results and alignment between teams. The capacity for ideation, in turn, allows initiatives to leave the world of ideas and be executed to become tangible actions.

11. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage emotions , both your own and those of others. This skill demands self-knowledge and impacts professionals’ self-confidence and motivation.

12. Troubleshooting and user experience

Troubleshooting is knowledge linked to the technology area responsible for resolving faults that affect systems infrastructure. Therefore, professionals who have this skill prioritize simpler and more intuitive initiatives.

13. Service orientation

This competency is related to customer service. Service-oriented employees are more helpful , anticipating needs and focusing on customer satisfaction and support.

14. Systems analysis and evaluation

Systems analysis can be considered applied information technology. It consists of the ability to solve problems objectively , analyzing systems and using design techniques.

15. Persuasion and Negotiation

Finally, negotiation is another highly valued skill, as it cannot be easily replicated by technology . This competence helps with the ability to persuade and resolve conflicts, in addition to exercising strategic thinking.

How to develop professional skills?

Knowing the professional skills of the future is interesting so that you can carry out a self-assessment and identify points that need to be developed to ensure consistent growth in your professional career .

1) Troubleshooting:

• Analytical thinking and innovation;
• Solving complex problems;
• Analysis and critical thinking;
• Creativity, originality and initiative;
• Reasoning, problem solving and ideation.

2) Self-management:

• Active learning and learning strategies;
• Resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility.

3) Working with other people:

• Leadership and social influence.

4) Use of technology and development:

• Use, monitoring and control of technology;
• Technology programming and design.

Below, we bring you some valuable development tips for each of the pillars. Check out.

Problem solving

Problem-solving skills are vital in both professional and personal life. Workers who have this ability are proactive thinkers who enjoy taking action and work with logic, creativity, determination and lateral thinking.

Developing this skill can help professionals progress more quickly in their careers, as well as being an important differentiator in interviews and new opportunities.

The tip for those who want to stimulate this type of thinking is to look for forms of continuous learning , perform logic exercises, include practices that stimulate creativity in their routine and seek environments with people from different cultures and with different life experiences.

Furthermore, it is important to understand the steps of the problem-solving strategy , to train this type of logical thinking. They may vary, but in general they consist of:

• Recognize the problem;
• Analyze what needs to be resolved;
• Study the ways to reach the goal;
• Create an action plan;
• Execute as planned.

Self-management

Self-management skills are also among the most sought after by recruiters. Behavioral skills such as emotional intelligence and stress tolerance , for example, have gained even greater strength in the post-pandemic scenario.

With greater adoption of remote work, other self-management skills such as time management and continuous learning are also being more valued. After all, the trend is for management models to become increasingly horizontal and autonomous.

In this scenario, those employees who can organize themselves, manage themselves and self-develop stand out much more in the corporate world.

To develop skills related to self-management, it is important for professionals to invest in self-knowledge, identifying their behavioral profile and knowing their limits. This self-analysis will help you identify strengths and weaknesses and discover which factors impact your motivation and energy.

Team work

Leadership and social influence skills  fall into the teamwork category and are also highly valued skills in the market.

People who can work well in groups, leading and motivating other professionals are useful not only in management positions , but in all positions.

However, despite being an excellent skill, dealing with different people is not always a simple task. There is always the possibility of conflicts and disagreements that end up unbalancing the organizational climate and creating a hostile environment.

To develop this skill and get the best out of group work , it is worth following some basic tips:

• Have a systemic vision and seek to visualize all stages of a process and the importance of each individual;
• Strive to give confidence to your colleagues and trust them to delegate tasks;
• Understand the importance of opinions and views different from yours;
• Be respectful and contribute to a comfortable environment, in which everyone can express their points of view;
• Feel responsible for the team’s results and not just your own;
• Get to know each team member in depth.

Use of technology and development

Technology is already more than embedded in the corporate world. Practically all areas of a business can now use intelligent tools to optimize processes and ensure greater efficiency.

In this way, well-developed professionals who know how to operate the tools in their area are always ahead of those who still use manual and obsolete systems.

Unlike the other categories of skills mentioned above, the use of technology is a purely technical skill . Therefore, it must be developed through training, workshops, conferences, training and courses .

It is important to remember, however, that technology changes all the time . Therefore, anyone who wants to be up to date in the market needs to invest in continuous development. This is because the tool your company uses today can be quickly replaced in the future. Therefore, knowledge about that technology will also be outdated.

In conclusion, there are several professional skills that are highly valued in the market. Therefore, for you to stand out, it is extremely important to seek the development of behavioral and technical skills and carry out an analysis of your strengths and weaknesses.

Behavioral profile mapping is a tool that helps professionals on this journey of self-knowledge, showing various relevant information about skills and behaviors that need to be better worked on.