In the midst of digital transformation, organizations need new skills with which to evolve towards success. The much-heralded VUCAH environment, which turns out to be a palpable reality today, requires new technical and personal skills.
Digital skills are a series of knowledge and skills necessary to get the most out of digital technology and information in all areas of our lives, including work and training.
The EU, through the European Commission’s Science and Knowledge Service, the EU Science Hub, has identified and systematised these competences in a European Digital Competence Framework for citizens: Information and Digital Literacy, Communication and Collaboration, Digital Content Creation, Security and Problem Solving. These are the so-called basic digital skills.
In a recent study carried out by Growth Tribe, the authors point out the relevance of the following competencies for the 21st century: Artificial Intelligence, UX, Digital Marketing, Design Thinking, Cloud Computing and Digital Project Management.
Last week I had the opportunity to attend an interesting presentation given by the Chief Digital Officer of a reputable organization. He commented on the recent creation of a University to train its employees in the skills demanded by the immediate future:
Automation l Agile&CM l Data&Visualization l Artificial Intelligence.
Faced with this scenario, however, it is necessary to go further when assessing the digital skills that are currently in demand. Let’s not just stay in the technical and/or technological field. It is more important not to be afraid of change, to have the ability to adapt and a desire to learn than to arrive with the technological knowledge acquired. It is useless to know how to use collaborative work tools such as Google Drive or Slack if we do not know how to work in a team.
Nor will it be of much use to us to have active social networks, if every time we publish we make content mistakes, calling into question the corporate reputation of our organization.
Personal skills, in this environment, evolve and gain relevance. In a recent study carried out by Psicotec, we concluded with the presentation of the nine personal competencies most in demand by organizations in the 21st century:
- Adaptation to change and Uncertainty management. This competence provides versatility to behavior and refers to the ability to modify one’s own behavior according to the changing circumstances of the environment, in order to achieve goals and be able to keep one’s emotions under control, avoiding negative reactions to unknown and/or uncertain situations.
- Learning Agility. They are able to learn in an agile and continuous way, in a variety of situations. It implies curiosity and a taste for learning.
- Client Centered. Competence that refers to the permanent attitude to detect and satisfy the needs and priorities of customers. It conceives its work according to these needs and priorities.
- Facilitating Leadership. To achieve the involvement of others in the objectives, promoting creativity and innovation. It must be communicated at all times in a clear and open way, with a coherent discourse. Listens and is receptive to the ideas of others. It transmits and generates enthusiasm in the team.
- Intrapreneurial and innovative spirit. To provide innovative solutions that are different from the usual work, seeking improvements in procedures. Facilitate and promote the implementation of a company culture based on continuous improvement, without fear of possible mistakes.
- Networking. It implies the intention to collaborate and cooperate with other diverse individuals and/or groups in the changing and dynamic environment that the network represents. Work together with a group of people in a network that performs their function with shared objectives or for a specific project.
- Strategic vision. Understands, knows and understands the company’s strategy and tries to adapt and apply it to the responsibilities of their position.
- Data Analysis and Troubleshooting. They are able to understand a situation, carry out an exhaustive and thorough analysis, identify the cause and implications of a problem, organize its parts and establish priorities, providing order and solutions to data management.
- Critical reasoning. In an environment of information overload, they are able to analyze the information they have on a topic, evaluating the data available from a critical position to finally reach their own criteria.
Only organizations capable of attracting, developing, and engaging professionals with these skills will succeed in the 21st century, which seems exciting and full of challenges.
At Psicotec we are doubly committed to the improvement and development of people’s skills. Not only do we identify those candidates who will best fit a given position and organisation, but we are also committed to training and developing their personal, relational and leadership skills as a path towards self-fulfilment and a deep bond between company and employee.
Only by investing in the talent of our organizations will we be able to become truly innovative companies.