How do you plan to get the skills you need to thrive beyond 2020? Twenty-Twenty-One is almost here. Become an Idea Machine
A couple of years ago, I published the article The Skills You Need to Succeed in 2020 on Forbes’ website. The article has had over 200,000 views. This tells me that professionals want to plan for the future. As a woman business owner or even a millennial woman, you do not want to be left behind. You want timely and relevant information.
A global pandemic and race riots helped to change what most focus on. It made some people vulnerable and lose their jobs. However, a group of related skills – creativity, ideation, problem-solving, and critical thinking – will help you navigate any change that you face. And these are skill you should make a priority to learn.
McKinsey Research to Help You Plan for the Future
There are many studies on the impact of automation, but this one caught my eye. McKinsey Global Institute released the report, The future of women at work: Transitions in the age of automation. Artificial intelligence technologies will have a devastating impact on women. Many of these women will have to up-skill if they want to take home a salary.
“Between 40 million and 160 million women globally may need to transition between occupations by 2030, often into higher-skilled roles. To weather this disruption, women (and men) need to be skilled, mobile, and tech-savvy, but women face pervasive barriers on each, and will need targeted support to move forward in the world of work.”
The statistics sound alarming, but do not focus on that. Instead focus on the new opportunities that come with any change. Focus on how you can plan for your future and develop the skills you need to enter the next chapter in your life. And even though the pandemic is horrible, it came with it a set of opportunities for you to grow in your career.
World Economic Forum Skills You Need to Thrive Beyond 2020
To plan for the future, start with the skills that will help you to become more creative. There are several of these skills prominent on the World Economic Forum's list of skills to thrive. The organization conducts its research every two years. I have combined the skills you need in 2020, 2022, and 2025 and identified what you need to focus on for now.
Here are the skills that I would like you to focus on to remain relevant in the future world of work. The one that will enable you to get the skills you need to thrive beyond 2020.
Combined Skills
- Complex problem solving.
- Critical thinking and analysis.
- Creativity, innovation, ideation, originality, and initiative.
- People management.
- Coordinating with others.
- Emotional intelligence.
- Judgment, reasoning, and analytical thinking
- Decision-making.
- Service orientation.
- Negotiation.
- Cognitive flexibility.
- Active learning and learning strategies.
- Leadership and social influence.
- Systems analysis and evaluation.
- Resilience, stress tolerance, and flexibility.
- Cultural sensitivity and awareness.
Look at the list above, you already know the skills you need to succeed. How do you intend to learn them, so you will thrive beyond 2020? Do you have a plan in place, so you are not left behind in your career? You will always have enough time to develop the skills if you have a plan to follow. Take time to reflect on the skills listed above, how familiar are you with them?
Learning and Retention to Get the Skills You Need to Thrive Beyond 2020
In the book, Learn Like Einstein by Peter Hollins, the author writes:
The statistics demonstrate the power of learning by doing. I’m a big proponent of learning by doing, and profiting from your reading time. Create a project where you can use the skills you are learning. This is key to successfully learning the skills.
Definition of Profit Reading
“If you read the right books and apply the information, you can profit from your reading time investment.” Avil Beckford
MoreReads: Get the Skills You Need to Thrive Beyond 2020
One way you can learn the skills needed for future jobs is to join the Performance Accelerator Plan. This professional development program is structured so you can learn the 10 skills and the additional ones I mentioned. If you decide to take up my offer to participate in the challenge, you will get emails telling you what types of books to read each week. You will read five books each month for a total of 60 books for the year. This may sound like a lot of work, but it is not, if you learn how to read intelligently.
To get through the books in the time allotted, I want you to practice selective reading. There are few books you will need to read cover-to-cover. Most of them you will read only certain sections. When you buy the MoreReads Leadership Development Program, included is an e-book that teaches you how to digest most non-fiction books in 30 to 60 minutes. Included are other resources to help you to get the most out of your reading time.
Self-Directed? You Can Do This with a Little Help from a Friend
If you decide to go it alone, here are the first four months of the . You can plan which books you will read during the first three months of the challenge. One of the things that I have done for you is to include summaries of books that will teach you problem solving, creativity, decision making, ideation, innovation and other related skills. This will make it easier to learn those skills.
Read the Following to Learn Problem-Solving, Creativity, Decision-Making
Summary Technique for Producing Ideas
The MacGyver Secret by Lee David Zlotoff, a Summary
Summary: How to Get Ideas by Jack Foster
The Idea Hunter: How to Find the Best Ideas and Make them Happen, Summary
Books to Read and Digest to Learn Creativity and Ideation
I've spent a lot of time reading the above books that I summarized. If you take the time to read the blog posts with care, you'll have a solid understanding of creativity and other related skills. This will take you closer to getting the skills you need to thrive in 2020. That's my gift to you.
Become an Idea Machine
The Idea HunterThe MacGyver SecretHow to Get IdeasA Technique for Producing Ideas
Reading Requirements: Module One
- Active learning and learning strategies.
- Analytical thinking and innovation.
- Complex problem-solving.
- Critical thinking and analysis.
- Intercultural Awareness: Africa.
Reading Requirements: Module Two
- Creativity, originality, and initiative.
- Reasoning, problem-solving, ideation, and decision-making.
- Resilience, stress tolerance, flexibility, and adaptability.
- Collaboration
- Intercultural Awareness: Asia.
Reading Requirements: Module Three
- Emotional Intelligence
- Time management
- Customer service
- Negotiation and persuasion
- Intercultural Awareness: Europe.
Reading Requirements: Module Four
- Cognitive Flexibility
- Leadership and Social Influence
- Career Conversations
- Presentation Skills
- Intercultural Awareness: Australia/Oceania.
Skills You Need to Thrive Beyond 2020: Some Books to Read the First 3 Months
A Technique for Producing Ideas
by James Webb Young
How to Get Ideas
by Jack Foster
MacGyver Secret
by by Lee David Zlotoff andColleen Seifert Ph.D
The Idea Hunter
by Andy Boynton and Bill Fischer
These books will allow you to hone your problem solving and creativity skills.
Actions to Take
- Decide how you plan to learn the skills.
- Get the books and articles you need to help you to learn the skills.
- Join MoreReads Leadership Development Six-Month Program.
I have included me links for you to buy books from Amazon to make it easier for you. This means that Amazon will pay me a small commission if you click on a link and buy any book. Create your plan to learn the skills you need to thrive beyond 2020!
How Avil Can Help You!
The most accomplished people use books as problem solving tools. They carve out the time in their schedule to find solutions in the pages of a book. Let me help you to solve your own problems. Additionally, this program helps you to learn valuable career skills. Click the link MoreReads Individual Leadership Development Program to buy.
Become an Idea MachineThe Idea HunterThe MacGyver SecretHow to Get IdeasA Technique for Producing IdeasHow to Get to Great Ideas
If someone clicks on a link and buys something from Amazon, the company will pay me a small commission. First published December 2019.
