It is true that modern work has evolved. Beyond what we study in school or at university, we need other soft skills to thrive in today’s world of work if we want to gain a competitive edge.

Working from home during the pandemic affirmed that we need soft skills more than ever to excel at what we do, or keep ourselves relevant for the employers most of whom were hard hit by Covid-19.

Millions of people around the world lost their jobs but those who proved their relevancy by possessing key soft skills needed by the employer were retained. It was also proved that these soft skills are mostly self-taught.

Be creative and innovative. Net photo.

You will not wait for an employer to take you for training to acquire these skills and definitely you will not learn them in school. Below are some key soft skills you need to thrive in today’s workplace.

Be curious

Employers want to see curious employees who ask questions aimed at improving something. A study done in the U.S showed that 73 percent of employers said that they prefer to have curious employees who challenge the status quo and ask pertinent questions that expand the scope of an idea or project.

It was found that the most curious workers who are able to see new possibilities that are typically hidden behind the blur of everyday work and life stand a chance of being promoted at work or even given a raise.

Sharpening your curiosity skills will help you come up with great solutions faster and more creatively and this will earn you confidence with your bosses.

Don’t stop learning

Part of curiosity involves continuously learning about new things that improve your work. Develop your soft skills by educating yourself about a topic you’re not familiar with every day. Dig deep into new topics or subjects intriguing you. Read books and articles online.

This essentially keeps you up-to-date and informed. Monitor the latest trends in the world of work. Learn more about people and things. Don’t be the boring employee that simply reports to the desk.

Be innovative 

Innovation is born out of curiosity. The pandemic showed us that we need to be creative and innovative today more than ever. Curiosity can help you generate new ideas, but innovation drives the collaboration and invention required to bring an idea to life.

It is important to know that your co-workers and customers are your best allies in coming up with unique, actionable ideas. Join forces with them. Put networking among your priorities.

In this era, employers love workers who bring innovative ideas to the people, not people who simply report to their desk to do their daily tasks as a routine and go back home.

Be fast

Innovation goes with speed. Innovation means that you come up with a new solution and quickly go with it before it loses meaning and value.

Being fast involves the ability to absorb knowledge quickly, apply it, and convey it. Thanks to technology and the wealth of information instantly at hand, decisions that used to take weeks now are made within a matter of days, if not hours.

One of the most common sayings on social media today is that intelligent people solve problems but smart people avoid them.

We should also remember that our bosses are smart enough to see those acting smart, dodging the responsibility of paying attention to ideas that can improve the organisation.

They also take note of those doing their best to solve a problem and perhaps increase sales. If at one point they face a dilemma of getting rid of at least one of you, chances are the person bringing quick solutions to the table will be retained.

Make it a point to take on an appealing task when it’s offered to you, pay close attention to what is required of you and deliver on time.

Improve communication

In this day and age, communication is one of the key aspects of work. You don’t have to be a communication specialist or in a position that involves communication.

Experts say that our capacity to communicate and connect emotionally is what distinguishes humans from robots. We have the ability to reflect on the past and reimagine the future.

This also requires you to muster the latest methods and tools of communication for you to stay on top of your game.

Grow your social media platforms and use them to boost your work. Your employer will be impressed.