I recently attended a training program on career coaching and learnt many insights.  It was wonderful sitting in a classroom again -virtual though; and honing my counseling skills, learning new perspectives and adding these to my professional coaching toolkit. It’s important for us to keep updating ourselves. I work closely with students and young professionals so sharing these insights with them was one of the reasons to enroll for the program and that I am truly enriched.

Though we use the terms counseling, consulting, mentoring and coaching interchangeably; they have different connotations and purposes.The coach’s role is mostly to hear, listen, read between the lines, understand and probe whereas the coachee reflects, introspects, and finds answers that the coach helps him or her to arrive at. There are rapid changes especially in the education and professional world. No more are the reputed universities or organisations focusing on an individual’s academic prowess but everyone wants well rounded personalities to be a part of their academic rolls or work teams. So gone are the days where one’s academic marks mattered one has to work on building the desired profile. We are living in the VUCA world and we very well understand the power of adaptation and remaining relevant.

History is testimony to changes and something that all of us have learnt is that the biggest change in the professional field came with the industrial revolution that transitioned new manufacturing processes  in 1770s. It took about a hundred years for the second industrial revolution in the 1860s that brought about the inventions like telephone, electrical gadgets, steel etc. However the third industrial revolution which brought the use of computers and internet is believed to have taken just about fifty years. Between the third and the fourth revolution there is hardly a gap of thirty years. Today we are talking about Internet Of Things, blockchain, virtual or digital world and these are fast changing; even a decade or five years becomes a good window for change or updation. Are we as professionals gearing up to meet or handle these significant drivers?

A student or a young professional should focus on profile building that consists of being academically sound, updated on the current affairs, following a hobby or interest, open to learn, update and grow. Being a team player goes a long way in most professions. Today a manager is just not a person leading a role but is a mentor and coach too. Here are the qualities that a manager needs to posses apart from job or professional knowledge and skill sets:

Communication skills

Are the abilities that one uses when interacting with others – verbal or non verbal. These are essential skills needed to function effectively in any role.

Being non judge mental

Non-judge mental behaviour is a way of accepting people with whom we disagree, this means that we look at what was said instead of who said it. To become non-judgemental the development of an empathic approach to people is needed.

Empathy

Empathy is the ability to emotionally understand what other people feel, see things from their point of view, and imagine yourself in their place.

Genuine interest in others

When you take an interest in others you build their confidence and self-esteem, you make them feel important, valued, and worthwhile.

Self awareness and self reflection

Self-reflection is the act of setting aside time, ideally every day to honestly look at yourself, first as a person and then as a leader. To understand others it’s important for us to know who we really are.

Rapport building skills

Building rapport is the process of creating deeper relationships with others. It means taking action to create a harmonious or sympathetic connection with another person. It is usually based on shared experiences or views, including a shared sense of humour.

Problem solving skills

Problem-solving skills are one of the key skills that employers seek in job applicants or their team members. It starts with identifying the issue, coming up with solutions, implementing those solutions and evaluating their effectiveness.

Flexibility and adaptability

Flexibility involves thinking quickly to respond to sudden changes in circumstances persisting in the face of unexpected difficulties. The ability to cope with change is extremely important in the workplace. Situations, circumstances or workplaces can change quite quickly so individuals as well as organisations, also need to adapt to changes quickly.

Multi cultural competencies

Every organization is focusing on diversity and inclusion as an organizational culture. Cultural competence is the ability to understand and interact effectively with people from other cultures.

Sense of humour

Someone who has a sense of humour often finds things amusing, rather than being serious all the time. What better way to relax in a group, one needs such opportunities even when engaged in serious work. It helps in balancing things in tensed situations. People with a ‘good’ sense of humour come across as pleasant personalities.

If you are a leader or manage a team these skill sets will help you deliver your responsibilities effectively and create winning ways for you.

PS: This article was first published in the ET Hopsitality World. Pictures are taken from Google with due credits.