The way we work is constantly evolving and changing at a rapid pace. We’re using more technology day in and day out which means more employees will be looking at strengthening their skills towards a more digital approach. Our way of thinking will become different and the way we work will be more beneficial to getting tasks completed quicker and with proficiency.

With that being said, let’s look at 5 skill sets that you will need to carry you into 2019 and beyond.

1. New Media Literacy

Specifically, the functional consuming literacy refers to the ability to gain access to created new media and understand what is being conveyed. Communicating meaningfully, especially through visual media. This can be the understanding and use of mass media tools, often relating to digital media to the ability to use new media, both on the reception and on the active production sides. 

2. Design Mindset

Developing new work processes across globally-connected, enterprise-level organisations. It places the end user at the centre of the picture, unlike previous product-centred mindsets. Design thinking naturally occurs in the process of making something — a notion that many misunderstand. If you are white-boarding blue-sky thoughts without the methods of creation then you are wasting time (and money).

3. Social Intelligence

Connecting with others and understanding their needs. Verbal Fluency and Conversational Skills is a valuable asset when it comes to learning this particular skill. Social Intelligence is the ability to successfully build relationships and navigate social environments. Our society puts a huge emphasis on book smarts and IQ, but our relationships affect a much bigger part of our lives.

4. Visual Collaboration

Working productively and staying engaged as a member of a virtual team. In other words, by using online collaboration tools, employees are able to negotiate content between each other. They can work together on including visual elements to enhance the overall look and feel of their project/presentation. Visual Collaboration is starting to take over the business world. Companies of all shapes and sizes are taking advantage of the unique benefits visual collaboration has to offer, ranging from cutting costs to ensuring your business is all on the same page with projects, goals, and deadlines.

5. Cognitive Load Management

Organising and prioritising work for maximum efficiency and productivity. For instance must be able to manage, optimise and order the workloads of our daily lives in order to effectively deliver the information, data, tasks, goals & others to the brain memory to process and execute them efficiently as planned. CLM is the “ability to discriminate and filter information for importance.” It can be used to “understand how to maximize cognitive functioning using a variety of tools and techniques.”