The key to success in 2021 & beyond – stay relevant.

The most common question client teams ask me is “How do I stay relevant?” This has become a crucial question post the large-scale disruptions we have seen in 2020 in the way that we live and work.

While we nostalgically hope for things to return to the ‘old normal’, we are faced with the reality of the ‘new normal’ which is here to stay. Past experience indicates that once large-scale disruption has occurred, it is usually permanent. To avoid becoming obsolete in an ever-evolving work and living space, we need to ensure that we stay relevant.

Here are some suggestions which may help you to stay relevant

1.    Develop a growth mindset

You can navigate disruptions if you have a positive growth mindset. The absence of this hinders adapting to changes. It may be important to ask yourself: “Am I a positive person? What skills do I need to develop to achieve my goals? How can I contribute more to my job role or work area?”

2.    Assess yourself objectively

An honest soul searching and an objective look at oneself is a good way to take stock. this includes assessing strengths/weaknesses, things I love about my work/ things I absolutely dislike, areas I struggle with- could be function, role, or work relationships. it is useful to also consider feedback from my superiors, performance appraisal to understand how people perceive me and how I can change/grow.

3.   Be aware of changes that are coming

Awareness is the first step to change.  Keep an eye on developments that impact your industry, organization, function, and role. Speaking to colleagues, industry experts, participating in webinars, listening to podcasts and reading will give you a head start on the imminent changes.

4.  Develop a plan

The above analysis will enable you to develop a plan to stay relevant. you can consider how you would like to develop yourself in the following areas:

• Functional skills: Skills or knowledge you need to be cutting edge in your job role/industry
• Leadership skills: With remote work becoming a reality, remote leadership is also a need.
• Visioning skills: Enables you to lead your team into the future and navigate change
• Execution skills:  Execution is a discipline. breaking down strategies inro bite-size tasks and supporting others to execute on time with quality, will ensure first time right and help achieve personal and team success
• Team working skills:  The buzzword is collaboration and teamwork. Developing skills to manage human relationships at work and improve emotional intelligence will define success.
• Self-management skills: There is no leadership or success without Self-leadership. Managing one’s life, schedule, and priorities, focusing on results, and being obsessive about effectiveness will be key.

Conclusion

The future of work is changing rapidly and opportunities are abundant for those who are willing to grasp them. The key is staying relevant. What is your plan?