Rachel Pelta* outlines the most important soft skills for career success in the new world of hybrid workplaces.
As the concept of where work can be done changes, so too does the skill set needed for professional success.
And, as workers begin to want (and get!) hybrid work arrangements, ensuring you’re a successful hybrid worker means having a unique set of soft skills that support your new hybrid work schedule.
What kinds of soft skills should you have as a hybrid worker? Which ones will contribute to your success, and how do they make you an outstanding hybrid employee?
Soft skills for career success
In many respects, soft skills are very similar to transferable skills in that you use them in many of the positions you hold regardless of the job or even the career field.
However, unlike transferable skills, soft skills are somewhat abstract and are sometimes confused with personality traits or qualities instead of skills.
For example, a transferable skill is working with spreadsheets.
No matter your job or field, there’s a good chance you’ll end up working with a few spreadsheets during your career.
That said, working with spreadsheets is also a hard skill, meaning you likely had some specialized training to help you master the formulas and shortcuts on the job or took a certification class.
Soft skills are also transferable.
But, unlike hard skills, soft skills can be mastered by anyone and generally don’t require specialized training to grasp.
Time management, curiosity, and problem-solving are all transferable and soft skills that you can learn on your own.
Soft skills you need for remote work
To be a successful remote worker, you also need an assortment of hard and soft skills, though you’ll likely rely on specific soft skills more than others when you work remotely.
For example, remote workers need excellent communication skills.
This encompasses both written and verbal communications across multiple mediums.
The skills you use to write an email are not the same ones you might use to write an IM.
Similarly, remote workers need to be independent and self-directed in order to get their work done, and they often have to rely on themselves to problem-solve any obstacles that get in their way.
While that doesn’t mean they can’t reach out to coworkers for help, it does mean that, depending on what time zone everyone is in, you may not get an answer right away.
What critical soft skills do hybrid workers need?
To be a successful hybrid worker, you’ll need a mix of hard and soft skills, as well as a mix of remote and in-office skills.
While there are many to choose from, there are two that can help you achieve hybrid worker success.
Prioritisation
The first soft skill a hybrid worker needs is prioritisation.
According to FlexJobs Career Development Manager and Coach Brie Reynolds, “Setting a solid schedule, maintaining a clear to-do list, and knowing your top priorities for each day when you’re in the office [or] when you’re working from home” can help you stay on top of your priorities and how you’re going to accomplish them.
By prioritising what has to be done first, you’ll help yourself stay focused and consistent whether you’re in the office or working at home.
Organisation
The second soft skill Reynolds recommends hybrid workers have is organisational skills.
Given that you will be working out of two offices on a regular basis, it’s important to make sure you have everything you need when and where you need it.
Reynolds suggests using a digital filing system so you don’t have to rely on paper and having a pre-packed “go bag” full of your necessary tech (like headphones or a wireless mouse) so you always have everything you need to be an efficient and productive worker no matter where you work from that day.
Hybrid worker success with soft skills
While there are many soft skills you can master to help you succeed professionally, the soft skills you use in the office aren’t the same as the ones you use when you work at home.
And, becoming a hybrid worker means mastering some soft skills from each type of work arrangement to help you be a standout hybrid employee.
*Rachel Pelta is a Content Coordinator for FlexJobs.
This article first appeared at flexjobs.com.
