The Ultimate List of Power Skills

Things are not the way they used to be. In today's rapidly evolving world, where there is a new AI breakthrough seemingly every hour, where technology advancements and automation continue to redefine industries and roles, it is becoming increasingly evident that just possessing technical expertise is no longer enough.

Janice Burns, Chief Transformation Officer at Degreed and former Chief Learning Officer at Mastercard, explained why, "With technology advancing so much, and humans needing to learn how to collaborate with technology to get their work done, the skillset we need more and more to collaborate are the power skills."

As individuals and organizations navigate the velocity of change, a new set of skills has emerged as the key to success - power skills. These are skills and abilities machines cannot duplicate. They are innately human skills and qualities.

This article explores the definition of power skills, how they differ from hard or technical skills, and a complete list of power skills every professional needs going forward.

What are Power Skills?

Power skills, also known as soft skills, transferable skills, or human skills, are non-technical, role-agnostic skills that enable individuals to interact effectively, navigate change, and drive overall success in the workplace. These skills go beyond expertise in a particular job or field as they can be applied in many different contexts and industries.

These skills make individuals highly sought after by organizations. When power skills are combined with technical expertise, it creates a well-rounded and adaptable professional who is capable of successfully navigating a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) work environment. 

What Is the Difference Between Power Skills and Hard Skills?

Hard skills and power skills are two distinct categories of skills that individuals possess. Hard skills are specific technical or job-related competencies (e.g., coding), whereas power skills are broad, transferable skills applicable across all roles and industries (e.g., leadership).

13 Examples of Power Skills

With 44% of private sector companies investing in AI in 2023 and it is beginning to take over tasks once assigned to real people, individuals need to evaluate how they continue to provide value, and organizations must consider how they need to upskill their people in this new world.

While AI may be able to perform a wide range of tasks, it falls short in some areas. That's where power skills come in. Developing the skills to interact effectively with AI and other humans, building thriving relationships, and adapting to technology's opportunities are why these 13 power skills should be at the top of everyone's development plan this year.

Power Skills

1. Critical thinking and problem-solving
2. Empathy
3. Communication
4. Active listening
5. Collaboration and teamwork
6. Creativity and innovation
7. Adaptability, flexibility, and a willingness to change
8. Resilience and tenacity
9. Time management and prioritization
10. Ethics and integrity
11. Learning agility and growth mindset
12. Conflict management
13. Self-motivation and initiative

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

To effectively solve complex, open-ended problems, you must think outside the box and adapt to changing circumstances; to do that, you'll need critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These skills empower you to approach challenges with a logical and analytical mindset, leading to better decision-making, increased efficiency, and improved ability to reach the root cause of problems. 

Empathy 

Empathy is what enables you to connect with others on a deeper level and is the linchpin to building solid relationships, fostering trust, and promoting collaboration and teamwork. When individuals across an organization demonstrate empathy, it has been found to reduce burnout, increase engagement and innovation, and lead to better work-life balance. 

Communication

Effective communication is essential in business as everything requires some form of communication. From presentations to meetings to writing, this is a critical power skill everyone must have. Given the need for strong communicators, it's no surprise that in Udemy's 2023 Workplace Learning Trends Report, the top competency their users are investing time in is communication skills. 

Active Listening

Going hand in hand with communication is active listening. While it is a communication skill, it should be highlighted separately, as research has found that the majority of us have room for improvement in our active listening skills. Yasmene Mumby shared with CNBC why developing active listening is essential for building relationships at work. She said, "The better of an active listener you can be — staying engaged in all of your conversations and showing that you understand where the other person is coming from with your responses - the more other people will trust you."

Collaboration and Teamwork

No one in the workplace has all the knowledge, expertise, or resources they need to tackle complex challenges alone. You have to be able to collaborate and work as a team with others in order to get the information you need to do your job and, in turn, provide the information you have to others. That is why collaboration and teamwork are important power skills as it is. In fact, a recent Harvard study uncovered that collaborative work has risen by over 50% in the past decade, taking up 85% or more of an employee's work week. 

Creativity and Innovation

Challenging the status quo and generating new ideas and solutions can have a transformative impact on a company's success. That's why creativity and innovation power skills are in high demand as they drive progress, foster competitive advantages, and facilitate the development of new products, services, and processes.

Adaptability, Flexibility, and a Willingness to Change

Having a mindset where you're adaptable, flexible, and willing to embrace change is needed for individuals and organizations to thrive in the current business environment. These traits enable you to navigate shifting circumstances, embrace new challenges, and remain focused on achieving your objective and work goals despite the disruption.

Resilience and Tenacity

In today's work environment, where uncertainty and complexity are standard, resilience and tenacity empower you to bounce back quickly from setbacks and stay focused and driven to achieve your goals. These are power skills many of us need to develop, as only 15% of the global workforce has been found to be highly resilient. 

Time Management and Prioritization 

Time management and prioritization of work are fundamental power skills due to their impact on productivity and efficiency. Being able to allocate your time wisely, optimize work processes, meet deadlines, and make informed decisions on how you spend your time to get the greatest return to meet your goals significantly contributes to your success and that of your team and organization. 

Ethics and Integrity

Demonstrating character, ethical behaviors, and integrity, where you walk the talk and do the right things, is essential for building solid relationships and trust and has positively impacted corporate performance. When employees across an organization act with integrity and ethics, they outperform their peers, as the 2022 list of most ethical companies outperformed an index of similar large companies by 24.6% overall.

Learning and Growth Mindset 

Having the mindset that emphasizes the belief that you can continue to learn new skills and grow professionally is a power skill that will serve individuals well in the new world of work. Opening yourself up to gaining new knowledge, skills, and experiences, and in general, being intellectually curious, gives you and your organization a leg up in staying current and ready to embrace change, overcome challenges, and take advantage of opportunities in an increasingly complex and dynamic work world.

Conflict Management

While healthy debate and disagreements can lead to better outcomes and decisions, when handled poorly, conflict at work can distract and derail individuals from what they're trying to accomplish. That's why having the skills to address and resolve conflict before it escalates into a larger issue is an undeniable power skill. 

Self-Management and Initiative

With increased autonomy at work, individuals who can manage themselves and take the initiative to identify opportunities, set goals, and take action without external prompting are highly coveted in the workplace. These power skills mean that individuals don't wait for others to tell them what to do or rely solely on external motivation; they step up and do what needs to be done.