Adapting to a Rapidly Changing World

While impeccable interpersonal skills can set one apart from peers with comparable technical prowess, it's those who wield the power of influence who truly hold the keys to the future.

Forbes reports that “Companies are also focusing on upskilling workers to address the social and emotional skills that are in high demand. As reported in a McKinsey survey, the proportion of companies addressing empathy and interpersonal skills doubled in 2020. Between 2019 and 2020, skills like leadership and management became a much bigger priority for most companies, jumping ten percentage points year over year, from 40% to 50%.”

According to Agile Skills in the Modern Workplace, by the Scrum Alliance and the Business Agility Institute, one significant facet of adapting to these changes lies in the art of influence. Influence, by definition, is the capacity to persuade others to see things from one's viewpoint or take specific actions. In the business realm, a leader equipped with robust influential abilities can effectively rally their team around a shared vision or goal. But influence isn't just about having a voice; it's about ensuring that this voice resonates, motivates, and drives results.

The Four Cardinal Skills of Influence

Within the realm of influence, there are four cardinal skills that organizations must foster, and Transactional Competence™ can play a pivotal role in enhancing and refining each of them:

1

Negotiation

The art of reaching agreements where all parties feel satisfied. It’s about finding a middle ground and ensuring mutual benefit.

How Transactional Competence Helps: By understanding the nuances of each party's needs and wants, transactional competence provides the necessary insights to negotiate effectively. It aids individuals in recognizing the intrinsic value of what each stakeholder brings to the table, ensuring negotiations are more balanced and equitable.

2

Motivational Skills

Inspiring and driving individuals to achieve their best, pushing them to transcend their limitations.

How Transactional Competence Helps: With a deep understanding of individual drives and motivations, transactional competence allows leaders to tailor their motivational strategies to each team member. Recognizing what truly drives a person in transactions can lead to more personalized, effective motivational tactics.

3

Conflict Resolution

Mediating disputes, ensuring smooth communication, and fostering a harmonious work environment.

How Transactional Competence Helps: Being competent in transactions means understanding underlying issues and motivations that may cause conflicts. With this insight, one can address the root causes of disputes, mediate effectively, and propose solutions that address core concerns, ensuring smoother resolutions.

4

Interpersonal Skills

Building solid and meaningful relationships based on trust and mutual respect.

How Transactional Competence Helps: At its core, transactional competence is about understanding and navigating interpersonal exchanges effectively. By recognizing the value and motivations of individuals in different interactions, one can build more genuine, trust-based relationships, leading to a more robust professional network.

These skills are critical, especially when we consider the volatility of today's job market. Current estimates suggest that the average American worker will change their job at least 12 times in their lifetime and pivot careers 4 to 7 times. With such frequent transitions, these influence skills become imperative to ensure smooth transitions and effective collaborations in new roles and environments.

The Landscape of Modern Work

The rate of job and career changes isn’t the only thing that’s astonishing. The kind of jobs people are transitioning into is equally intriguing. A decade ago, who would have thought about careers in AI, crypto, or "seamless intergalactic hodgepodge"? It highlights the significance of adaptability and staying up-to-date with emerging technologies and fields.

The big question is, amidst these changes, which skills are employers actively seeking?

The Rising Demand for Agile Skills

The Scrum Alliance and the Business Agility Institute embarked on a mission to discern the most sought-after skills in the current market. Their findings? Agile skills are becoming increasingly indispensable. These skills, coupled with Transactional Competence™, future-proofs one’s value.

For the uninitiated, agile skills aren’t just about working in an agile framework. It’s about adaptability, swift decision-making, and the ability to thrive in dynamic environments. Transactional Competence offers a framework that makes influence skills scalable. These skills, coupled with technical proficiency, are what employers are actively seeking.

Organizations are also recognizing the need to integrate agility across all functions and not just within agile-specific roles. It signifies a shift in the work culture, where agility is becoming the backbone of business operations.

Conclusion

The world may be changing at breakneck speed, but with the right skills, individuals and organizations can stay ahead of the curve. Influence, combined with agile skills, is the new currency in the modern workplace. To stay relevant and thrive in this ever-evolving environment, one must invest in continuous learning and skill development.

For a more in-depth understanding of current market demands and insights into the future of work, explore the curriculum of Influential U. Equip yourself with knowledge, adapt with agility, and lead with influence.

AUTHOR

John Patterson
Co-founder and CEO
INFLUENTIAL U
John Patterson co-founded and manages the faculty and consultants of Influential U global. Since 1987, he has led workshops, programs, and conferences for over 100k people in diverse professions, industries, and cultures. His history includes corporate curriculum design focusing on business ecosystems, influence, leadership, and high-performance training and development.