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The 7 Deadly Skills of The Perfect Employee

A well-trained workforce can improve business productivity and efficiency.

Introduction A Well Trained Organisation is a Successful Organisation British business is going through somewhat of a crisis. In the current climate unemployment is rising, education standards are perceived to be dropping, and the pool of highly skilled talent is rapidly receding. The consequent skills shortage is leaving many businesses with a gap in their talent that they desperately need to fill. British businesses need to craft a highly trained workforce to compete and flourish in a global arena. At the same time they need to plan the perfect employee development strategy that will enable them to attract and retain the best and brightest talent, whilst encouraging their current workforce to improve and develop for their own benefit as well as that of the business. Furthermore, in a period where salary increases are not particularly widespread, ensuring staff motivation and morale is high should be key on a managers agenda. A continued commitment to employee learning and development is a vital part of this as it reminds the employee of their long-term role within the business, and ensures they feel valued as an important member well placed to contribute towards the companys corporate aims. The UK skills shortage does not just apply to technical competencies such as IT systems development, it also extends to the soft skills that every worker whether C Level or Entry-level Graduate should have as part of a modern employees skill set. The dangers associated with a stagnant and unengaged workforce are plain for all to see. Without the necessary skills to plan, communicate and lead, the under-qualified employee is often a hindrance rather than a help. The reason behind this can boil down to one key factor: a lack of training. In tough economic times employee training is often seen as a luxury, especially if the workforce is being streamlined to cut costs. But a lack of investment in employee training in order to save costs can have the opposite effect. A well-trained workforce can improve business productivity and efficiency, drive innovation and development, and vastly alter a customers perception of the business. A badly or untrained workforce can see productivity decrease; can result in product and service innovation stagnating to a crawl; and force customer service interactions to become a thing of nightmares.

Problem solving will always rank high on the desired skill set list.

If a business is committed to keeping its workforce highly trained and engaged, especially in times of economic strife, it will be well placed to hit the ground running once more favourable trading conditions present themselves. The 7 Deadly Skills At SkillSoft weve got years of experience of knowing exactly what it takes to keep your staff highly skilled and engaged. With over 3,000 customers and more than 11 million end users accessing the most relevant and up-to-date learning content, were well equipped to help you on your mission to attract and retain the perfect employees. We have recently introduced a flexible competency based learning solution SkillSoft Professional Advantage that delivers targeted blended learning assets for nonmanagerial professionals because professional development is not just for managers. After all, the key to a successful organisation is well-trained employees. As such, weve identified the seven deadly skills that every modern employee should have in their skill set. This paper highlights those general soft skills that often fly under the radar of HR and training managers, but are vitally important for the prosperous, innovative, and efficient business of the 21st Century. Every employee could benefit from a healthy mix of the seven skills presented below.

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Killer Problem Solving Skills Often a favourite topic in interviews, the ability to solve complex problems is the Holy Grail for HR teams searching for that perfect candidate. Regardless of industry or job function, an employee who can demonstrate that they can effectively solve problems in an everyday work setting will have a head start on the competition. Likewise, if your team of employees inherit and learn this skill, your business can feel more confident in analysing and overcoming potentially serious business issues. Employers want people who work on initiative and under minimal guidance; people who are proactive rather than reactive. Ranging from the smallest customer service issue to the largest boardroom disagreement, problem solving will always rank high on the desired skill set list. A Master of Basic IT and New Media Skills Twitter; Facebook; Cloud Computing; Data visualisation; HTML. In the age of new media and rapid technological advancement, keeping up to date with existing and emerging technology is essential for the modern employee.

In the case of new media channels and their consistent lines of communication with customers or potential customers, employees need to have a working knowledge of how such platforms work and the etiquette that accompanies them. In the 21st Century confidence in basic computing may seem like a simple skill, but it is surprising how many employees do not have even the standard skill set to deal with the computer software that is so pervasive throughout the professional working environment. The employee unable to fully operate Microsoft Office will not only impact upon their development but will almost certainly affect business productivity.

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Written Communication not quite Shakespeare, but clear, concise and professional Pedants and traditionalists often lament what they see as a decline in standards when it comes to written communication. The advent of text speak has managed to seep into mainstream communication and has even found its way into the workplace. Theres nothing more unprofessional than sending out a business email littered with colloquial spelling and grammar. The impression it forms in the mind of the recipient is one of stark unprofessionalism and irreverence. Business communication should always be kept clear, concise and free from jargon. Any employee that doesnt have this skill in their locker is at an extreme disadvantage. You dont have to be Shakespeare, but an ability to easily communicate through written language is certainly a must-have. A Fearless and Professional Presenter Amongst his many other achievements, Steve Jobs was one of the greatest presenters of his time. He created an interesting narrative and presented with confidence, style, and intelligence. Clearly his rise to prominence was due in large part to his creative and technical skill set, but his ability to simplify complex problems and present them in an attractive way to superiors and subordinates would undoubtedly have had a positive effect on his success. It seems that a prerequisite for a modern presentation is the use of Microsoft PowerPoint. Theres no getting around it, this tool is extremely useful and it can usually enhance any presentation it carries. Therefore, knowing the finer details of how to use and manipulate PowerPoint to your advantage seems like an obvious skill for any successful employee. Aside from the technological aid, the art of presenting combines a number of overlapping factors that can determine how a presentation is received, from projecting the voice in a confident manner to formulating a persuasive argument that will enthral your audience. Modern day business is all about presenting: to clients, to colleagues, or to superiors. Any modern day professional cannot get by without learning, practising, and improving their presentation skills. Theres No I in Team Every other job advertisement asks for the same thing they call for those candidates who can work under their own initiative but also thrive in a team environment. Why is the ability to work productively within a team considered such a sought after skill? Business is made up of interconnecting relationships that have to be cultivated and nurtured. An experienced employee will traverse the tricky nature of business relationships with consummate skill by listening to others, thinking critically about issues and communicating their analysis effectively with the relevant stakeholders. Projects stifled by substandard teamwork are a managers worst nightmare. In a land of individuals - the team player is king.

Business communication should always be kept clear, concise and free from jargon.

Ideally a business should be littered with those willing to lead.

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A Hefty Dose of Business Acumen According to Wikipedia, business acumen is keenness and quickness in understanding and dealing with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome. In other words a good working knowledge of the minutiae details of business operations, whilst being able to make the connection with larger business issues. It may seem a slightly abstract skill to possess but if looked at in detail it contains many elements that make up day-to-day business life. For instance, equally important is a solid grasp of financial processes as well as an understanding of market conditions and ways to reach the desired customers. Many employees find themselves stuck in their specific job functions and fail to see the wider issues that affect them and the rest of the business. Those who can make this connection and inspire colleagues to do the same will be considered to be business savvy. This leads us on to our seventh deadly skill The Leadership Skills of a Roman General The old adage that great leaders are born, not made may hold a little truth. Certain people are just inherently more inspiring and commanding and relish the chance to steer the ship, whilst for others taking the lead is a painful task to be avoided at all costs. However, that is not to say that leadership skills cannot be acquired and honed throughout ones career. In fact, it could be argued that the preceding six skills on this list are necessary components of a good leader. Leadership skills do not only apply to the most senior person in a company. Ideally a business should be littered with those willing to lead. In times of technological, economical, and sociological change businesses need to be quick to adapt and move with the times. Strong, effective leadership in all areas of the business is vital in navigating this rapidly accelerating pace of change. Furthermore, the businesses in question must become adept at spotting and nurturing those with leadership skills. They must equip them with the tools and training to reach their leadership potential for the ultimate aim of greater productivity, innovation, and success.

Conclusion The key to crafting the perfect employee is relevant, on-going training. It is unlikely that every candidate you hire will have perfected the seven deadly skills listed above; it is the job of the business to outline where each employee could improve and to put in place a structured development programme that allows the employee to improve and flourish, so that the business through its employees can differentiate itself from the competition. So follow the seven deadly skills of the perfect employee and ensure you have a dedicated training development plan in place. SkillSoft Professional Advantage, the flexible competency based learning solution for non-managerial professionals, is there to support your employee learning initiatives. Continual employee development sets a business on the road to success. Get in touch with SkillSoft today. Close the skills gap in your workforce and see where it takes you.

Put in place a structured development programme that allows the employee to improve and flourish.

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