Google Unveils THE Must-Have Skill of the Future

Companies and their leaders need to be able to adapt to the ever-changing business landscape. That is why it is important to continuously upskill especially during these turbulent times. 

So what is THE must-have skill of the future? According to Google LLC’s Chief Innovation Evangelist Frederik G. Pferdt, it’s empathy. As reported by BusinessWorld, empathy is now a major skill needed in growing an innovation mindset in an organization as it helps business leaders come up with better solutions. 

“Empathy is the skill of the future, and practicing empathy every day as a business leader, for example, helps you understand what your employees need and what your immediate team actually needs right now, So, putting yourself into their situation, to really understand how they really think and feel, help you come up with better solutions for your employees,” Mr. Prefdt explained in a virtual forum recently. 

But how does one practice empathy anyway? According to The New York Times, while there are some people who are naturally more empathetic than others, there are easy exercises one can do to increase one’s empathy, including putting away your phone or screens while having conversations.

Mr. Prefdt also noted the importance of innovation in line with the ongoing pandemic crisis. “In the past, everyone wanted to innovate. Now, everyone needs to innovate. This pandemic allows everyone to do things differently and has been a key innovation accelerator for companies and individuals who are trying to not only survive the crisis but finally move forward again,” he said.

In short, business leaders need to put some heart into their business decisions as well as how they relate to their workforce. They also need to constantly find ways to innovate their business model to address the demands of their target market. While there is no foolproof formula for success in today’s business climate, these two things put companies in better positions to keep up with the times.