Editor's Note

With the changing times, our jobs, job roles and skill requirements are also changing quickly. Organizations are all gearing up to build more resilient, adaptable, and agile workforces. So if employees or job-seekers do not quickly catch up with the trend, it will be a difficult road ahead. Do you consider yourself skilled for the jobs of the future? 

Let us start with consultants. Experienced consultants have the personality, energy, and natural communication skills that the industry and clients require. But in 2021, with consultants and their clients continuing to work from home, these traditional capabilities may not be sufficient, says Douglas W. Robertson in his article, Three Key Skills Consultants Need In 2021. During times of instability and volatility, it is especially important that consultants make strong connections with clients to retain business, create new opportunities and provide the best possible advice.  The trouble is that time for learning and development is at more of a premium than before and budgets are tighter than ever. Is there a learning and development solution that can address this gap in a time-efficient, cost effective way? Read the article for more insights.

Can coaching help in times of uncertainty? Russ Elliot in his article, How Executive Coaching Can Help During The Covid-19 Crisis, says that this time of unchartered waters is the best time to reach out to get support and guidance from an executive coach. Ask for and benefit from the professional support you need to lead in these challenging times.

The pandemic has fast-tracked an agile and empowerment approach. Leaders need to be adaptive problem-solvers. This is due to the uncertainty and pressure over the past couple of weeks and months – there were no clear and obvious answers to issues and challenges and leaders did not have the luxury of telling their teams what to do. They had to be adaptive and guide them to figure it out for themselves. Many have experienced the benefit of empowering individuals through a coaching approach, says Anja van Beek in her article, Cultivating A Coaching Approach To Support Team Members.

Where are we with the performance reviews this year? In the midst of the new challenges engulfing every aspect of our lives, nobody relishes the additional paperwork that performance reviews are notorious for adding to our workloads.  However, to the extent that bonuses, stock options and other incentives are tied to these metrics, we all need to be alert to the importance of this year’s review process, says Maggie Craddock in her article, Performance Reviews During A Pandemic.

Even though we wish for a less volatile, uncertain and complex year ahead, let us not be very hopeful. Instead, let us start building our skills, hoping that 2021 will provide better opportunities for all.

We hope you enjoy reading all the articles included in this issue and get back to us with your feedback/comments.

Stay Safe.