Skilled workers contribute to the betterment of the company. They improve workplace relations, as they will be able to get along with their colleagues and have the expertise to deliver on the job well as well as keep their customers satisfied, thus making more money for business. As an employer who wants their business to grow in the future, consider arming employees with this set of skills. Multitasking According to David Mugisha, an executive manager, employees who are good at multitasking abilities are capable of performing various duties at a time. This means, you don’t have to invest much in hiring and training new individuals, as the few you have can execute different tasks. Multitasking entails juggling different work activities and shifting attention from one task to another. Mugisha explains that multitasking employees can increase the productivity of the organisation. They deliver more output with minimum resources. Employee multitasking is beneficial for organisations as it reduces the cost of hiring new employees and also training them. Effective communication He says, as a leader, encouraging good communication habits throughout the workplace can be one of the most crucial things to do. Effective communication occurs when a message is sent and received accurately. Mugisha also stresses that there are some tools to use while communicating and these include; video conferencing, reliable phone system, and emails. Employees who possess communication skills can sustain healthy work relations and are able to produce good performance. He carries on that good communication enhances self-confidence and ultimately performance, allows followers to express their opinions and take decisions collectively but in a participative manner, and helps employees to control their emotions and consider the needs of others. Listening Listening is key to all effective communication. Without the ability to listen effectively, messages are easily misunderstood, Mugisha adds. He states that as employees seek more attention, feedback and support, their leaders must become more mindful of individual needs in order to more effectively inspire professional development and overall performance. The executive manager also notes that there are effective forms of listening and some of these include; showing that you care-employees want leaders who are concerned about their well-being and those who can be depended on during times of professional and personal hardships. But also, express your concern and show your employees that you feel their frustrations and avoid judging them. Reflection He points out that you should schedule time for reflection through peer coaching. This process also leads employees to hone skills such as empathy, listening, and communication. These were traditionally called “soft skills.” But they are now referred to as “power skills.” Learning opportunities Experts state that as a manager, it is ideal to incorporate interactive learning opportunities during training. Interactive learning has been shown to improve retention among new learners. You can consider group activities, interactive quizzes, role-playing, or small group discussions during training sessions. Employees enjoy the opportunity to interact with their team members while also learning from their peers who may offer them valuable feedback during training sessions. Time management For Diane Akimana, the CEO of a local bookshop, employees who can manage their time effectively are more efficient, which saves both time and money. Good time-management skills lead to fewer missed deadlines and help avoid burnout. She calls upon employees to learn how to prioritise, as this will help them make the most out of each work day and complete all their assignments on time. Improving your time management at work allows you to enhance your performance and achieve your desired goals with less effort and more effective strategies. Once time is not managed properly, you are likely to procrastinate, she notes. Critical thinking Critical thinking helps employees solve problems and build strategies that make them better at their jobs, Akimana says. “With critical thinking, decision-making improves, critical thinkers are happier. Getting well-informed is a bonus and encourages self-reflection, creates creativity, and promotes curiosity. In order to improve critical thinking skills, evaluate new information, ask various questions, follow up with research and create opinions,” she says.
