Key qualities that can help you grow your career

Building a successful career involves more than having the right qualifications or technical skills. As workplaces continue to change, employers increasingly look for people who can communicate effectively, adapt to new situations, solve problems and continue learning.

Also see: The digital hustle: How Mzansi’s creator economy is reshaping modern careers

A report by the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs identifies analytical thinking, resilience, flexibility and agility, leadership, creative thinking, motivation and self-awareness among the key skills employers value.

Most of these qualities can help you progress professionally. 

Adaptability

The ability to adjust when circumstances change is an important career quality. New technologies, workplace structures and responsibilities can require employees to learn different ways of doing things. 

Being adaptable means being willing to accept change, learn new processes and remain productive when situations do not go according to plan. Research from the World Economic Forum also links adaptability and the ability to cope with uncertainty with positive employment outcomes.  

Be willing to keep learning

Career development does not stop when you receive a qualification. Employees may need to update their knowledge as industries and technologies evolve. You need to consider taking short courses, attending workshops, learning new software or asking for opportunities to work on unfamiliar projects.  

Strong communication skills

Being able to communicate clearly can make it easier to work with colleagues, managers, clients and customers. Good communication includes listening carefully, explaining ideas clearly and knowing how to adapt your message to different audiences. 

Communication also remains important as technology changes the workplace. Recent commentary from the World Economic Forum highlights communication, curiosity and interpersonal abilities alongside technical skills as qualities employers continue to value.  

Also see: 5 Signs your emotional triggers are affecting your career

Problem-solving ability

Employees who can look at a challenge, identify possible solutions and make thoughtful decisions can add value to their organisations. 

Rather than immediately becoming discouraged when something goes wrong, try to understand what caused the problem and consider what can be done differently. Analytical thinking remains one of the core skills most frequently identified by employers in the World Economic Forum’s latest skills research.  

Reliability and accountability

Taking responsibility for your work can help build trust in the workplace. This includes meeting deadlines, following through on commitments, acknowledging mistakes and taking steps to correct them. A reputation for being dependable can be particularly valuable when managers decide who can be trusted with additional responsibilities or important projects. 

Take initiative

Employees who look for ways to contribute rather than waiting for every instruction can demonstrate initiative. This could involve volunteering for a project, suggesting a practical improvement or learning a skill that could benefit your team. 

Taking initiative does not mean taking over other people’s responsibilities. It means recognising opportunities to contribute and being prepared to take appropriate action. 

The World Economic Forum identifies resilience, flexibility and agility as among the core skills employers consider important, particularly as workplaces continue to change.  

Have a professional attitude

Punctuality, respect, willingness to cooperate, and a commitment to producing quality work can influence how colleagues and managers experience working with you. 

Whether it is becoming a better communicator, learning a new digital skill, or becoming more comfortable with change, small improvements can strengthen your professional profile over time. 

Also see: Your future is digital: How to start a career in tech

Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp channel for content worth tapping into. Click here to join!