The most in-demand soft skill for the Future of Work: Creative Thinking

Author

Lan Nguyen

Marketing Executive

In this article...

    What are the top skills in the near future?

    According to World Economic Forum, the 10 most in-demand skills on the rise from 2023 to 2017 are

    1. Creative Thinking

    2. Analytical Thinking

    3. Technological Literacy

    4. Curiosity & Lifelong Learning

    5. Resilience, Flexibility and Agility

    6. System Thinking

    7. AI & Big Data

    8. Motivation & Self Awareness

    9. Talent Management

    10. Customer service

    "Demand for creative thinking will grow faster in the next five years, by 73%, than demand for analytical thinking," predicts the World Economic Forum.

    Being creative is having the ability to think of innovative, one-of-a-kind solutions. Creative thinking, also referred to as creative problem-solving, is a valued and marketable soft skill across a wide range of professions. This is all the information you need to get a career using creative thinking at work.

    What is creative thinking?

    As stated above, creative thinking refers to one's ability to come up with innovative solutions. A master of creative thinking can brainstorm a wide range of ideas. As a result, this skill become more and more in demand because employers tend to look for employees who can generate creative ways to solve not only the company's problems but also bring new ideas to help the company grow.

    What does innovative thinking look like in the workplace? A creative person will first generate ideas through brainstorming and then test them. They consider concepts from several angles and assess how their answers relate to the overall goal of the project. Those with creative minds aren't scared to attempt new things and take chances. In reality, they are an invaluable asset to almost any workplace because of their capacity to create, test, and deploy innovative solutions.

    At work, creative thinking could look something like this:

     

    • Organizing a collaborative brainstorming session to collect early ideas for a project
    • Assessing an existing procedure and making recommendations for improvements
    • Conducting tests on new marketing channels and looking into alternative methods of product promotion
    • Creating a novel approach to connect with potential customers
    • Recognizing a special chance to advance the company's brand and creating a plan to achieve so
    • Finding a new technique to gauge the effectiveness of a product endeavor and applying lessons learned to improve the next iteration

    Why is creative thinking the most valuable soft skill?

    What makes creative thinking the most valuable skill in the labor market is that this skill does not just refer to one occupation or role specifically. In the end, creativity is one of the strengths that can separate us as a human from artificial intelligence.

    "Numerous employers are looking for candidates who possess analytical and unconventional thinking abilities, which are variations of creative thinking skills," states Alejandra Garcia, manager of career success and alumni college at Code2College, a content development partner. Thus, analytical skills, creative problem-solving techniques, inventive thinking, and creative thinking are all valued in today's jobs; these abilities are particularly crucial in our ever-evolving workplaces with new and developing technology.

    This theory is also supported by the data. The only more crucial skill for workers in 2023 than analytical skills will be creative thinking, according to the World Economic Forum's 2023 Future of Jobs report. Soft qualities such as self-awareness and motivation, resilience, flexibility, and agility, as well as curiosity and lifelong learning, are also essential.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, creative thinking emerges as the most in-demand soft skill for the future of work. Its versatility and projected growth highlight its pivotal role in navigating evolving job markets. Creative thinking encompasses problem-solving, innovation, and adaptability, making it indispensable in the face of technological advancement. Employers seek candidates with both analytical and creative abilities, recognizing their value in driving organizational success. Cultivating creative thinking skills is essential for individuals to thrive in dynamic workplaces and shape a workforce prepared for the challenges of the digital age.

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