Next generation: how life skills can unlock the potential in those joining the workforce
Scotland’s workforce needs constantly developing skills, knowledge and capabilities to thrive in this complex, ever-changing environment.
And none more so than people who are joining the workforce.
They need to see and feel the opportunities and we need to attract, retain and develop them if we are going to unlock the potential ahead of us.
And that includes developing life skills.
Changing perspective
“Treat others as you’d like to be treated yourself.”
Well, this may not be entirely good advice in this case because the other person isn’t you. And this is especially true when it comes to a workforce.
Different generations have entirely different perspectives on careers and how to define success in life and in the workforce.
We’ve all heard stereotypes tossed around about “lazy” Millennials, Generation Z stuck to their screens and in a couple of years Generation Alpha will be joining the workforce (born after 2010, if you’re counting).
Why do we care? Because Gen Z will soon surpass Millennials as the most populous generation on earth, as more than one-third of the world’s population.
Which is where “life skills” fit in – both yours and those of the wider workforce.
What they want – and need
Today’s jobseekers are looking for more than salary and career advancement. They are looking for employers that offer skills training, a positive work-life balance, flexible work arrangements and a diverse and inclusive environment where they feel valued and supported.
When a new employee starts, it’s really tempting to focus on role-specific skills, tools and knowledge but do look at those all-important life skills.
So much of most businesses is about the soft skills of communication, getting on with other people, courtesy, time management, personal presentation etc. It is really important that the news start gets a sense of the part these things play in your workplace too.
In this series of articles, we’ve emphasised two-way benefit and this is no exception.
A different generation can bring energy, enthusiasm, fresh ideas and skills. Whether it is the latest IT skills, marketing ideas or just their youthful perspective, young people will bring things to your business which you didn’t know you needed, and which can open up whole new ways of seeing and doing things for you.
But remember although the working environment may feel very familiar to you, to a young person who has not experienced it before, it can be very daunting.
Resource support
National skills body Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has been working hard to introduce life skills into the school curriculum.
Life skills can be subjective and difficult to quantify, making it hard to measure progress.
SDS has some useful self-evaluation tools that employers can use in a structured manner with new employees to support their ability to become independent learners and deepen understanding. These include a meta-skills model with 12 skills spread across the three pillars - innovation, self-management and social intelligence.
Points to keep in mind
Different employees will have different skill gaps. Employers need to assess individual needs to provide targeted support so establish the pattern for supervision and mentoring.
Younger generations can have unrealistic expectations, which can lead to disappointment if they haven’t had a chance to adapt these expectations to the reality.
If you’re looking for a template to support you in creating your own guide with project tasks, there is an interesting resource from Siemens here with lots of practical ideas and examples (from page 9 onwards).
Establish the habit of reflection and feedback as a two-way process
Developing the Young Workforce has produced a guide for employers on how to get started with mentoring, if this is something you’re looking to introduce.
Encourage them to challenge themselves (whilst being sensitive to their capacity to do so) and to try new things, but also to persevere with seeing difficult tasks through to completion
Use plenty of praise and positive reinforcement. Encourage colleagues to do likewise. And challenge any issues as they arise because although it is tempting to hope they disappear on their own, this rarely turns out to be the case.
Employers who prioritise life skills development for new employees are not only creating a more positive and productive work environment but also building a strong foundation for future success.
Discover more in this section about developing life skills…
