A few years ago, a good professional was valued primarily for his extensive experience and excellent technical knowledge.
It was a time characterized by a market of products and services without globalization and a more predictable working world. In that context, which seems distant to us today, being a master was cultivated over low heat and brought a long-term value.
Today, this is still important and is a good basis for employability, but it is clearly insufficient.
“The most valued talent combines technical knowledge with emotional and social skills”
The most valued talent, the professionals who contribute the most and the most requested are those who combine good starting technical knowledge (“hard skills”) with a good level of emotional and social skills and strong ethical values. And who complete their profile with something increasingly important: they are moved by a well-thought out individual and collective professional purpose, which goes beyond working daily with commitment and passion.
The competencies – the famous “soft skills” – multiply the impact of the technical trade: ability to work in teams, results orientation, effective communication, customer orientation, curiosity and learning agility.
These are just a few examples that illustrate its importance and that today are only the starting point to compete, for the organizational cultures of companies and professionals individually.
“The market gives a recognition bonus to companies that are known for their good corporate citizenship”
Ethics is transparency and honesty, is to comply with the rules of the game and avoid the temptations of shortcuts. It is the key to trust, that good so valuable that it costs to cultivate and that is lost with such fragility. And it takes us away from corruption, the evil that destroys good trajectories for greed, arrogance or bad faith.
To the companies that are known for their good corporate citizenship and the employees with a good reputation (regardless of their position), the market gives them a recognition bonus. And this is fundamental, especially since business and professional lives are usually background races.
The purpose is the icing on the cake, the element that often makes a difference. A plus of attitude and courage very important in good times, but especially to face the crises that occur periodically.
“Ethics is transparency and honesty, is to comply with the rules of the game and avoid the temptations of shortcuts”
“If we are clear about our ‘why’ we can face all the ‘hows’. Only by feeling free and confident in the objective that motivates us, will we be able to generate changes to create a much nobler reality, ”Viktor Frankl explained in his inspiring book Man in Search of Meaning.
The technical knowledge, skills, values and vital purpose make up a virtuous cocktail that multiplies our chances of success in the business market and our professional employability.
They are a combination that is not only reserved for great leaders or people of high potential, with great abilities or with a strong ambition, but is available to all people who want to leave a positive legacy to society. It is an approach that aims to add value through good universal values and the pursuit of excellence through healthy daily dissatisfaction and continuous improvement.
This article has also been published in DoBetter by ESADE –Go to the article– 01 February 2020
David Reyero Trapiello – Senior HR Business Partner – Sanofi Iberia
e-mail: David.reyero@sanofi.com / Twitter: @davidreyero73 / Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/davidreyerotrapiello/
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