The verdict on the most in-demand skill for remote workers is in
Take away the stress of daily commute and the average worker has 52 minutes to spend each day on more productive pursuits. Among them, developing new competencies.
While technical aptitude remains highly prized in the digital era, one critical skill – that of having a growth mindset – is proving essential in light of the uncertainty and disruption brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“In simplest terms, growth mindset comes down to a love of learning,” said the team from online learning platform Udemy, which compiled the top skills people are mastering in this period of social isolation.
1. Growth mindset
Courses on developing this new mode of thinking skyrocketed in popularity 231% within a month.
“One undercurrent of a growth mindset is the willingness and resilience to deal with change,” Udemy said. “That’s certainly pertinent today as people, businesses, and organizations adapt to a current environment where change is the only constant.”
2. Focus mastery
But adapting to change also entails focus and the ability to delve deeper into complex problems.
With millions of workers operating remotely and dealing with distractions left and right, courses designed to sharpen one’s focus have risen 146% in popularity.
“It’s not surprising that courses on being able to harness concentration are booming. Kids, pets, partners, roommates, and myriad other distractions are competing for people’s attention,” the researchers said.
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3. Creativity
Another ‘soft’ skill seeing a surge in demand is creativity, which grew 84% more popular among digital learners who may be looking to develop new ideas, think differently, and “apply new solutions to address existing problems”. Courses on the platform include creative writing and storytelling, among others. “Now could be the time to put pen to paper for that screenplay idea you’ve been thinking about for years,” Udemy noted.
Popular courses range from innovation and critical thinking, to leadership and emotional intelligence.