Is your career Y2K ready? Consider these steps

Strong communicator?

A major research project recently conducted by our company, Office of the Future: 2005, found that employees’ communication skills will become increasingly important in the years ahead. This is due to the expanding presence of technological tools, such as computers and the Internet, which enable businesses to communicate more rapidly, more often and with a greater number of people. Because the quick and accurate exchange of information will play such a pivotal role in determining a company’s future business success, savvy communicators are apt to be placed on a career fast track – and those who lack competence in this area may be left behind.

If your writing or speaking skills leave something to be desired, now is the time to take action. Pay attention to your e-mails and other written communications to ensure they are clear, succinct and free of errors. If this is a trouble spot for you, consider enrolling in a business writing course. Additionally, take note of your speaking and listening abilities. If there’s room for improvement, books and courses can help, as can increasing your concentration level when communicating. For instance, making a habit of gathering your thoughts before you speak or write can often lead to significant improvement.

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Work well with others?

A recent survey by our company found that 79 percent of Fortune 1000 executives believe self-managed work teams will increase productivity. This growing reliance on employee collaboration will result in interpersonal skills, such as leadership and diplomacy, assuming an increasingly significant role. Your ability to demonstrate tact when interacting with others will rise in value, as will your talent for consensus building.

If these are areas in which you are weak or have little experience, consider volunteering for a project that will allow you to enhance this skill set. You may be able to hone your interpersonal abilities by offering to take the lead on a new work initiative. Volunteering to oversee a project for a nonprofit organization can also provide a good opportunity for interpersonal skills development.

If you’re promoted

Preparing a co-worker to assume your role if you are promoted may help you advance in your career. As a tight job market renders finding senior level employees more of a challenge, a growing number of companies will look to promote from within.

Cultivating someone to transition smoothly into your position can provide your company just the incentive it needs to promote you to the next level. Many firms have formal mentoring programs that can help you in these efforts. If your company has no mentoring program, however, take the initiative to mentor a co-worker informally. Sharing what you’ve learned with a less experienced colleague, and helping him or her progress, benefits both you and your company.

Yearn to learn?

As technology changes the way people do business, the most marketable employees will be those who successfully adapt to meet evolving market demands. Continually updating your knowledge and acquiring new skills through classes, independent study and mentoring will prepare you for new challenges and opportunities.

While most people have devoted at least some thought to the effects the year 2000 may have on their computers, many haven’t considered longer-lasting issues, such as how new technology and a rapidly changing economy will affect the way businesses operate – and the internal talent they will require.

By considering the skills and traits that companies will place at a premium in the coming years, and strengthening your abilities in those areas, you’ll avoid any Y2K “career bugs” and strategically position yourself for future success.

Amy Pricco is the branch manager for Robert Half International in Boulder. She can be reached at (303) 444-1313 or e-mail at amy.prico@rhii.com.