Infrastructure development is full steam ahead in the UK and specialist senior skills are in high demand. However, companies are still hiring cautiously because there is too much at stake if they get it wrong. Certificates and skills on paper don’t necessarily mean that the person can do the job. In fact, soft skills are often far more critical for project success. In this article we look at three key skills that can make senior managers more valuable in the industry:
Practice Empathy
It’s often said that being nice in the workplace won’t get you anywhere. But there’s a difference between being nice and being kind. Coming out of the pandemic there’s a greater awareness of how everyone and everything is connected. Having empathy for colleagues and teams will forge stronger connections in the workplace and encourage people to collaborate more. It’ll also make you more approachable which means that you become the key link between teams as people are more willing to share their knowledge with you, or come to you when they’re seeking solutions to problems.
Drive Innovation
In construction there is a great deal of opportunity for innovation, but companies are often slow on the uptake because they lack the expertise or technology to make it happen. If you keep abreast of the latest innovations and work towards understanding how they can be applied to make operations more efficient, you become more valuable. You could be the person that can lead an implementation team or help convince the executives that it’s worth the investment. It may appear to be a risk, but remember that it’s often the early adopters that benefit the most because they gain so much knowledge and experience in the process.
Stay Connected
Construction and infrastructure is a small world, especially among senior professionals. Working towards maintaining strong relationships within the industry can open many doors. People want to work with professionals they know and can trust. If you have a strong reputation in the industry it can make collaboration and joint ventures more successful. Even when leaving an employer, be sure to leave on good terms. You never know when you may have to work together again on a future project.
These three things highlight that career progression isn’t always about your skills and experience. Having an outward future outlook can be as beneficial.