subject: 10 Most Enduring Skills [print this page] 10 Most Enduring Skills 10 Most Enduring Skills
As technology advances and technical jobs become increasingly competitive, it's important to maintain skills that will stand the test of time. But which skills are the most enduring in the technology realm? Does knowing C++ really matter? What about a Professional Engineer certificate? The reality is that the most valuable knowledge is not that specific; it is adaptable to any technical industry (and even many non-technical industries). The following list highlights ten of the most enduring skills.
1. Innovation
First recognize the difference between invention and innovation. Invention is the discovery of a new concept or idea. Innovation is the application of invention (old or new) to a specific problem that requires a solution. It is innovation, not invention, that ultimately delivers value and draws customers. Learn to not only think inventively, but also innovatively, and you'll develop enduring value for your employer.
2. Problem-Solving
This may seem like a basic skill, especially in technical fields, but too often we mistake patches and quick fixes for true solutions. Effective problem-solving is much more comprehensive. It is important to understand how to break down and analyze problems to their root cause, then effectively address and mitigate or eliminate the root cause.
3. Project Management
Know how to effectively manage a project from initial concept through completion and delivery. Understand budgeting, scheduling, resource management, logistics, team leadership, and delegation.
4. Product Development
Understand the process required to transform a sketch on a napkin into a tangible product that customers will appreciate. Recognize how market research, customer input, functional analysis, value engineering, prototyping, and iterative design techniques affect the process.
5. Economic Analysis
Successful businesses rely on good economic analysis to guide their investment decisions. Study cash flow analysis and learn how to calculate rates of return on technical projects. A keen understanding of economic analysis techniques can prove to be an enduring skill due to its value and its rarity.
6. Troubleshooting
Learn how to effectively troubleshoot and/or debug complex systems. Fast and accurate troubleshooting is a highly valuable skill and its fundamentals can apply to numerous technical industries. Know how to break down a system into its constituent parts and isolate problem areas. Understand how to determine potential failure modes, their causes, and their effects.
7. Intellectual Property Management
Study the roles of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. A good understanding of intellectual property law will help make your products more valuable. And considering that laws are enduring, skills in intellectual property management will be enduring as well.
8. Software Design
Software is prevalent in every technical industry, and this fact is not likely to change. Regardless of your technical field, it is important to know the fundamentals of software design. You don't have to target a specific language (though a modern object-oriented language is a safe start). Study design patterns and development models. Most software engineers will agree that a great software design should never depend on the syntax of a specific language.
9. Presentation
Learn to deliver more engaging presentations. Study principles of graphic arts to help improve your presentation slides. Also study your audience, and focus on delivery as much as content. Good presenters are informative yet forgettable. Great presenters are enlightening and memorable. For more insight into great presentation styles, take a look at TED.com.
10. Customer Relations
Know how to develop and maintain good relationships with customers. Be prompt, courteous, and honest. Establish yourself as a well-respected contact person and you will greatly improve your enduring value.
