13
essential future skills to navigate disruption
Critical thinking “With technology steadily becoming more intricate and complex, possessing critical thinking is increasingly important to have the mental flexibility to think outside the box and tackle any issues that may arise. Critical thinking is the ability to observe and assess all sides of a situation to determine the best course of action. It is at the heart of learning as it requires students to understand information, interpret and course correct, where necessary. It is a life skill that is required for problemsolving and can help improve the selfconfidence of an individual, especially where one is able to determine the variables and make the right decision. Therefore, it is crucial to sharpen your ability to find solutions to complicated problems in preparation for the future workplace.” – Unilever
Planning & ways of working “This skill is important for graduates to have, as it is the foundation of time management. "No man is an island" – you will be required to collaborate, of which communication is key, you need to be able to ask, take on and deliver on your responsibilities. One should also be able to integrate and manage work processes. – Lorraine Khatso, Werkmans Attorneys
Understanding digital systems “We live in a digital world and no career (that I can think of!) is exempt from this. As a graduate, being able to understand digital systems will greatly assist you in getting up to speed in your new position. As author Sukant Ratnakar says: “Our future success is directly proportional to our ability to understand, adopt and integrate new technology into our work.” – Cindy Mati, SAOTA