Five Traits & Skills To Future-Proof Yourself
I wrote an article the other day that I published for our newsletter for lawyers on LinkedIn, on the 5 skills and traits for future proofing lawyers.
I was re-reading it, and thought I would blogpost it here in a revised form, as I think it not only applies to lawyers but also to leaders, managers and professionals as well.
Here they are;
1. Curiosity - possessing a broad awareness of global developments to provide well-rounded advice to clients. This encompasses cultural intelligence and a grasp of societal trends, enabling professionals to better understand diverse issues and continually evolve in their professions.
2. Agility - society is rapidly changing, and you must try new things as well as adapt accordingly, or else you will get left behind. Take an example from law, where criminal law practitioners now need to extend their expertise into realms such as cyber-crime, digital assets, blockchain, the metaverse, and cyber-security. This shift from traditional crime to digital and virtual domains necessitates a dynamic approach to practice. Think about what you are doing now, and with society changing things in your profession and think about what you should be pivoting towards.
3. Personal Branding - professionals need to recognise the importance of building and nurturing their personal brand, from the very beginning of their careers. This involves a strategic presence both online and offline, highlighting the significance of their unique and authentic personal identity in the professional realm.
4. Marketing Skills - it's crucial for professionals to effectively market themselves, and to leverage their personal brand to establish themselves as influencers in their field. This includes the ability to engage both in-person and online, showcasing their expertise and value in a way that resonates with their target as well as future audiences.
5. Sales Skills - with the rise of Generative AI and what will inevitably be a resulting shift in the undertaking of routine tasks, professionals must be adept at selling their unique value proposition. This includes offering a broader spectrum of their existing and new services, and understanding the interplay between professional issues, cultural intelligence, business acumen, technology, and the law. It's about demonstrating an awareness of emerging fields and contemporary, complex as well as controversial societal issues and their relevance, as professionals being able to advise and deal with these.
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