The Most In-Demand Skills for Managers and Leaders in 2022

Across industries, the job market is rapidly changing, in part, due to COVID-19 and its impact on the workplace. One thing that hasn’t changed is that leadership and management skills are still in high demand.

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2020 report predicted that by 2025, 85 million jobs will be displaced from humans to machines; there’ll be 97 million new positions that focus on the relationship between humans, algorithms, and machines.¹

McKinsey & Co. suggested that computer-based office work makes up one-third of employment in advanced economies, and nearly all of this work has the potential to be remote – a transition that managers will need to be equipped for. The World Economic Forum’s report indicated that more than 90 percent of companies plan to accelerate the digitization of work processes, and more than 21 percent aim to use external online training to upskill their employees.

Companies are looking to provide reskilling and upskilling opportunities to the majority of their staff (73%) cognizant of the fact that, by 2025, 44% of the skills that employees will need to perform their roles effectively will change.

McKinsey

As certain manual jobs become redundant, and new specialist jobs respond and establish themselves in the job market, the pressure for skilled managers will increase. If the global market predicts workforce transformations, labor will need to adapt accordingly. Technological advancements are set to dominate in the coming years – driving business and market growth. In response, managers will need to develop technological acumen to progress at the same rate. What then, are the most in-demand skills for managers and leaders in 2022? What’s for certain is that agility within change, and innovation within technology will be crucial considerations for global leaders.

Change across industries and economies is occurring at such a pace, that a focus on up- and reskilling is becoming imperative. The Future of Jobs report identifies the following trending skills:²

• Analytical thinking and innovation
• Active learning and learning strategies
• Complex problem-solving skills
• Critical thinking and analysis
• Resilience, stress tolerance, and flexibility
• Creativity, originality, and initiative
• Leadership and social influence

The above, among others, are all management skills leaders and executives harness for effective productivity. These skills exhibit a move away from manual labor, and more towards strategy and critical thinking, and will consequently affect the career progression of both the employee and the manager.

In an interview with Fast Company, Liz Bentley from Liz Bentley Associates, a consulting firm that specializes in human behavior, progression, and performance, stresses the need for adaptability and notes how the existing and past hierarchical structures will no longer be suited for future management.³

Technology continues to be the biggest driver of change in business, but there are many human trends that shape the future of work.

These are some of the skills set to be at the forefront for future managers:

• Leadership skills
• Soft skills
• Technology skills
• Collaboration
• Emotional intelligence
• Transparency

Leadership skills

Traditional leadership styles are being replaced by dynamic relationship-focused development models.⁴ The egocentric managerial approach will no longer apply. Effective management skills will see leaders being collaborative contributors, who focus on team development. Having great leadership skills will help you stand out from the competition. As your career evolves, your leadership and soft skills will too. GetSmarter offers many online courses in leadership and interpersonal skills, designed and led by industry experts from the world’s top universities and institutions.

Soft skills

Despite the emphasis and shift toward a digital, automated workplace, managers still need to remain strategic and innovative in their leadership style; they will also need to understand their team more than ever as workplace changes continue to increase.⁵ It’s precisely because of the technological pace that creative problem-solving skills, listening, effective communication, and time management will remain top management skills for the future. These soft skills are instrumental for your career, especially when managers are focusing on increasing their teams’ skills, as discussed in this career guide.

Technology skills

No job will be exempt from technological advancement, and managers will have to grapple with new challenges, conflicts, and opportunities that emerge.⁶ In order to remain relevant, managers will need to be aware of the latest developments, and embrace change to anticipate market movements and internal business dynamics. All emerging roles – and most in-demand jobs – will have a focus on technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning specialists, data analysts and scientists, big data specialists, Internet of Things specialists, process automation specialists, project managers, information security analysts, and digital marketing and strategy specialists.⁷

Explore the many digital transformation and disruptive technology courses available through GetSmarter to learn how to get ahead in trending industries.

Collaboration

Globalization has opened the channels for cross-border teams. Organizations operate through consultants, contractors, and remote employees, which can be challenging when establishing company cultures. Workforces are also becoming more dynamic as Generation Z enters the labor market and baby boomers reach retirement.⁸ Soft skills, interpersonal skills, and leadership skills will all help to create an effective cross-generational workforce. Managers will need to be aware of dynamic demographics to capitalize on market changes and navigate team diversity.

Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a crucial leadership skill and is being recognized as a business differentiator. It encompasses self and social awareness, and self and relationship management. Managers need to remain flexible within the complex space of chance and transformation. EI is about behaviors, and it can vastly help managers to navigate the organizational landscape.⁹

Transparency

In a global world where data is accessible and available for all, managing trust and fostering a healthy company culture is a key attribute to high-performing teams and leaders. Transparency ensures that problems are solved efficiently, teams are built on a basis of trust and support, and performance levels rise.¹⁰ Being an effective manager within markets of hyper-growth and innovation will require clear channels of information and exchange.

What is evident among all these management skills and industry trends is that leading through change will be at the forefront. The future for effective managers is bright – especially those well-versed in in-demand skills.