Speaker 1: Hey, it's Rachel Cook, your modern mentor.
I'm the founder of Lead Above Noise,
where we help leaders understand how
to enhance their team's performance
and enhance their employee engagement
with a single set of solutions.
No burnout required through bootcamps,
keynotes, and pulse checks.
Activating teams is our passion,
and if yours could use a boost,
send me a note at rachel@leadabovenoise.com.
So speaking of needing a boost, that was me
through four years of high school math.
Lucky for me, my dad was and still is a math teacher
and possibly the only reason I managed to graduate.
Anyway, fast forward to today, he's now helping my kids
with their math, which he loves because grandkids,
but he hates because as he loves to tell me,
kids today just aren't being taught mathematics anymore.
What he means is the focus is no longer on
calculating the numbers.
There are apps for that.
The focus is on the problem solving.
To my dad, this feels sad, like something's been lost.
To me, it feels like progress.
Why should we have to learn to calculate numbers when
there's so much more we need to be learning?
My point is this, the world is changing
and evolving at warped speed,
and in order to keep up, we need to always be building
and cultivating key skills.
But like with math, the skills we need in the workplace
today might look different than the ones we needed most a
few years ago, and we've gotta prioritize.
So today, let's talk about some of the most critical skills.
I'm coaching my clients to focus on building in order
to stay relevant and be successful in the current
iteration of the workplace.
Skill number one is co-creation, harnessing the power
of collective intelligence.
So there used to be a time when the expectation was
that the leader and the experts had all the answers,
but today's winning leaders recognize
that no one person can possibly have all the best ideas.
The world is too complex. It's moving too quickly.
So whether we're designing products, refining processes,
crafting messages to clients, we can't afford
to rely solely on our own perspective or intelligence.
The best solutions are coming from real co-creation.
What does this mean In practice?
It's making space for the voices of others.
It means pulling in perspectives from different levels,
departments, backgrounds, and areas of expertise.
It means being open to ideas that challenge your own
and genuinely listening to the contribution of those
around you, not just showing them a finished product
and asking too late for their inputs or ideas.
If you're looking to strengthen your co-creation muscles,
start by inviting input intentionally.
Instead of just running an idea past your usual,
go-to colleagues, ask someone from a different team.
Build in moments during meetings where everyone has a chance
to weigh in, and most importantly,
when people do contribute, acknowledge their ideas.
Show them how you're integrating them.
The more you engage others,
the stronger your outcomes will be.
Skill number two, building trust,
which is currently the ultimate workplace currency.
Trust has always been important,
but in a world where so much
of our work is happening virtually asynchronously
and shifting across teams, it's more important than ever.
And also, trust is waning in the workplace. These days.
We all need to be making conscious efforts
to proactively build it around us.
This doesn't mean knowing or doing everything,
but rather being honest about
what you know and what you don't know.
It's delivering on your promises
or acknowledging as early
as possible when you can't or won't deliver.
Trust is about reliability.
It's about showing up, following through,
and keeping others informed.
If something shifts, one of the fastest ways to build trust,
it's just being consistent.
If you commit to a deadline, meet it.
If you make a promise, deliver on it.
And if something unexpected comes up, don't go radio silent.
Just let people know what's happening.
Let people in to help you.
Trust isn't about never making mistakes.
It's about being transparent
and accountable when they happen.
Skill number three is asking for help.
I know I bang this drum a lot, so sorry, not sorry,
but asking for help
and being able to graciously receive it, it is a sign
of strength and wisdom, not of weakness,
and we have to make space for that because in this day
and age, it's those who can harness
and cultivate the talent around them
who will win against those of us trying
to compete on sheer will
and overwork alone, knowing whose skills
and strengths to leverage and when and how,
and not feeling like less because you couldn't do it alone.
Absolutely. That is a leader or a leader in the making.
If you are someone who's been conditioned to think
that asking for help is a sign
of weakness, it's time to shift.
Because in reality, the most effective leaders are the ones
who aren't trying to do it alone.
It's time to reframe the ask.
Instead of seeing it as an admission of failure
or weakness, recognize it as a commitment
to the best possible outcome.
If you need clarification, ask for it.
If you're struggling with bandwidth, delegate
or ask for assistance, do you know someone
who has expertise?
You don't pull them in.
And if you're leading a team, be a role model.
Normalize asking for input and guidance and collaboration.
The more we embrace this as a strength, the better our work
and our wellbeing will be.
Skill number five, ruthless prioritization.
Protecting your time and energy.
Our time and our energy are finite,
and yet the demands on both keep growing.
The people who are thriving at work today aren't the ones
who say yes to everything, but they're the ones
who make deliberate strategic choices about
where they invest their time and their focus.
This means being really clear on your priorities
and protecting them.
It's about having the courage to push back.
When your plate is full, it means asking, Hey,
if I take this on, what comes off my plate?
And when necessary, it means seeking alignment.
It may mean telling your leader, I've got X, Y,
and Z on my plate, so if this new thing is critical,
can we discuss what I should deprioritize
or what the impact on the timeline might be if I don't push
something off or get additional resources?
Prioritization isn't about slacking off,
it's about ensuring the work you're doing
is the work that matters most.
And the more you practice this, the more valuable
and sustainable your contributions will be.
And skill number five, building human connection In a time
where DEI programs are under scrutiny
and investment in these programs is kind of waning
the responsibility
to foster inclusive meaningful relationships falls on each
of us as individuals.
Being a true connector, someone who
actively has conversations and builds relationships
with wide ranges of people is a fast path to success.
So what does this look like? Well,
it looks like making an effort to engage with colleagues
outside your usual circle.
It looks like being curious about the experiences
and viewpoints of people different from you.
It looks like seeking diverse perspectives, not
because a policy mandates it, but
because it leads to richer ideas, stronger collaboration
and better outcomes, building human
connection in the workplace.
It's not about compliance.
It's about curiosity and respect
and a willingness to learn and grow together.
And in today's world, this is a skill
that will serve you in every role, industry
and career stage.
So there you have it. These are the five skills
that I think will help set you up
for success in today's workplace.
These are not soft skills.
They are survival skills in an environment
that demands adaptability, collaboration, and resilience.
If your team or organization is looking
for support in cultivating these skills, whether
through a workshop, a keynote,
or a pulse check, reach out to me.
You can find me@leadabovenoise.com.
And if you're enjoying the show, don't forget
to follow Modern Mentor on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
or wherever you listen.
Thanks so much for listening and have a successful week.
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