Prof. (Dr.) Daviender Narang, Director, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Ghaziabad
The world is currently undergoing transformation at various levels, from personal to the educational and corporate arena. This paradigm shift, especially in the business world, has left academia in a constant state of change. The education industry is trying to upskill and reskill the students to bridge the existing gap and equip them as per the evolving industry requirements. The rising skill gap has been one of the country’s concerns for a long time now. The pandemic further escalated the situation. But the technological interventions emerged as a saving grace and supported the academic institutions in matching the needs of the respective industries. There has been a constant tussle between the academic offerings of the educational institutions and the demands of different corporate domains.
To lessen the existing skill disparity, academia has reviewed and restructured various elements ranging from curriculum design to pedagogical approaches. The educators have adopted new-age learning methodologies to equip their students in accordance with the current dynamics of the world. Every day witnesses a new trend and makes the learning more engaging as well as complex at the same time. Students need to be empowered with updated skills to make them future-ready. Post the industrial revolution 4.0, the world has witnessed a significant increase in the implementation of automation, robotisation and the influence of artificial intelligence for performing numerous tasks. The industry stalwarts suggest that a wider array of skills would be required to match up with the present industry standards.
Here are certain skills that the students must possess in order to have a stable career:
Commercial awareness
It is popularly known as business acumen. Gone are the days when only the entrepreneurs had to possess business acumen. Today each and every individual stepping into the industry with an aim to make it big needs to acquire the astuteness and complete knowledge of their respective field. It is imperative to gather an understanding of what will work and what will not for the organisation’s success. Management graduates need to develop strong business acumen to comprehend the impact of political and economic movements over the monetary resources of their chosen industry.
Digital efficacy
Social media commands a strong influence over the minds of the young generation. For the overall success and growth of businesses, it is lucrative and important to delve into social media. The new-age workforce needs to imbibe learning of self-promotional activities on social media and understand the dynamics of the digital world. Having a thorough knowledge of the cause-and-effect forces of this world of clicks will help the aspirants stand apart.
Communication
The significance of effective communication cannot be undermined at any age and time. As Nat Turner has rightly said, “Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity.” Effective communicators will always help the aspirants succeed, with their ability to articulate any organisation’s vision, mission and message well to the world.
Teamwork
Being a team player and a team leader is easier said than done. It is one trait that is a must-have for any management student to excel at work. Knowing how to work well in a team, delegate the work, and get the job done well while being a team leader are essential aspects of work that they need to imbibe. Management graduates need to have the skill of both being a team player and a team leader.
Negotiation, persuasion and problem solving
These three are non-negotiable employability skills which all management graduates need to hone to stay relevant and effective in their work profiles. Persuasion is the ability to convince others to take appropriate action, while negotiation is the ability to hold a compelling discussion for both sides to reach a mutually agreeable point. Problem-solving abilities, including analytical and creative thinking, are virtually essential and required for any role at any level in an organisation. Recruiters are always on the lookout for candidates who possess these qualities, as they go a long way in the overall success of any business.
The skills mentioned above, along with intensive training on life skills, will help us raise managers who possess both intellectual and emotional intelligence. Besides, the importance of practical knowledge can never be undermined in helping individuals succeed in their respective fields.
Management students must have a sound knowledge of their domain and educate themselves about the emerging industry trends and all the other facets of organisational operations. To conclude, I would like to say, “Knowledge is always going to be the ultimate power that these above-mentioned skills will facilitate.”
