Perspectives on the Future of Work: May 16

Upwork’s weekly column brings you the latest news on hiring and working with freelancers, freelancing, and the future of work.

Fast Company | 7 Reasons Why Emotional Intelligence Is One of the Fastest-Growing Job Skills

More companies are putting a premium on emotional intelligence (EI) over intellect—in fact, the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report predicts EI will be one of the top 10 most-sought skills by 2020.

Harvey Deutschendorf, an author and expert in the field, says those with high EI handle pressure better and are more open to feedback than those who may be more traditionally intelligent but less aware and in control of their emotions.

And because they are more empathetic, “highly emotionally intelligent people are able to make better judgments about how their decisions will impact others,” he wrote. “Not only does this result in better decision making overall, but it also helps manage damage control when certain decisions lead to negative consequences. Being able to judge the outcomes of their choices lets highly emotionally intelligent people behave more proactively.”

Data Informed | Busting Myths About the Future of Work

Many people worry about the effect technological advances, such as cloud computing and machine learning, will have on their way of doing business. Seenu Banda, CEO of knowledge automation company Kaybus, aims to set minds at ease by revealing the truth behind four common misconceptions:

1. Companies need to get rid of existing systems to stay current with the latest tech. In fact, many new solutions are designed to complement or improve existing technology—developers know that few organizations can afford to simply chuck their current systems.
2. People suffer from information overload. The problem isn’t the wealth of information, it’s the difficulty many have in locating the files, documents, and other content they need. Many emerging technologies aim to make managing this information more efficient.
3. Cloud technology is unsafe. If that were the case, Banda argues, we’d hear about more security breaches, given that 82 percent of enterprises already use some form of cloud technology.
4. Automation systems limit the control companies have. “Automation systems put complete control into the hands of workers, saving them time and fostering productivity,” Banda said. “Whether it’s using predictive analytics to better understand customers’ needs or applying machine learning, automated technologies can help humans work smarter and more efficiently as they streamline business processes.”

What business trends have caught your attention recently? Tell us about them in the comments below!

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