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Elk & Bear: Handpicked

Does Spiritual awareness enhance Soft Skills? The new Leadership of the future

By Elinor Svoboda | January 26, 2024

Last year, I decided to move exclusively to remote work. It was a difficult commitment to make after the bumpy have-to online days of the pandemic. I am a very intuitive person who loves collaboration and wasn’t sure if remote working would leave me feeling disconnected and unsatisfied. 

I’ll admit – It’s definitely been a learning curve! I’ve realized that just because I’m working alone in my physical room, doesn’t mean I’m not impacted by the energy of my workplace. 

Even across a screen and many miles apart, I can feel the energy of the people I’m working with. There can be a lot of nuance that passes through a strictly practical meeting and as a sensitive person, I can feel it! This can leave me feeling heavy and isolated, or even wonder if the “vibes” in the room have to do with me?!

Rather than letting this weigh me down, I’ve been using my intuition to find ways to connect through the digital noise. Though there is a temptation to just focus on the hard task at hand, I’ve been prioritizing taking time to check in with colleagues, allow humour and foster sincere connections. By reading the remote room, I’ve noticed that communication is way smoother throughout the day and I feel clearer about my own tasks at hand.

Emotional intelligence, skills of observation and communication are highly sought after attributes in today’s workforce. These skills are called “soft skills” and there is a new recognition and demand for these abilities. The Harvard Business Review article How to Improve your Soft Skills as a Remote Worker, lays out the value and practice of developing soft skills. 

As I learned more about soft skills, I realized I’ve developed many of these attributes through my spiritual and meditation practice. By investing time in connecting with my inner world, working to heal myself and striving to live more authentically, skills like leadership and communication have flourished. 

The term “soft” might make these skills seem less important than hard, measurable skills, but what is behind satisfying work? Often it’s the collaboration and community we are a part of, the ability to work efficiently and the service we can provide when our work is impactful and relevant.

The truth is, what makes us essentially human is becoming more important than ever before, especially in this new AI world. A recent LinkedIn survey reveals that 72% of U.S. executives place more value on soft skills than AI-related skills. 

I believe that Spiritual development will shape the leaders of the future. Maybe investing in your intuitive gifts is not just a personal pursuit, but something that can benefit all aspects of your life, including your work. How do you notice your spiritual gifts help you at work, in everyday life? Let us know in the comme



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