Latest news with #professional
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
The Top 10 Professional Skills To Stay Ahead Of The AI Curve
Today, tech skills are in high demand—but if they're all you bring, you might get left behind. In the AI-driven workplace of today, it's all about your tech skills, right? Not quite. Data analysis, reporting tools, cloud computing and machine learning may top the list of hot tech skills—but if they're all you bring, you might get left behind. Research by Pearson uncovered the top ten soft skills that will be needed as AI continues to reshape the workplace. No matter how impressive the AI, it can never be human—and therein lies your advantage. Soft skills may not sound like a big deal, but they are anything but soft. In fact, I advocate for the term 'soft skills' to be changed to 'professional skills.' 'Soft skills' sounds like they're not important, but 'professional skills'? Highly valuable, and every professional needs them. The more of them you have, the more professional you are. It doesn't matter what industry or role you work in. It doesn't matter how elevated or humble your job title. People with a competent array of professional skills are in high demand and always valued. In the U.S., Pearson found that the top ten soft skills in the age of AI include: No surprises here: it seems that communication consistently tops every list of soft skills ever compiled. The ability to communicate clearly prevents costly misunderstandings and mistakes, reducing frustration and burnout on teams. Clear communication not only allows you to convey your ideas and needs effectively, but also helps you listen actively to what others are saying. It's little wonder that this skill is in such high demand across all industries. Whether you work in person or remote, the quality of the team you're on can make or break your experience. Strong teams are simply more effective than those distracted by infighting or simply disengaged. That's why being able to work well with others is a skill that will elevate you above other candidates. The good news is, you can practice being a strong team member even if others on your team aren't. It's interesting that among the top four soft skills Pearson uncovered, three have to do with communication. This skill of verbal communication is rising in value as RTO mandates increase, bringing employees into face-to-face contact perhaps more than any other time in the last five years. Being able to communicate effectively in-person isn't just about how well you speak; it's how well you make eye contact, listen to others and express interest in their point of view. AI can write everything for us these days, right? No. It is my belief that no matter how good AI gets, there will always be a premium placed on words written solely via human agency. Even if we do use AI-generated content as a starting point, it can only produce what we tell it to. Organizing ideas, composing a compelling argument and putting the final touches on a written work are human-level skills we all still need. Being able to compose and communicate your thoughts effectively will never become obsolete. We live distracted lives and many of us toggle between personal and professional tasks many times a day—often, many times an hour. Executive function, or those cognitive skills that allow us to organize our lives by managing tasks, planning ahead and problem solving, is key to staying on top of everything we have to accomplish. Organized individuals possess good executive function and are able to adapt to and prioritize the need of the moment. I frame interpersonal skills as the ability to create and sustain human connection. To connect with someone is to make them feel seen, heard and valued. No matter how brief or sustained their interaction with you, you make others feel that their thoughts and feelings matter to you—opening up motivation, engagement and a positive attitude about whatever you need to accomplish together. Simple ways to connect more effectively with those in your sphere is to practice good eye contact, active listening and validation of what they're saying. It doesn't mean you have to agree with it, but you let them know their perspective is worth hearing. Is this really a soft/professional skill? I believe so, because what's the purpose of using a computer? Somewhere, somehow, everything we do online ultimately affects others. Computers exist to help humans. Your ability to navigate the digital world with ease allows you to be a better team member because you can focus on the work and people at hand, rather than the mechanics of using the technology. Leadership is not about the title you hold. Anyone who influences others in a positive direction is a leader—and we need more people like this. Although only 6% of Gen Z workers aspire to senior leadership roles within their organization, that will not prevent them from exercising the core skills of great leaders: vision, purpose, negotiation, empathy, teamwork, communication and more. In a way, all professional skills are on display in great leadership. It's the skill that requires all the rest in order to be effective. Before I hire someone, one of the most important skills I look at is their ability to solve problems. Every day presents a new set of challenges to overcome and employers need people who can tackle these problems without a lot of handholding. Though critical thinking is a vital component to good problem solving, I find that it's more about the attitude people bring to problems than their actual abilities to solve them. A smart, tech-y person who nevertheless displays a give-up attitude in the face of challenges is not a problem solver. We should all strive to meet problems head-on and work proactively on a solution before leaning too heavily on those around us to solve it. I'm thrilled that this skill made the top 10 because it's one I prize in every member of my own team, and I don't think it gets enough attention. Attention to detail is what sets the great apart from the good. People who are motivated to pursue perfection in the small things are the ones who produce the best work. Details matter and can make all the difference in the final result. That said, I'm not advocating for perfectionism—but I will advocate all day for caring enough about the outcome to get the details right. People who care at that level about the work they produce are in high demand. The challenge of professional skills is that we never fully arrive. There's always room to grow. This should both encourage us and spur us to continue our journey of developing these vital abilities. At the outset of my career, I had to be very intentional in order to develop my professional skills. I listened to recordings of leaders in my field. I paid attention to the habits of the people I worked with every day who displayed strong professional skills. I took honest stock of my own abilities frequently to assess where I was improving and what still needed work. In short, I made it a conscious goal to become great at what I did—and I knew that strong professional skills were key to my success. It may seem that today, technology has taken center stage in the job market and everyone should focus on developing their tech skills above all else. Yes, technical competencies absolutely matter, maybe more now than ever. But without professional skills, tech skills fall flat. It's still people who matter most, not machines. The staying power of your career does not depend on skills that expire within a few years, but on your lifelong commitment to become a consummate professional in your field. Professional skills are the future-proof currency that all of us need.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- South China Morning Post
Promising Chinese player defers PhD programme to give pickleball career a shot
A Chinese pickleball player said it was worth deferring her PhD studies to pursue a professional career in the emerging sport. Advertisement Long Yufei, who was about to start a biomedical informatics course in the United States, was presented with the opportunity to become a part of the United Pickleball Association's inaugural Asia Trailblazers Programme. Under the scheme, 12 players across the region will undergo a three-month training stint in the US and, if they impress, will be given a contract as a UPA Asia Pro. The two-year deal includes playing in at least 10 events a year, predominantly in Asia but also in the US and Australia. Long, who holds a Master's degree in public health from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said the decision to defer her doctoral studies was difficult, but she had opted to embrace a less traditional route. 'I had invested months crafting potential research proposals and preparing applications,' said the Shenzhen native, who received acceptance letters from the University of Washington and from Washington University in St Louis shortly before the pickleball opportunity emerged. Long Yufei was an NCAA Division I tennis player at Vanderbilt University. Photo: Handout 'The sunk cost was high,' she said. 'I spent the whole of February evaluating the best option … I was choosing between two different life trajectories.'
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Overwhelmed At Work? 5 Steps To A More Sustainable Workload
I find myself working before 9am and after 5pm on my own stuff because when I'm at work it's too hard to concentrate. I'm frequently interrupted by my colleagues, and a big part of my job is being available to others -- I oversee a bunch of things -- so I need to be available. How do I make a more sustainable routine? - Editor Working overtime should be an exception and not the default if you're going to have any semblance of personal and professional balance. While many jobs entail managing or collaborating with others, if you find that it's a full-time job to attend to your colleagues, you need to assert stronger boundaries or you're just working on their schedule, not yours. Finally, if you're fitting in your own work at the margins of your day, you're probably not giving your best energy to it. Improving balance, setting boundaries, and assigning the most energetic part of your day to your most important work will help you make your workload more sustainable. Here are five steps to take now: Pick one good habit at a time to adopt for better sleep, exercise, diet and stress management (e.g., sticking to a bedtime routine, hitting X steps each week, eating at least one fruit per day, meditating in the morning). Starting with self-care allows you to flex your change muscle and introduce something new to your routine without disrupting your work. At the same time, you're building a stronger foundation that will make it easier to disrupt your work for the better. You have to be your biggest advocate against burnout. Experiment with reducing your availability to interruptions by following specific practices that signal to others you shouldn't be disturbed. This can be as simple as hanging a sign on your door (or cubicle) that says, 'Do not disturb', 'Please don't interrupt' or 'Working on deadline'. If you're worried that's not friendly enough, you can add a specific time for people to come back (e.g., 'Check back in 30 minutes'). If you have an office with multiple spaces, make it a habit to leave your regular workspace and go somewhere away from your colleagues. Block your online calendar so meetings can't be scheduled at all times of day. Whatever you decide to carve out uninterrupted time, start with 30 minutes three times a week and work up to dedicated blocks of focused time every day. Interruptions from colleagues might be the key reason this editor's other work is spilling into overtime. However, they also might have a To Do list that is unrealistic and could be pared down. To pare down your task list and still protect your job, get clear on what your manager prioritizes from you. Some projects or clients are more important than others, and some ongoing tasks count more than others. For this editor, it might be publishing a certain number of stories on a set cadence, submitting a status report on audience analytics or moving forward on a long-term research assignment. These tasks should get the dedicated blocks of focused times, and other tasks (e.g., filing more than the minimum of stories) fall off. At some point, you can take on more because ad hoc projects finish or you get more efficient with your output, but don't work overtime until you know it's on something that matters. You may prefer some aspects of your job more than others, or it may be easier to do some tasks more than others. Unfortunately, if you default to what you like or what's comfortable, you might neglect what matters most. That includes your manager's top priorities, as well as your own. Your manager's top priorities may not 100% line up with yours. You may be interested in a promotion and need to take on tasks outside your current job or focus on work that gives you more visibility beyond your manager. You may be developing a skill (e.g., AI) that is currently a small part of your job. You may have a personal interest in exploring other departments or areas of the company outside your current role. To keep your own career moving, use some of your focused time for your top priorities, not just your manager's. If your best efforts to bring routine to your workday are still met with interruptions, you'll need to schedule your interactions more deliberately. This could be a 15-minute weekly check-in with your manager, when before they used to drop by for an update. It could be you proactively walking around to check on colleagues and offer your help at set times you choose. Or block off specific 'office hours' each day for questions and requests. It may take time for people to realize you're on a new work cadence, but if you stick to it, they'll realize this is how you work and will jump on the new routine. Improve your time management, and you improve your career.
CNET
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- CNET
The Three Types of Camera Every Photographer Needs to Own
There are three main types of camera that all photographers need to own. And I'm not just talking about brands, like a Sony or a Canon, or even sensor types, like a full frame or an APS C. I mean a deeper level of camera selection -- the types of camera that offer fundamentally different ways of taking photos and allow you to create your best work, no matter what genre you like to dabble in. And while these types could be three physically different cameras, they could also be represented in two cameras, or even just the one. I'll explain, so let's dive in with camera type number one. The workhorse This is the camera that gets stuff done. It's likely packed with modern camera technology. It's fast to use, shoots at high speed, has lightning-fast autofocus, possibly image stabilization, and almost certainly uses interchangeable lenses. It may well be full frame. It's the camera that pros the world over use for all kinds of photo shoots -- just like I have -- from weddings to cars to products to pets ... whatever. It's a jack-of-all-trades camera that you can trust will do anything you need it to any time you need it to do it. I've used my Canon R5 on numerous professional shoots for photos and videos. It's a high-performance all-rounder. Andrew Lanxon/CNET For me right now, that's the Canon R5. Fast, high resolution. Tons of features. A flippy screen. And it shoots awesome video. Endless lens and accessory options. It's the camera I trust for most of my professional work because I know it can deliver and I know I can deliver when I'm using it. Previously it's been the Canon 5DIV and before that it was the Canon 6D. For you, it might be the Sony A7RV, the Nikon Z8 or the Panasonic Lumix S5II. It might not be the latest model around, but whether it was launched in 2025 or 2005 it'll tick all the boxes you need for a busy day of photography whether you're a professional or an enthusiastic amateur. The workhorse is a camera that'll do everything and it'll do it well. But it's likely also quite big and probably quite expensive. While it's great that there are so many lenses to choose from, maybe sometimes you don't want the burden of choice. So that's when you need... A compact, fixed-lens camera like Fujifilm's X100VI is great to have with you, always ready to shoot. John Kim/ CNET The everyday carry It's a small digital. A compact point and shoot, ideally. Almost certainly a fixed lens. The Fuji X100VI or the Ricoh GRIII. Even the relatively ancient Sony RX1R or the Leica Q3. The Q3 isn't that small really but I actually love my Q3 43 as an everyday carry. It'll be the type of camera you can quickly grab when you're heading out in a hurry without thinking about lenses. When you don't want a backpack full of gear when camping, but do want lots of fun shots of you and your mates around the campfire. It's the camera you can always carry. It's the social camera you don't mind getting in among the chaos of life. It could feasibly even just be your phone camera. Read more: Best Phone Camera in 2025 It's probably the lightest camera you own that allows you to comfortably wear it around your neck while you're walking around the streets of some old Italian town. It's maybe even small enough to slip into your pocket when you go into a bar and easily slip back out when the light comes in beautifully through the pub window and you want to catch a quick shot. Having my Leica Q3 43 always with me allows me to snap scenes whenever I see them. Andrew Lanxon/CNET It's a camera for quick shooting and for social shooting -- maybe even grubby from-the-hip or spray and pray shooting. It's probably the camera you've captured the most memories on but it's also probably not the camera you've used to take your favorite fine art photos. Oh no, that'll be this one. The artful one It might not technically be your best camera. It might not have the most features. It might not be the smallest, the fastest or the easiest to use. But it's the camera that inspires you the most. It's the one that makes you feel creative just by looking at it. It's the one you choose to take when you drive for hours to one location in the slim hope that you might have good light that evening. It's the camera that makes you slow down and think about the art in your images rather than rattling off a thousand mediocre snaps. It's the camera that's responsible for the work you're most proud of. The Hasselblad 907X -- an amazing, quirky camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNET This camera could be a lot of things. It could be a film camera, be it 35mm or 120 medium format. That alone would slow you down and make you take a more methodical approach unless you're happy to spend a fortune on film. Or maybe it's something like a modern digital medium format like a Fuji GFX or my personal favorite, Hasselblad's 907X 100C — that weird little box gave me such a buzz when I used it that it was genuinely difficult to part with it when I had to send it back. I found the Hasselblad's X-Pan panorama mode incredibly inspiring. This image was even shortlisted for a major UK photography award. Andrew Lanxon/CNET It's a camera you might not even own yet and maybe don't even know you want. I didn't know I was at all interested in film photography until only quite recently, yet the other day I gave a man a fistful of cash in a car park to buy his medium format Mamiya 645 Pro, which I'm very excited to put to use. Life throws things your way sometimes. So maybe this camera is one you'll need to be a bit open minded about. But it's also the one you might be most glad you got in the years to come. Three types, one camera Between the workhorse, the everyday carry and the artful one, you have yourself covered in any aspect of photography, no matter what genre you like to dabble in. I took my Canon R5 to Sicily where it performed all the roles of workhorse, everyday carry and inspirational camera admirably. You don't necessarily need three separate cameras. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Of course, some cameras can be two things. Hell, some cameras could be all three. And that's absolutely fine -- as long as that one camera ticks each of those three boxes for you. It's really up to you to interpret whether your camera is small enough to be your everyday carry or inspiring enough to be your artful one. My Canon R5 with a compact prime on it certainly can be all three. It was a great everyday carry on a trip to Sicily and it inspired me to take artistic photos that I later licensed to go into a luxury travel book meaning it was also my workhorse. So on that one trip alone it ticked all three boxes. But it's not always all of those things for me. My Leica Q3 43 was a superb everyday carry camera on my recent travels to the Swedish Arctic and Barcelona. It was the camera I took on multiple ferry trips to various remote Scottish islands and it was the camera I took when I went to hang with my brother for his 40th birthday. And yeah, it too is also a camera that excites me, that inspires me and urges me to be more creative with my shooting. Because it's a damn Leica and what photographer doesn't feel excited to take photos when they're holding a Leica? My Leica Q3 43 was an amazing everyday carry and professional workhorse on my assignment in Sweden. Did it also inspire me creatively? You bet. Volvo But it's my recent forays into film that have taught me even more about slowing down and crafting an image and the culmination of that has led me to getting this Mamiya 645 as my artful camera, which completes my personal holy trinity. And sure, as my work and my style develops and other cameras come and go, that trio of cameras will likely change over the years but the basic building blocks of workhorse, everyday carry and the artful one will always need to be met by whatever cameras I have.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Top Palm Beach County professionals, business people on the move for the week of May 11
In our weekly list of business people on the move, we highlight Palm Beach County professionals who are making a difference. These are people from across the spectrum of public and private endeavors, those working in charities, court houses, private practices and beyond. They are moving up within their industry, advancing their careers and standing out for their services within our community. Here are this week's professional standouts: The City of Boca Raton recently announced the appointment of Jorge Camejo as deputy city manager. Camejo will play a vital role in helping shape ongoing redevelopment efforts downtown and in providing input on future growth and change citywide. He brings a wealth of experience and a deep connection to Boca Raton, having previously served the city for over 28 years in various leadership capacities. Camejo's focus will be on Boca Raton's CRA, advancing the city's proposed government campus redevelopment effort, and providing valuable insight into citywide planning and future redevelopment opportunities. Slatkow & Husak Public Relations recently announced the addition of Heather Abbruzze as the agency's newest partner. In her new role, she oversees the team of five full-time and two part-time employees with Husak, while playing a pivotal role in driving the firm's growth, expanding its client base and furthering its commitment to delivering innovative public relations strategies. The Boynton Beach resident joined the firm as an account manager in 2013 and became the firm's vice president in 2018. 'I am honored to join Kelly Husak as a partner at Slatkow & Husak PR,' said Abbruzze. The firm was established in 1991 and provides marketing support, crisis management and comprehensive public relations services to corporate clients as well as not-for-profit organizations. Flagler Technologies, one of the country's fastest-growing technology companies, recently welcomed Stan DeVost to the corporate team as national accounts manager. With headquarters in Boca Raton, Flagler Technologies employs staff across four states to serve individuals, small businesses, universities, and billion-dollar corporations with their technology needs. DeVost brings an impressive background of over 25 years of IT and enterprise account management experience. Flagler Technologies helps clients tackle disruption due to digital challenges. The Palm Beach Health Network has named Dr. Eric Lieberman to the position of chief medical officer. In his new role, Lieberman will oversee quality improvement initiatives, lead strategic planning for cardiovascular services, and support the expansion of the health network's cardiovascular service line across its six hospitals. Lieberman will work closely with cardiologists throughout the network to ensure cohesiveness in care delivery. The Palm Beach Health Network, comprising six hospitals and care centers spanning Palm Beach County, is the largest health-care network in Palm Beach County. The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, a nonprofit organization that leads partnerships with donors, nonprofit organizations, and community members to solve the region's chronic and emerging issues, has announced the addition of two legal experts to its philanthropy advisory council. The council provides the foundation with leadership and guidance to best serve the nonprofit's clients and the community. The newly appointed members are Darren J. Mills, partner at Stern, Kilcullen & Rufolo in West Palm Beach and Richard Vaughan, associate at Jones Foster in West Palm Beach. The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties is a nonprofit organization that provides charitable expertise and vehicles to increase the investment options on behalf of individuals, family foundations, and corporations. Devonshire, the Erickson Senior Living community at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens is pleased to announce that David Street has been promoted to director of general services. Street joined Devonshire in 2018, following his retirement from the U.S. Army, where he served for 35 years. He most recently served the community as assistant general services director. In this role, he was named one of Erickson Senior Living's 2023 Leaders of the Year for his contributions to the organization. HCA Florida JFK North Hospital has announced that Andrew (Drew) Wright, MBA, RN has joined the hospital as chief operating officer effective April 14. Wright brings more than a decade of progressive healthcare leadership experience and a unique combination of clinical expertise and operational excellence. JFK North Hospital, a 280-bed acute care facility, has served Palm Beach County for nearly 50 years. If you are looking for more insight into the movers and shakers operating in the Palm Beaches, subscribe to our real estate newsletter, The Dirt, keep an eye out for stories and perspective from veteran reporters Kimberly Miller and Alexandra Clough. If you have an announcement for Business People on the Move, please send it to Pbbusiness@ Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@ Help support our journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Best businesses, professionals, business people in Palm Beach County Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
