As a business owner, have you ever pondered the future of your enterprise? Will you eventually step away, selling your business or leaving it to run without your direct involvement? These are crucial considerations for any entrepreneur. However, for many, taking time away from the daily grind can result in a sudden drop in income, often because they haven’t yet reached a point where they can hire experts to manage the business in their absence.

Today, we’ll dive into a topic that’s becoming increasingly important in the evolving business landscape: training. If your business is growing, you’ll eventually need a team to support your endeavors. And when you have a team, they’ll require direction and guidance to perform their tasks effectively.

The Changing Landscape of Soft Skills: I couldn’t help but reflect on how drastically the world has changed, especially in terms of technology and its impact on our lives. Unlike today’s generation, I was one of the last to grow up without a phone constantly in hand. I remember the days of the Nokia 3310, where a mobile phone was primarily for communication, not endless screen time.
Back then, we didn’t have the luxury of high-speed internet. Instead, I recall the agonizing dial-up tones that preceded our internet connection. It’s a far cry from the instant connectivity we enjoy today.

My childhood was filled with outdoor activities and socializing with friends. It was a time when we were encouraged to venture outside and return home only when hunger struck or darkness fell. Little did I know then that I was developing essential social skills.

The Lost Art of Soft Skills: Today’s younger generations, often referred to as Gen Z, haven’t experienced the same upbringing. They’ve grown up in an era of constant connectivity and, more recently, the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted their schooling for two years. This raises important questions about the potential loss of crucial soft skills.
Are these social skills being eroded in the digital age? This is a question we must consider, especially as remote working becomes more prevalent. At our accounting firm, we embrace remote work, but we also acknowledge the need to counteract the potential loss of interpersonal skills.

Seeking Your Insights: We’d love to hear your thoughts on this matter. Do you believe that younger generations are losing vital soft skills? Are these skills still important in today’s business landscape? Should employers take responsibility for providing training in these areas? What additional support can we offer to bridge this gap?

Alternatively, as some networking events suggest, should we focus our recruitment efforts on individuals further along in their careers and delegate soft skills development to others?

At our firm, we believe that accounting is not just about the numbers; it’s about running businesses and considering every detail, no matter how minor. The consequences of overlooking soft skills can be significant.

If you resonate with these discussions and are seeking an accountant who thinks beyond the balance sheet, know that you’re not alone in this journey. Feel free to reach out to us to continue this conversation. We’re here to help you build your power team and navigate the ever-changing landscape of business.

Why not drop us a message? We look forward to connecting with you.