| There's no denying that the economy today is in | | | | trying to create the means to revive the |
| a state of transition; finances are tumbling, jobs | | | | economy, there is a real need for people with |
| being outsourced, new green technologies being | | | | good people skills to work at constructing that |
| developed and the government trying to organise | | | | resolution to the economic crisis. |
| a solution to it all. With all of this going on, it is | | | | 6. Higher Education |
| clear that people skills are very important. | | | | With some jobs disappearing, new ones coming |
| 1. Developing New Industries | | | | along and new industries developing, having the |
| The new economy is rift with opportunities for | | | | right sort of education is vital to securing a good |
| new types of businesses. People are developing | | | | economic future. |
| things like long-life light bulbs and clothes made out | | | | Of course, there are also many people trying to |
| of recycled materials. | | | | fill those openings in the colleges and universities. |
| All of these new industries need to be marketed | | | | So, to get the sort of education you need to fulfil |
| to the public, they need to find financial backing, | | | | your economic dreams, you have to be articulate |
| and they need people to work on manufacturing | | | | and have the ability to convince a college that you |
| them. For a person to develop these businesses, | | | | are deserving of a degree from their institution. |
| they need good people skills to accomplish all of | | | | If you are an older student, maybe a middle-aged |
| these tasks. | | | | person looking at a career change, your difficulty |
| 2. Dealing with Healthcare | | | | at getting into an institution of higher learning can |
| Right now, for the United States, providing | | | | be doubly hard. That means being able to write a |
| healthcare to its citizens is perhaps the number | | | | good application, and give a good interview: all of |
| one issue. | | | | these are people skills. |
| The government is debating how best to address | | | | 7. Evolving Family Dynamics |
| such things as coverage for all citizens, premium | | | | Another aspect of the new economy is the |
| costs, covering pre-existing conditions, whether | | | | simple fact that older parents are moving in with |
| the government should offer coverage to people | | | | their children and teen and young adult children are |
| or merely subsidise the premiums they have to | | | | living at home longer. In some cases, there can be |
| pay to an insurance company, and countless other | | | | three or four generations living together under |
| issues. | | | | one roof. |
| Of course, both ends of the political and social | | | | As a result, having good people skills can come in |
| spectrum have an opinion on the matter. Quite a | | | | handy When trying to coordinate so many |
| few of them are very vocal in that opinion, and | | | | different people, get them To live together in |
| the ability to win people over to their way of | | | | peace, and try to get jobs for all of them. |
| thinking is dependent on people skills. | | | | 8. The Threat of Terrorism |
| People who can speak and write in a convincing | | | | It's no secret that terrorism has truly moved to |
| and articulate manner have the best chance of | | | | the forefront in today's world. The economic |
| convincing others to support their view. | | | | impact of terrorism is two-fold. |
| 3. The Real Estate Market | | | | First off, attacks cause fear and panic in the |
| Ever since the creation of the term "subprime", | | | | public, which causes a downturn in the economy. |
| the real estate market has gone crazy, bouncing | | | | Second, there are any number of businesses like |
| from low to high and then crashing. So, people | | | | security systems, fences, armed guards etc that |
| who own homes face the difficulty of paying their | | | | people will want to make use of to make them |
| mortgage and might need to negotiate a new loan | | | | feel safer. |
| or try to work out a new payment schedule on | | | | In the case of the former, using good people skills |
| their existing one. | | | | can be the key to keeping your business going |
| To do so, they need to explain clearly and | | | | after a terrorist attack. You can use those skills |
| succinctly to their mortgage holder just how they | | | | to try and keep existing clients from cutting back |
| are going to do that. | | | | and striving to pick up new ones. |
| On the other hand, if someone is trying to buy a | | | | In the case of the latter, you can try launching a |
| home, the new rules regarding getting a loan | | | | new business that deals with home security. |
| make those same skills even more important. | | | | 9. Finding Enough Energy |
| Where once a mortgage was obtained with no | | | | Another critical aspect of today's economy is the |
| money down and little paperwork, now a home | | | | energy industry. Not only are there the existing |
| buyer practically has to surrender their firstborn | | | | energy resources of oil, coal and gas, but all |
| ñ and a pound of flesh. To buy, sell or | | | | manner of alternative energy sources are |
| re-finance a home in the current economic | | | | currently being developed. |
| situation requires outstanding people skills. | | | | So, if you have an idea for wind power, solar |
| 4. Changing Professions | | | | power, geothermal etc, then you will need to get |
| Given the downturn in the economy, and the | | | | backers for the construction of your system, and |
| changes to the business landscape, many people | | | | then have to distribute it to customers. People |
| are facing the prospect of finding a new job, and | | | | skills are vital for all of these tasks. |
| possibly a new career altogether. | | | | 10. Dealing with Unemployment and Job Searches |
| So, how does a forty-something former engineer | | | | This is the last ditch effort for anyone struggling |
| convince a college to give him or her a chance at | | | | in the Current economy; they have to file for |
| being a professor? | | | | unemployment and see about finding a new job. |
| That person needs to be able to speak clearly | | | | In looking for a new position, you need to draw |
| and with authority and write in a manner designed | | | | up a good resume, do phone calls, and go on |
| for students to understand. To teach means | | | | interviews. You have to do all this in amongst |
| interacting with people on a daily basis; so what | | | | countless other people doing the exact same |
| better place are people skills needed? | | | | thing. |
| For that matter, any middle-aged person facing | | | | So, how do you make yourself stand out from |
| the job market is going up against younger | | | | the crowd? |
| potential employees, and they have to prove that | | | | By using good people skills: creating a killer |
| their experience and knowledge are equal to the | | | | resume, handling the interview well, and doing the |
| task at hand. | | | | right sort of follow-up calls to keep your name at |
| 5. Volatile Politics | | | | the top of a company's list of consideration. |
| It's no secret that the current political climate is | | | | Today's economy is a tough road to haul; |
| anything but hostile. Pundits and politicians on the | | | | unemployment is up, productivity down, real |
| Right (conservatives) are actually questioning | | | | estate values and the stock market shaky and |
| whether or not President Obama is a US citizen. | | | | the economy changing. If you are going to |
| Between that and cries of Socialised Medicine and | | | | survive and thrive, having the communication skills |
| death panels, there is a real need for cooler heads | | | | to deal with people, agencies and businesses are |
| to step in and try to mediate a solution to our | | | | vital. |
| troubled political stalemate. As the government is | | | | |
