These are the 5 most underrated skills for creative professionals.

While we can easily see how important traditional hard and technical skills are in the real world, the value of durable and power skills might not be as obvious at first.

But that doesn't mean they are any less impactful.

In fact, having these skills makes you more valuable as a creative problem solver to clients, colleagues, and partners. When you go beyond just technical knowledge, it shows that you can handle challenges well and adapt to different situations.

A research study by Harvard University found that as professionals progress in their careers, technical skills become less critical, while interpersonal skills become more essential for success.

The study conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation and Stanford Research Center has all concluded that 85% of job success comes from having well‐developed soft and people skills, and only 15% of job success comes from technical skills and knowledge.

Leadership positions, in particular, require strong power skills to manage teams, communicate vision, and meaningful build relationships.

Here are the top 5 power skill groups, and how they add unique value to your offering as a mature creative professional.

Clear communication

Effective communication skills are essential for creative professionals as they enable you to clearly convey your ideas, understand clients’ needs, and collaborate smoothly with colleagues. By articulating your vision and actively listening to feedback, you can build strong working relationships, avoid misunderstandings, and deliver projects that truly resonate with clients.

Good communication makes your work more valuable by ensuring everyone is on the same page and leads to being sought after as a creative who can bring ideas to life with clarity and ease.

Relational connection

Building meaningful relationships with clients and colleagues fosters trust, loyalty, and repeat business. Being empathetic and attentive to others’ needs helps you understand the emotional and practical aspects of a project, leading to work that aligns better with their goals and desires.

When people feel connected and understood, they are more likely to choose you as their go-to creative partner, valuing the authentic connection you bring to each project.

Effective collaboration

Embracing collaboration allows creatives to tap into a diverse pool of skills and perspectives. Working with others enhances creativity, problem-solving, and the overall quality of your work. Collaboration also promotes a sense of collective ownership, inspiring you to go beyond individual limitations.

As a sought-after creative, your ability to collaborate effectively shows that you can adapt and thrive in dynamic, team-oriented environments, ultimately enriching the final output.

Strategic thinking

Strategic thinking helps creatives see the bigger picture and align their work with broader objectives. By understanding the market, target audience, and long-term goals, you can deliver solutions that have a meaningful impact. Clients seek creatives who can craft designs and ideas that align with their business vision and contribute to their success.

Employing strategic thinking makes your work more valuable as it demonstrates that you can deliver results beyond just aesthetic appeal.

Taking action

Taking action is about turning ideas into tangible results. It’s the willingness to take risks, learn from failures, and keep pushing forward. Creatives who take action are proactive and adaptable, making them highly desirable in the market. Clients and colleagues value those who can bring projects to life swiftly and efficiently.

Your ability to take action sets you apart as a reliable and capable creative who doesn’t shy away from challenges and delivers outstanding outcomes.

As creatives, we are often fooled into thinking that the better qualification, the shinier talent or the sexier tech stack is what brings about ultimate success. We couldn’t be more wrong.

In fact, it is your ability to channel your innate humanity in honest and sincere ways that will position you to do work that is meaningful, impactful and generates a healthy income.

Thanks for reading.

You’ve got this.