Disruptive By Design: The Most Valuable Skills in Life

Last year, I was meeting with U.S. Air Force noncommissioned officers (NCOs) that I supervised, and I asked them what were the most valuable skills to develop. One answered cybersecurity, another added systems administration, and the rest continued with other skills related to technology. As I listened to their answers, I agreed that those are indeed valuable skills, and they would do well knowing one of those in depth. If someone had asked me that question at that stage in my life, I may have had a similar answer; however, now, none of those suggestions are on my list. The skills I’m going to suggest are far more valuable than any technical skill and can assist you regardless of what you are doing. They are foundational to your relationships and vital for your success at work.

Many leadership books cover this topic, and we started learning these skills from our earliest childhood development. Regardless of technological advancements, mastering the basics of reading and writing—as well as speaking and listening, which I’ll cover in next month’s column—are the building blocks to our personal and professional growth. I have seen the value in developing these qualities and have made my own determination to deliberately develop my skills in these categories.

Foundational to so many things, it is surprising that reading is often forgotten. A lot of people do not fully read their emails, project papers, doctrinal guidelines, computer-based training, etc. Reading through something you don’t inherently value or desire takes effort and discipline. When I was leading a project to update storage devices for our continuity of operations plan, the vendor I was working with drafted a full 20-page plan on our current operating environment and what they could provide. At first, I did not want to take the time to read it all. I skimmed through everything in about 30 seconds and felt I understood it well enough. 

I closed the file but then had an “aha moment.” I realized that I was getting paid to read the document. I reluctantly opened it back up and read every page. After reading and reviewing the presentation thoroughly, an amazing and obvious thing happened. I became proficient in what I had read. I was able to talk about the topic competently and briefly update anyone who needed information. There’s a power in reading that can only come from actually reading.

With writing, in the modern age of generative artificial intelligence (AI), some think mastering it will be a legacy skill. While this may be true in some areas, and AI can indeed negate some mundane writing tasks and inspire creativity in others, writing skills should not be dismissed. As a senior NCO in the Air Force, I frequently work with young NCOs who provide AI-drafted awards and evaluations. These drafts typically lack quality as the individual lacks skill in recognizing the information needed to have the greatest impact on the targeted audience. However, someone with writing skill in this area knows what these products should look like and is more likely to leverage AI for an award-winning creation. Developing strong writing skills ensures that AI tools can be used effectively, leading to higher-quality outputs and greater success.

In today’s technologically advanced world, fundamental skills like reading and writing are more crucial than ever. These skills form the backbone of effective communication and personal development, essential for success in any field. By prioritizing and honing these basic skills, we can navigate the complexities of modern life with greater confidence and proficiency, ensuring sustained personal and professional growth.

Master Sgt. Michael Gresens is the operations flight chief for the Pacific Air Forces’ Cyberspace Systems Squadron. For the AFCEA Hawai’i Chapter, he is the director, vice president of Emerging Leaders.