There's no denying that the economy today is in a state of transition; finances are tumbling, jobs being outsourced, new green technologies being developed and the government trying to organise a solution to it all. With all of this going on, itís clear that people skills are very important.

1. Developing New Industries

The new economy is rift with opportunities for new types of businesses. People are developing things like long-life light bulbs and clothes made out of recycled materials.

All of these new industries need to be marketed to the public, they need to find financial backing, and they need people to work on manufacturing them. For a person to develop these businesses, they need good people skills to accomplish all of these tasks.

2. Dealing with Healthcare

Right now, for the United States, providing healthcare to its citizens is perhaps the number one issue.

The government is debating how best to address such things as coverage for all citizens, premium costs, covering pre-existing conditions, whether the government should offer coverage to people or merely subsidise the premiums they have to pay to an insurance company, and countless other issues.

Of course, both ends of the political and social spectrum have an opinion on the matter. Quite a few of them are very vocal in that opinion, and the ability to win people over to their way of thinking is dependent on people skills.

People who can speak and write in a convincing and articulate manner have the best chance of convincing others to support their view.

3. The Real Estate Market

Ever since the creation of the term "subprime", the real estate market has gone crazy, bouncing from low to high and then crashing. So, people who own homes face the difficulty of paying their mortgage and might need to negotiate a new loan or try to work out a new payment schedule on their existing one.

To do so, they need to explain clearly and succinctly to their mortgage holder just how theyíre going to do that.

On the other hand, if someone is trying to buy a home, the new rules regarding getting a loan make those same skills even more important.

Where once a mortgage was obtained with no money down and little paperwork, now a home buyer practically has to surrender their firstborn ñ and a pound of flesh. To buy, sell or re-finance a home in the current economic situation requires outstanding people skills.

4. Changing Professions

Given the downturn in the economy, and the changes to the business landscape, many people are facing the prospect of finding a new job, and possibly a new career altogether.

So, how does a forty-something former engineer convince a college to give him or her a chance at being a professor?

That person needs to be able to speak clearly and with authority and write in a manner designed for students to understand. To teach means interacting with people on a daily basis; so what better place are people skills needed?

For that matter, any middle-aged person facing the job market is going up against younger potential employees, and they have to prove that their experience and knowledge are equal to the task at hand.

5. Volatile Politics

It's no secret that the current political climate is anything but hostile. Pundits and politicians on the Right (conservatives) are actually questioning whether or not President Obama is a US citizen.

Between that and cries of Socialised Medicine and death panels, there is a real need for cooler heads to step in and try to mediate a solution to our troubled political stalemate. As the government is trying to create the means to revive the economy, there is a real need for people with good people skills to work at constructing that resolution to the economic crisis.

6. Higher Education

With some jobs disappearing, new ones coming along and new industries developing, having the right sort of education is vital to securing a good economic future.

Of course, there are also many people trying to fill those openings in the colleges and universities. So, to get the sort of education you need to fulfil your economic dreams, you have to be articulate and have the ability to convince a college that youíre deserving of a degree from their institution.

If youíre an older student, maybe a middle-aged person looking at a career change, your difficulty at getting into an institution of higher learning can be doubly hard. That means being able to write a good application, and give a good interview: all of these are people skills.

7. Evolving Family Dynamics

Another aspect of the new economy is the simple fact that older parents are moving in with their children and teen and young adult children are living at home longer. In some cases, there can be three or four generations living together under one roof.

As a result, having good people skills can come in handy When trying to coordinate so many different people, get them To live together in peace, and try to get jobs for all of them.

8. The Threat of Terrorism

It's no secret that terrorism has truly moved to the forefront in today's world. The economic impact of terrorism is two-fold.

First off, attacks cause fear and panic in the public, which causes a downturn in the economy.

Second, there are any number of businesses like security systems, fences, armed guards etc that people will want to make use of to make them feel safer.

In the case of the former, using good people skills can be the key to keeping your business going after a terrorist attack. You can use those skills to try and keep existing clients from cutting back and striving to pick up new ones.

In the case of the latter, you can try launching a new business that deals with home security.

9. Finding Enough Energy

Another critical aspect of today's economy is the energy industry. Not only are there the existing energy resources of oil, coal and gas, but all manner of alternative energy sources are currently being developed.

So, if you have an idea for wind power, solar power, geothermal etc, then youíll need to get backers for the construction of your system, and then have to distribute it to customers. People skills are vital for all of these tasks.

10. Dealing with Unemployment and Job Searches

This is the last ditch effort for anyone struggling in the Current economy; they have to file for unemployment and see about finding a new job.

In looking for a new position, you need to draw up a good resume, do phone calls, and go on interviews. You have to do all this in amongst countless other people doing the exact same thing.

So, how do you make yourself stand out from the crowd?

By using good people skills: creating a killer resume, handling the interview well, and doing the right sort of follow-up calls to keep your name at the top of a company's list of consideration.

Today's economy is a tough road to haul; unemployment is up, productivity down, real estate values and the stock market shaky and the economy changing. If youíre going to survive and thrive, having the communication skills to deal with people, agencies and businesses are vital.

About the Author: Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to Developing Communication Confidence. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at: better communication skills

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