Richard M. Senior Project Manager

This is an Interesting question.

I work for our International Business based out or Ireland, but all of my projects are in Standard Life Germany & Austria.

So I would say I have both learned new skills, but enhanced those I already have.

Due to the industry we operate in, and an continually evolving regulatory landscape, we are always learning & developing.  Each piece of work you do allows you to learn something new.  For example, when one project is delivered, and you start a new one, you remember a ‘tid-bit’ of information, process or regulation, that makes the next project easier.  Linking disparate asks to a a piece of information is a knowledge utilisation soft-skill.

After projects we conduct lessons learned/retrospectives to look what went well, and what could be improved for future projects, so this is one of the ways we are always learning.

From a soft skills perspective, I would say these are continually being enhanced.  As I work with the German & Austrian business, my soft skills have been enhanced to meet the needs of my German and Austrian colleagues, such as tailoring communication to specific audiences, approaches and style of communication and other aspects like cultural awareness.

I would say that soft skills are always evolving, even from a generational understanding perspective.  I am considered a Millennial based on when I was born.  I also work with Gen X, Gen Z and increasingly Gen Alpha colleagues.  So what works for one wont work for others.  This is the fun of soft skills!

I wont go into them all, but my point is that as well as developing new soft skills applicable to each role and project I do, the ones I already have are constantly evolving to meet new needs.

Honestly, no day is the same, and everyone is constantly evolving.

28 July, 2026 13:56