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Busy schedules and constant activity are often mistaken for productivity, but what "truly" sets professionals apart is the ability to concentrate deeply and intentionally, an innovation expert says.

"Attention management" is one of the most important skills today's workers can have, especially given the "continuous pull" of digital distractions that "scatter our thoughts and weaken our concentration", says Erasmus University College professor Walter Vandervelde.

Vandervelde, a founding professor of the institution's Idea Innovation Management program, argues that tomorrow's professionals "won't be defined just by their ability to use AI tools, but by how they combine these tools with human insight, judgment and adaptability".

In his new book, WINGS: The five primary skills for the future of work, Vandervelde says the essential work and industry-neutral growth skills that will remain relevant and valuable as industries change and technologies advance are: attention management, creative thinking, critical thinking, personal leadership and social intelligence...