In years gone by, the emphasis for employers was more on technical skills (aka hard skills), or the employee’s educational qualifications in short. Not that they are not useful anymore, but many companies are starting to embrace soft skills as an increasing number of roles and the changing world demand different skill sets to complement one’s educational background. Soft skills are basically psychosocial skills that have to do with how a person communicates and interacts with others.
Importance of Soft Skills
In a cutthroat modern business landscape where companies have to go the extra mile to win over clients or differentiate themselves to more discerning consumer bases, the demand for soft skills has never been greater. Unlike hard skills, the thing about soft skills is that they are not unique to any specific profession or career. Employees across different industries are expected to show more than just technical expertise if they are to meet the demands of their roles in earnest.
The modern employee is expected to have a harmonious interaction with colleagues, with team synergy a big deal for every organisation if objectives are to be met. Employees need to display a good understanding of the consumer (and ideally take initiative), and a grasp of factors like market sentiment is always a boon. Failure to demonstrate these abilities puts one at risk of being overlooked by those who can.
And it’s not just employees: the need for soft skills cuts across the corporate ladder, so managers and top executives are not spared either. The beauty of soft skills, however, is that they are skills anyone can cultivate and add to their arsenal. You could take it upon yourself to self-educate, but you also have the option of working with an experienced communication coach. These are professionals who are well-placed to offer insights unique to you as an individual, while at the same time providing valuable feedback along the way.
Key Soft Skills that Can Aid Your Career Progression
As far as the exact soft skills go, here are 5 skills you can cultivate to take your career to the next level.
1. Communication Skills
Communication skills have become one of the most marketable soft skills out there. So marketable that in fact, if there is a single soft skill that can turbocharge anyone’s career progression, it would be this. Effective communication is about expressing yourself better. As a job seeker, it is the first skill that will grant you an interview with the employer. For professionals, it is integral in team collaboration, internal communication, making presentations and nurturing relations with clients and co-workers. Leaders also need good communication skills in order to inspire teams, resolve conflicts, conduct negotiations and do so much more. Most people associate communication skills with public speaking skills, and rightly so. However, there is more to it than simply the ability to articulate yourself properly. Effective communication entails:
- Verbal communication (public speaking)
- Active listening
- Written communication
- Body language skills
- Empathy
Collectively, these are part of what’s known as advanced communication skills. It is possible to nurture these skills in DIY. But like learning a foreign language, a professional public speaker or communication coach might be a better alternative for most people when it comes to learning or polishing these skills.
2. Critical Thinking
One of the most in-demand skills by employers is problem-solving skills. In a complex and fast-evolving world, the ability to think critically and provide solutions is paramount. In order to compete, companies need to constantly improve their offerings, and one way they can achieve this is by having results-oriented individuals on board. Critical thinking means you can come up with solutions that provide answers to the issues the company is facing. Being able to constantly demonstrate that will give you an edge.
3. Resilience
Change is inevitable, whether it’s personal, workplace-related, industry-related, or as a result of external factors (remember COVID-19?). Technology can also be disruptive, necessitating a change of tack. Having employees who are quickly adaptable and able to embrace change is invaluable for any employer. This is called resilience, and it demonstrates your ability to not only cope with change and challenges but also to maintain productivity and thrive amidst changes.
4. Attitude
Employee attitude has a huge bearing on the success of any organisation. It determines a company’s culture since positivity or negativity is contagious, so the overriding attitude can quickly entrench itself into the organisation’s fabric. This in turn impacts a multitude of aspects such as employee morale, productivity, teamwork and turnover. Thus, the emphasis on a positive attitude by employers cannot be emphasised enough. But attitude is not just about positivity. What else employers seek out is a “can-do” attitude and the resilient mindset we’ve alluded to above. Individuals who demonstrate these qualities will always be an asset to any organisation.
5. Teamwork
You need to develop teamwork skills if the line of work you’re planning to get into involves working with others. Companies are always keen to recruit individuals who can work well with others and blend in with their culture because the whole is only as strong as its parts. Good teamwork is about recognising not just the strengths, but also the weaknesses of others so that everyone is in a position to complement each other for the harmony and balance of the team. It is about forming genuine collaborations and knowing how to deal with frustrations without letting them get in the way of work (and in an ideal world, your sanity).
Conclusion
Technical skills will always be valued in the professional world, but they have become the minimum barrier to entry. Companies are increasingly placing equal value on soft skills, with most employers demanding interpersonal skills to supplement a candidate’s technical qualifications. A report by Deloitte forecasts that by 2030, occupations largely reliant on soft skills will account for two-thirds of all jobs. This shows how integrating soft skills into your skillset can aid in your journey as a professional.
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