SOFT SKILLS
Soft
skills is
a term often associated with a person's "EQ" (Emotional Intelligence
Quotient), the cluster of personality traits, social graces, communication,
language, personal habits, friendliness, managing people, leadership, etc. that
characterize relationships with other people.
Soft skills are personal attributes that
describe an individual's ability to interact with others. Soft
skills, also known as people skills, complement hard skills to enhance an individual's
relationships, job performance and career prospects.
With the use of soft skills one can excel as a leader. Problem
solving, delegating, motivating, and team building are all much easier if you
have good soft skills.
Ways
to Improve Soft Skills
1. Develop
communication skills.
Your goal should be to communicate clearly through written, oral, and
nonverbal communication. Start simply by being aware of how others feel when
they are around you or are talking with you.
- Make eye contact. Acknowledge someone else's
presence by looking them in the eye, especially if they just walked into
the room or you pass them in a hallway. Look at them when they are talking
to you. Do not let your eyes wander around the room.
- Monitor your body language. Show interest by sitting up and
leaning forward. Resist the urge to tap your fingers or foot. Mimic the
posture of the person with whom you are talking to create a comfortable
environment.
- Practice speaking. This includes both public
speaking and conversational speaking. Be conscious of your pace and volume
when speaking. If you are uneasy in personal relationships, practice with
a close friend or family member. If you are nervous about speaking in
public, volunteer to give presentations within a smaller group and work
your way up to a larger one.
- Develop your writing skills. Proofread your emails, letters,
and notes. Learn correct spelling and word usage. Vary your sentence
structures. Be concise instead of elaborate.
2. Practice
active listening skills.
Listening requires focus and self-discipline. We listen for many
different reasons: to understand instructions, to empathize with another
individual, or to judge whether a plan is good or not. Regardless of the reason
you are listening, there are several things to keep in mind.
·
Paraphrase and ask questions to learn more about what someone is
telling you. This demonstrates interest and focus. It also helps you understand
the situation.
·
Take notes when appropriate. This shows that the subject matter
is important to you. Practice taking notes in team meetings or staff training
sessions.
·
Do not interrupt other people. Respect them by letting them
finish saying what they are saying.
·
Pay attention to the other person's body language. Observe their
posture, tone of voice, eye contact (or lack thereof), gestures, and facial
expressions.
3. Build
relationships.
Interpersonal skills are
important in the workplace, especially since so many organizations are designed
around teams and departments. Seek to build friendships with peers,
supervisors, clients, and business partners.
- Befriend colleagues. Greet them
when they get to work. Invite them to lunch or coffee. Talk for a few
minutes in the break room as you are getting a drink. Participate in work
events like softball clubs, staff lunches, and training days. Stay away
from gossip. It only destroys relationships.
- Learn to manage conflict in a
healthy way. Address issues with the individual(s) involved in a private
manner. Approach the discussion in a nonjudgmental, but assertive manner.
Ask questions and try to understand their side of the story. Work together
to find a solution.
- Network with people inside and
outside your organization. Ask people about their jobs. Share a bit about
what you do. Note connections and ways you could potentially help each
other. Exchange contact information and be sure to follow up with them.
4. Practice
leading.
Leadership is simply influencing other people. As such, leadership
skills can be used by any employee at any level in the organization.
- Observe your own supervisor and
note how that individual leads your team. Find positive things that person
does and emulate them in your own work.
- Practice leading in small group
discussions by asking your teammates questions and bringing quieter
members into the conversation.
- Set the example for others by
displaying a positive attitude in difficult situations. Remain calm in
moments of crisis. Talk about concerns one-on-one with your supervisor
instead of in front of the entire team.
5. Take
initiative.
Demonstrate
responsibility and enthusiasm for your job by striving to go the extra mile.
This starts by finishing work without constant reminders from your supervisor.
- Do tasks without being asked by
someone else. Look around, see what needs to be done, and do it. If a
coworker has a large project and you have some time on your hands,
volunteer to help.
- Seek more challenging work.
Strive to develop your technical skills. Learn more about your
organization. Ask a coworker about their department. Take a class, read a
blog, or subscribe to a magazine in your field of work.
