A person’s attitude and personality can contribute significantly to our current work environment. To be successful in today’s challenging environment, soft skills help bring a competitive edge that not only sets you apart, also changes the office environment.
What exactly are soft skills?
Soft skills are a range of personality traits and personal habits. Dependent on the role, soft skills complement hard skills, which often form the technical requirements for a job. A great deal of attention is being given to candidates’ soft skills during recruitment processes. A recent survey indicated that over 60% of managers agreed that soft skills are needed to be promoted.
Some of the most common soft skills that employers want are:
Communication skills
Communication is an important interpersonal skill in today’s global business environment. According to the Journal of Business Communications, good communication skills include listening patiently, asking questions, seeking feedback and explaining.
Problem-solving skills
The benefit of having good problem-solving skills is a no-brainer! Whilst there is no one way to resolve all problems at work, there are ways to be effective at problem-solving.
Courtesy
We spend so much time in the workplace – the interactions with other employees contribute heavily towards our overall quality of life. Discourteous and impoliteness distracts employees from tasks and increases stress levels and impacts the environment.
Emotional Intelligence
Most people are aware of IQ (intelligence quotient) Emotional Intelligence, however, is the ability to recognise your own and others’ emotions. This means people with higher EQ find it easier to maintain interpersonal relationships and are better at understanding their own psychology and managing stress effectively.
Flexibility
The ability to manage multiple responsibilities of work and personal life is crucial! Employees that are more flexible tend to have more advantage over those who don’t.
With a strong set of soft skills that complement your hard skills, you can successfully maintain a professional career in a competitive work environment.