Learn why soft skills are crucial to your success both personally and professionally. Learn why soft skills make you a more marketable and desirable employee
2. What are Soft Skills?
• Personality traits needed to get along with others
and build positive relationships
• Help you to socialize and work well with others
• Good written and verbal skills
• Empathy for others
• Resolve conflicts
• Solve problems
• Collaborate
• Situational awareness- read a situation
3. Why do you need soft skills?
• High indicator of job performance
• High indicator of professional and personal
success
• Looked for by hiring managers and CEOs
• Premium need for relationship-building, quality
relationships in business, and people skills
• Value traits such as: speak and listen well,
understand various points of view, collaborate
and share ideas
4. Competition
• Soft skills are valued in a “technological” society
• Business leaders value these skills in technical
employees- ability to break down complex
information
• Produce better work with efficient soft skills
• Are you competitive? {Healthy competition}
▫ Focus on issues, not people
▫ Explore new ideas
▫ Develop interest of organization
▫ Win-win approach
5. Soft Skills vs. Technical Skills
• Soft Skills are valued
• Technical Skills are valued
• One is not “better” than the other
• Technical- acquired and obtained through
formal or informal education
• Soft- developed through experience, education
6. How to develop soft skills
• Self-help books
• Articles on leadership
• Professional coach
• Self-reflection
• Self-awareness
• Ask for feedback
• Observation
• Emulation
7. Soft Skill #1
• Collaboration
• Will you work well in groups and teams? Will
you be cooperative and take a leadership role
when appropriate?
• #1 tip: release control
8. Soft Skill #2
• Self-confidence
• Do you truly believe you can do the job? Will you
project a sense of calm and inspire confidence in
others? Will you have the courage to ask
questions that need to be asked and to freely
contribute your ideas?
• #1 tip: prepare
9. Soft Skill #3
• Good Communication Skills
• Are you both verbally articulate and a good
listener? Can you make your case and express
your needs in a way that builds bridges with
colleagues, customers and vendors?
• #1 tip: practice
10. Soft Skill #4
• Time Management Abilities
• Do you know how to prioritize tasks and work on
a number of different projects at once? Will you
use your time on the job wisely?
• #1 tip: create good habits
11. Soft Skill #5
• Flexibility/Adaptability
• Are you able to adapt to new situations and
challenges? Will you embrace change and be
open to new ideas?
• #1 tip: be open to change
12. Contact Information
• Marcia Bennett, M.Ed.
• Please contact if you are interested in one on one
coaching or would like a customized
presentation for your organization or staff
• Phone: 434-515-2313
• E-mail bennettconsultants@gmail.com