3. Soft skills are a combination of
• Social skills
• Communication skills
• Character or personality traits
• Attitudes
• Career attributes
• Social intelligence
• Emotional intelligence quotients
that enable people to navigate their environment, work well with
others, perform well, and achieve their goals.
4. Why soft skills are important?
To handle interpersonal relations
To take appropriate decisions
To communicate effectively
To have good impression on others
To gain professional development
5. Objectives of soft skills
• Develop effective communication skills (spoken and written).
• Develop effective presentation skills.
• Become self-confident individuals by mastering inter-personal skills,
team management skills, and leadership skills
• Develop all-round personalities with a mature outlook to function
effectively in different circumstances.
• Take part effectively in various selection procedures adopted by the
recruiters.
6.
7. Communication
• Communication skills can be oral or written and allow you to express yourself
effectively in the workplace.
• Communication is a critical sales skills, and is also useful in a variety of
other industries - such as human resources and management.
• Some examples include:
i) Listening
ii) Verbal communication
iii) Non-verbal communication
iv) Written communication
v) Constructive feedback
vi) Friendliness
8. Self-Motivation
• Having a positive attitude and the initiative to work well without around-the
-clock supervision is a vital soft skill for any employee.
• It demonstrate reliability and commitment.
• To demonstrate your motivation, think about these keys skills:
i) Positivity
ii) Ambition
iii) Commitment
iv) Initiative
9. Leadership
• Leadership is a soft skill you can show even if you’re not directly managing
others. Those with strong leadership skills will have the ability to inspire others
and lead teams to success.
• People with good leadership skills will have a range of skills that are useful in
the workplace, including:
i) A positive attitude and outlook.
ii) The ability to make quick and effective decisions.
iii) Exemplary problem-solving or conflict management skills.
iv) The ability to communicate effectively.
v) An aptitude for both self-motivating and motivating others.
10. Responsibility
• Responsibility is a seldom talked-about but highly valued soft skill. Colleagues
who fail to take responsibility for their work will be less productive and less
successful overall.
• Taking responsibility means taking ownership of not only your goals but the
wider company goals.
• To demonstrate a high level of responsibility, make sure you can master these
skills:
i) Trustworthiness
ii) Discipline
iii) Motivation
iv) Conscientiousness
v) Accountability
11. Teamwork
• Teamwork skills allow you to operate well in a group setting in the workplace
to quickly and effectively accomplish tasks.
• Good team players are perceptive, as well as receptive to the needs and
responsibilities of others.
• Some examples of teamwork-related skills include:
i) Conflict management
ii) Delegation
iii) Listening
iv) Active listening
v) Collaboration
vi) Cooperation
vii) Coordination
viii) Idea exchange
ix) Negotiating
12. Problem Solving
• Problem solving does not just require analytical, creative and critical skills,
but a particular mindset; those who can approach a problem with a cool and
level head will often reach a solution more efficiently than those who cannot.
• This is a soft skill which can often rely on strong teamwork, too. Problems
need not always be solved alone.
• Types of problem-solving skills include:
i) Analysis
ii) Logical reasoning
iii) Observation
iv) Brainstorming
v) Decision making
13. Decisiveness
• Decisiveness is characterised by the ability to make quick and effective decisions.
• A decisive employee will take effective and considered action quickly, especially
when under pressure.
• Decisiveness combines several different abilities:
i) The ability to put things into perspective.
ii) Weigh up the options.
iii) Assess all relevant information.
iv) Anticipate any consequences, good and bad.
14. Ability to Work Under Pressure and Time Management
• Many jobs come with demanding deadlines and, sometimes, high stakes.
Recruiters prize candidates who show a decisive attitude, an unfaltering ability
to think clearly, and a capacity to compartmentalise and set stress aside.
• Time management is closely related to the ability to work under pressure,
as well as within tight deadlines.
• Some time management skills are:
i) Goal setting
ii) Prioritizing
iii) Planning
iv) Delegation
v) Stress management
15. Flexibility
• Flexibility is an important soft skill, since it demonstrates an ability and
willingness to embrace new tasks and new challenges calmly and without fuss.
• Flexible employees are willing to help out where needed, take on extra
responsibilities and can adapt quickly when plans change.
• Employers are looking for candidates who can show a willing and upbeat
attitude, and who are unfazed by change.
16. Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
• This is another of those soft skills which employers look for in potential leaders.
• To be an adept negotiator is to know how to be persuasive and exert influence,
while sensitively seeking a solution which will benefit all parties.
• Similarly, conflict resolution depends on strong interpersonal skills and the
ability to establish a rapport with colleagues and clients alike.
17. How to develop soft skills?
Step 1
• Prioritize which skills to develop
Step 2
• Dedicate time to improving
Step 3
• Find resources for studying
Step 4
• Practice intelligently
