This document discusses soft skills, their meaning, importance, and categories. Soft skills refer to personal traits like communication, empathy, and social graces that complement hard skills. They are important for jobs requiring customer interaction. Key soft skills include communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem solving. Communication involves proper sending and receiving of information through active listening and public speaking. Teamwork requires cooperation, trust-building, and recognizing accomplishments. Leadership and project management involve organizing, prioritizing, meeting deadlines, and being a role model. Problem solving demonstrates critical thinking by proactively developing solutions rather than just identifying problems.

1. Soft Skills

2. Outlines What do soft skills mean? What is the importance of soft skills? Soft skills traits in business world Selected soft skills categories Soft skills categories – communication

3. What do Soft Skills Mean?? Sociological term Personal emotional intelligence Cluster of personal traits Social graces Communication Personal habits Friendliness Characterizing relationships with other people Complementing hard skills; IQ which are occupational requirements

4. What is the importance of Soft Skills? Of particular importance especially for those whose jobs require direct contact with customers; lawyers, doctors, customer service etc. Examples of soft skills: Team building Leadership Coaching Motivation Active listening Establishing rapport, etc Empathic communication

5. Soft Skills Traits in Business World Scarce compared to hard skills Intangible Employers are seeking: Positive work ethic Good attitude Desire to learn and be trained

6. Selected Soft Skills Categories Communication Teamwork Leadership & project management Problem solving

7. Soft Skills Categories - Communication More than a conversation or written communication between two parts Proper sending and receiving information Successful communication must include: Focus & concentration Proper presentation of information whether verbally or written Active listening Asking questions Business communication Public speech

8. Soft Skills Categories - Teamwork Ability to successfully work cooperatively with others Exchange ideas & support Building trust Willing to assist Recognize each other’s accomplishments Quality work & commitment Proper allocation of tasks

9. Soft Skills Categories - Leadership & Project Management Capable of organizing time & workload Potential to lead others Self directed to priorities Meeting deadlines Proper planning of daily tasks Monitoring assigned tasks Set a role model Leader vs. manager

10. Soft Skills Categories – Problem Solving Sign of creative individual with critical thinking Analytical abilities = developing solutions rather than merely identifying the problem Thinking outside the box Proactive not reactive = alert to potential risks & threats Knowledgeable Defining problems and finding solutions through brainstorm with other

11. Activity Prepare a presentation