Some of the most popular advice given to up and coming professionals in any career field is to develop their ‘hard skills’. The hard skills are those you get by attending schools, getting certifications, and practical application of those learned skills. Those are definitely important to being successful in any career field, however, one thing that is irreplaceable is a strong set of soft skills.
Soft skills are the skills that characterize how someone approaches work and life, including their working relationships with others. These are social skills, interpersonal skills, and other things that make you successful in any industry. But since these skills are typically harder to develop than ‘hard skills’, we know why soft skills aren’t soft. These soft skills are highlighted below with tips on how to improve on each one and be successful in whatever industry or career you are in, or looking to go into.
Soft Skills
Communication – Communication is the biggest, and probably most important soft skill to have. If you are able to make your intentions clear and concise in verbal and written dialogue with others, you have a step up on someone who is an expert in their field but cannot communicate their thoughts.
How to improve this: Cut out filler words such as ‘um’, ‘uh’, ‘like’ from your verbal communication. It shows you are hesitant and potentially unsure of what you are saying. Instead fill that space with a silent pause. Further, there is a time and place for shorthand writing, but ensure those you are writing to know the acronyms or shorthand phrases before using them. Develop your vocabulary and practice speaking in front of groups. The more comfortable you are speaking in front of groups, the easier it is to show you have leadership potential and are able to excel within your profession.
Professionalism – Professionalism includes everything from being dependable andcommunicating effectively, to keeping up with a professional appearance. Whether you are going into an interview or you are already on the job, a professional appearance goes a long way to being noticed and respected. If you are dependable (show up to meetings, work, etc. on time) and communicate effectively so everyone understands what you mean, the professional appearance stands out that much more.
How to improve on this: Get a suit properly tailored for you. Don’t over dress, but dress for the job you are in. Keep yourself well-groomed with a good haircut, trimmed beard if you have one, and don’t forget the deodorant in the morning. Further, work on maintaining good posture as it shows you are more attentive and makes you more of a demanding presence in the room than if you are sulking or slouching in a chair.
Enthusiastic and a positive attitude – If you seem disinterested in the topic, you quickly lose your audiences’ attention. Even if the subject is depressing, having a positive outlook on how to get through it can turn the mood of the situation around. People who are able to take a negative and make the most out of it are typically better problem solvers, and that is a trait noticed by the leadership. That is also a key trait to being an effective leader and leads to our next soft skill: Leadership.
How to improve on this: No matter what situation you are in, always look for the positive side or outcome of a situation. This takes a lot of work (which is why soft skills aren’t so soft), but is a soft skill employers value and look for in their employees.
Leadership – Leadership ties all of the soft skills listed above and puts them into action. Leadership is being able to influence the actions of others around you positively, by using clear communication, and having a professional and enthusiastic attitude. An effective leader is able to learn from his or her mistakes, leads by example, and sets up others for success both in their professional and personal lives.
How to improve leadership: Take a personal responsibility in the success of those you are leading. By showing them you care about the job they are doing and that they are taken care of, you gain their respect. If the people who work for you respect you, they will respect and follow the decisions you make.
Decision Making – in some cases making a decision is better than not making one at all. Even if the problem has many different possible solutions, employers want to know they can count on you to make a decision based on sound reasoning and that you don’t get paralyzed by the problem at hand. Inaction is more costly than wrong action in most cases.
How to make better decisions: Learn from your previous experiences and, if you are stuck on an issue, consult with subject matter experts such as those who work for you. This ties into leadership as well. If you include your employees in decision making processes to fix a problem, they are more enthusiastic about accomplishing a task than if only told what and how to do something. Knowing how to make decisions is an invaluable skill that employers and management look for in the up and coming leaders of every company.
By no means is this an all-inclusive list of the soft skills that make a successful business man but it does highlight some reasons why soft skills aren’t soft in the long run. If you are an expert in utilizing soft skills, you are more successful in the long run than someone who is only an expert in the ‘hard skills’ department.
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