What are Soft Skills?

Why to Discuss?

"Soft skills" are popping up in job descriptions, next to demands for technical qualifications. Employment experts agree that tech skills may get you an interview, but these soft skills will get you the job—and help you to grow as a good human and carrier prospective.This doesn't mean you have to be a brilliant orator or writer.

Soft skills are entirely different from Hard skills, hard skills can be learned and perfected over time like mathematics, physics, writing skills etc. soft skills are more difficult to acquire and change. The soft skills required for a doctor, for example, would be empathy, understanding, active listening and a good bedside manner. Alternatively, the hard skills necessary for a doctor would include a vast knowledge of illnesses, the ability to interpret lab test results and symptoms, and a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology

How to Define ‘SOFT SKILLS’?

The phrase ‘soft skills’ is often used to describe the skills which characterize relationships with other people, or which are about how you approach life and work.

Soft skills are character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize a person's relationships with other people.

Sociologists may use the term soft skills to describe a person's "EQ" or " Emotional Intelligence Quotient," as opposed to "IQ" or "Intelligence Quotient."

Self-Management Skills :

Self-Management Skills address how you perceive yourself and others, manage your personal habits and emotions and react to adverse situations. Have a strong mental and emotional foundation to succeed in your career.

1.    Self-awareness – “As our awareness grows we grow.” Being aware about yourself. Knowing and understanding what drives, angers, motivates, embarrasses, frustrates, and inspires you.  Being able to observe yourself objectively in a difficult situation and understand how your perceptions of yourself, others, and the situation are driving your actions.

2.   Emotion regulation – “Strength is true power.” Being able to manage your emotions, especially negative ones, at work (e.g. anger, frustration, embarrassment) so you can think clearly and objectively, and act accordingly.

3.    Self-confidence – “Believe in you.” Believing in yourself and your ability to accomplish anything.  Knowing that all you need is within you now.  “Those who believe in themselves have access to unlimited power” – wisdom from Kung Fu Panda.

1.    Stress management– “Stress kills.” Being able to stay healthy, calm, and balanced in any challenging situations.  Knowing how to reduce your stress level will increase your productivity, prepare you for new challenges and supports your physical and emotional health, all of which you need for a fulfilling, successful career.

2.   Resilience – “Tough time don’t last. But tough people do.” Being able to bounce back after a disappointment or set back, big or small, and continue to move onward and upward.

3.    Forgive and Forget– “The First to forgive is strongest and forget is happiest.” Being able to forgive yourself for making a mistake, forgive others that wronged you, and move on without “mental or emotional baggage.” Freeing your mind from the past so you can focus 100% of your mental energy on your near and long-term career goals.

4.   Persistence and perseverance – “I will persist until I succeed.” Being able to maintain the same energy and dedication in your effort to learn, do, and achieve in your career despite difficulties, failures, and oppositions.

5.    Patience – “Great Thing come out of Patience.” Being able to step back in a seemingly rushed or crisis situation, so you can think clearly and take action that fulfills your long term goals.

6.   Perceptiveness –“Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.”  Giving attention to the unspoken cues and developing cognitive or emotional empathy of other people’s situation and perspective. Often times, we are too busy thinking about ourselves and what we are saying, we leave little room to watch and understand others’ action and intentions. If you misinterpret other’s intention or don’t try to put yourself in their shoes, you can easily encounter difficulties dealing with people and not even know why.

People Skills :

People Skills address how to best interact and work with others so you can build meaningful work relationships, influence others perception of you and your work, and motivate their actions

1.    Communication skills – Being able to actively listen to others and articulate your ideas in writing and verbally to any audience in a way where you are heard and you achieve the goals you intended with that communication. This also include languages skills if the spoken language at work is your second language.

2.    Teamwork skills – Being able to work effectively with anyone with different skill sets, personalities, work styles, or motivation level to achieve a better team result. Working as a single unit is what we call Team work.

3.    Interpersonal relationship skills – This refers to how effective you are at building trust, finding common ground, having emotional empathy, and ultimately building good relationships with people at work and in your network. This shows your social skills; this skill is closely related to Communication Skills. It doesn’t matter how smart you are; you must have social graces in order to get far in your career. It is well said that “I have learned people will forget what you said. People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you make them feel.”