Top 10 soft skills you need to succeed in today’s business environment

Cliff was one of the busiest people in the office. He always had at least three things going on at the same time. To make the most of his time, he did two or more things at once – edited a document on screen while he was on a conference call; filed papers while he talked to one of his direct reports. He just could never get ahead – it seemed the harder he worked, the more he fell behind.

He didn’t understand why his office mate, Shawna, always seemed to be on top of things. She let her calls roll to voicemail, and only checked her email two times a day.

Cliff didn’t understand how she could possibly get everything done. She also seemed so much less harried than he did. He asked her what her secret was. “I only do one thing at a time,” she said.

She told him to try it for one week. He scoffed, but agreed since he was so stressed. To his amazement, Cliff found that tasks took less time than he thought they would, since he was able to work much more efficiently when he focused on one thing at a time.

Having the technical skills and knowledge to successfully execute your job duties is only one part of being the best you can be in the workplace. In addition to these “hard” skills, we also need “soft” skills which are those skills that allow us to effectively work with others. No matter what your position, organization, or industry, you work with people! Taking the time to build effective soft skills can contribute to a more efficient, harmonious, and productive workplace, as well as to your own overall job happiness and satisfaction.

Here are 10 tips on the top ten soft skills you need to develop:

•                What are Soft Skills?: Simply put, soft skills are the personal attributes that allows us to effectively relate to others. These skills enhance our personal and professional interactions and lead to greater job performance and satisfaction. Unlike hard skills, which are the technical and knowledge skill set we bring to our work, soft skills are more interpersonal and can be applied in a broad array of situations. Soft skills encompass personality traits, like optimism, and abilities which can be practiced, like empathy. Like all skills, soft skills can be learned.

•                Communication: All other soft skills are built on the ability to communicate clearly and professionally; it’s more than just sending a message – it is also the ability to receive messages, listen actively, and “hear” what isn’t being said.

•                Teamwork: Building teams that accomplish what needs to be done in the most efficient and accurate manner is often challenging, especially when bringing together team members with diverse sets of hard and soft skills.

•                Problem-Solving: Big or small, we solve problems every day. Learning how to apply problem-solving skills helps with enhanced productivity, but also helps to cultivate relationships by focusing on shared goals and solutions.

•                Time Management:We all have the same number of hours in our day, so why is it that some people seem to get so much more done? The ability to effectively manage your time is key to productivity.

•                Attitude and Work Ethic: A positive attitude also serves you well when you face challenges or setbacks – it breeds resilience. A strong work ethic helps you build strong relationships with team mates and superiors.

•                Adaptability/Flexibility:Two of the most important skills you can have are adaptability and flexibility. The ability to change according to the needs of a situation or a willingness to compromise show inner strength.

•                Self-Confidence (Owning It):The single greatest thing you can do for your own success is build and learn to show self-confidence. Self-confidence is not egotistic or acting like you are better than others. Self-confidence is simply the belief that you know what to do and how to do it.

•                Ability to Learn from Criticism: No one likes criticism, but the ability to learn from it is key to professional and personal development. Learning to accept and learn from criticism is a valuable investment in yourself.

•                Networking:Networking is more than meeting people or connecting with them on the Internet. It involves building mutually beneficial links where you can learn from and benefit from each other and the relationship.

Much success to you as you endeavor to face the many challenges in your day!

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