Soft skills are essential, and they are an integral part of any business. To have them is an invaluable trait, and one that should be used as much as possible in order to create a successful company. While many say that hard skills are the important ones, soft skills are actually just as vital, and according to LinkedIn’s Global Talent Trends 2019 report, a huge 91% of Talent Professionals agree they are very important to the future of recruiting and HR.
What are Soft Skills?
The most successful leaders not only have technical/hard skills, they also have soft skills which help to build strong relationships, encourage communication and build morale.
Seven key soft skills are:
– Negotiation
– Presenting
– Networking
– Adaptability
– Conflict resolution
– Communication
– Teamwork and work ethic
– Problem solving
– Working under pressure
Why Focus on Soft Skills?
Soft skills play a key role in the attraction and retention of employees. They enable you to positively interact with, and motivate your team members. Encouraging them and truly listening, creating stronger bonds between you and your colleagues.
Soft skills are there to boost your confidence and help you become a noticeable presence within the industry. Just as good soft skills can make you, a lack of them can break you. They limit your potential, and can quickly lead to the downfall of companies with the most ingenious ideas and solutions. That’s what makes soft skills special, their ability to drive you towards success.
- Hard skills are nothing without soft skills. Like yin and yang, they complement each other to create the perfect balance. You could be the most knowledgeable person in the world, but if your soft skills are lacking there will be no one around to listen.
- Soft skills set you apart. They are harder to learn than hard skills because it takes a lot of dedication and self-awareness to change the way you interact with others.
- Clients and employees want them. This is what the working world is; everyone wants a service that makes them feel good. Employees want to be able to throw ideas around and work together enthusiastically. Happy clients and employees are part of what makes a company work well.
- The future is soft. Some say the rise of AI is the reason soft skills will become the most important feature, they are the thing that sets us apart from machines.
How to Improve Them
So how can you improve your soft skills? The first step is to take some time to reflect on your behaviour, attitude, and reactions to different situations inside and out of the workplace. Speak to colleagues for honest feedback, and work with it to pinpoint the areas in which you could improve your communication and person skills. Identify your strengths and weaknesses before creating a plan to outline how you can overcome them.
At Horton International, we understand how key soft skills are to the success and growth of any company. This is why we offer a range of services, including management consultation, to help create a better and more productive workplace. Getting help from others can be one of the most effective ways to learn and improve on yourself.
