(1/16) Getting a trade or degree is important, no doubt about it. But here's a little secret-it's not always going to guarantee long-term success. Life can be a real trickster sometimes, and if you want to make it big in the modern workplace, you have to work on your soft skills, too. Little wonder a survey showed that 73% of companies used skills-based hiring in 2023.
With all this fancy automation and AI stuff going on, it's essential to focus on the things machines can't do, like social and emotional abilities. Those are the skills that'll keep you ahead of the game.
Soft skills are like the secret sauce to long-term success. They help you level up in life and business. So, don't just focus on acquiring technical abilities. Take some time to polish up your communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. They'll come in handy sooner than later.
Soft Skills: A Definition
Soft skills, known generally as non-technical skills, are pretty important for organizations. They can shape culture, leadership, behaviors, mindsets, and attitudes.
As transferable abilities, they are basically those personal attributes that help you connect with others within a team or organization. Examples include communication, critical thinking, social etiquette, leadership, adaptability, reliability, problem-solving, empathy, and time management. These skills are the real MVPs that'll help you navigate life like a boss.
7 Ways to Develop Your Soft Skills
It takes time and consistency to develop and improve your soft skills. Since you can't excel in everything, you should recognize where you fall short and work on getting better. Here are the necessary tips to develop those non-technical abilities straightforwardly and conveniently.
Practice self-reflection
Everyone should practice self-reflection. We're moving at a very fast pace most times-from one meeting or task to another-and barely have time to think about what we said, how we reacted to people or issues, and our general presentation.
So, be intentional about self-reflecting throughout each day. Pause from time to time to reflect on the last couple of minutes or hours. Consider the responses you didn't take well and people's reactions to your actions.
Who knows, you may discover something new about your behavior and how you could have done better. Then, you can work on improving your actions and responses over time.
Prioritize the right skills
Knowing which skills to prioritize is a tough but important decision. You want to make sure you're focusing on the abilities that will make a difference.
There's a whole bunch of soft skills out there just waiting for you to learn and practice. But no one is saying you have to go out and master all of them at once.
We all have different abilities. One person's strength may be another's limitation. Some people are also naturally good at doing certain things, while others could use a little extra practice. But that's what makes life interesting-being unique in our own ways.
With that being said, you have to know which abilities to focus on. Take a quick breather and think about what you're good at and where you might need a little help. Then, know the ones that can help you become more effective in your duties and learn more about them.
Get feedback
Let's face it-we're not always the best judges of ourselves. So, why not reach out to some trusted family members, friends, or mentors and get their feedback on your soft skills? They might just have some valuable insights to share.
You can kick things off by coming up with your very own list. However, talking to people who know you can give you some fresh insights. You'll get a different angle on things and get to know areas you need to improve.
Be an active listener
Listening is an under-emphasized talent that can help break barriers in any setting. Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to listen attentively.
Beyond making small talk while someone is talking, listening has one major purpose-to understand. You'll have a better understanding of the people around you as well as your environment when you're an active listener. It's important to listen so well that you can form a reasonable response that won't result in any conflict, whether you agree with the person speaking or not.
As an attentive listener, you'll be better equipped to communicate your feelings without getting too emotional and offending others.
Step out of your comfort zone
When you're too comfortable, you may not see the need to improve your abilities or learn something new. Your comfort zone could be a serious impediment to your growth.
But how do you know you are stuck in a comfort zone?
A comfort zone is a familiar psychological state where you feel safe and in control. There are no risks and challenges, so you'll tend to feel unfulfilled, disinterested, unhappy, and bored. This dreaded zone can have a negative impact on every aspect of our lives, from careers to relationships.
People have different comfort zones, but stepping out of them is often scary and uncomfortable. However, when you push yourself to do new things, learn new skills, and find new passions, you'll experience growth, build resilience, and have more confidence in yourself.
If you're a team leader, why not nudge your staff to step out of their cozy little comfort zones? Throwing some challenges at your team can actually be a pretty awesome way to help them grow. It's like giving them a little nudge in the right direction. Plus, it'll help them work on their people skills and discover new things about themselves. Win-win!
Communicate your feelings as much as possible
Do you ever feel like your team is always struggling to connect with their coworkers or like they're speaking different languages? It can be a real challenge, but don't worry; you're not alone.
When people are around individuals they like, they're way more likely to flaunt their awesome people skills. It's just human nature-no need to force it. The same people can feel like they are stuck in a rut when they are among strangers.
In a work environment, connecting with colleagues can sometimes feel like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube blindfolded. But with a little effort and some good old-fashioned communication, your team can crack the code and build those connections.
The best way to improve your communication skills is by communicating. Does your team comprise a mix of introverts and extroverts? You can help them by coming up with some creative activities that will force them to communicate and work together. Working toward a goal can help them find ways to communicate and foster a smooth working relationship.
Courses and resources can help
With statistics showing that organizations mentioned a lack of soft skills (30%) among job applicants as one of the reasons they find it difficult to find suitable candidates, you'll be better off learning or improving yours.
If you have a specific non-technical talent you need to learn or improve on, one of the best ways to do so is by enrolling in courses where you can learn them. If your schedule doesn't fit into that of a physical school, you have many online training courses and resources to choose from. Both options offer certificates, so you'll find them very useful while pursuing your career.
As a team leader, you can also look for professionals or mentors to help teach your workers the most sought-after skills for your kind of business. You can get them from Leadar, where you'll have access to their contact information, social media profiles, business information, and other valuable data.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, mastering soft skills is essential for every aspect of your life. It'll help you make friends and work harmoniously with others. Everyone needs them, but unfortunately, they don't necessarily develop on their own. You'll need to take proactive steps to improve them continuously. Once you have discovered the areas of your non-technical abilities where you aren't at your best, you can use the 7 tips we've provided here to improve them.
