The Link Between Soft Skills Training and Career Success
What does it take to be successful? Obviously, hard skills that are specific to your individual industry or profession are crucial, but there’s more to success than this. If you truly want to succeed, it is just as important to develop certain soft skills. Not only do they add value to virtually all work environments, but they also happen to be highly sought after by employers.
In this article we’ll be looking at soft skills as a whole, discuss a handful of the most important ones and why they are important, as well as where you can find soft skills training courses to set you up for success.
What Exactly Are Soft Skills?
Soft skills are also referred to as ‘common skills’ and ‘core skills’. The term soft skills can be split into two main categories namely, how you relate to others in the work environment and how you work. They refer to your ability to function at work – this includes your ability to work harmoniously with others and your ability to manage your time effectively. They are further defined as a collection of interpersonal traits that define your interpersonal interactions in the workplace.
Why Are Soft Skills Important?
Soft skills are important for a number of reasons. They may help you fit in with your colleagues at work, manage stress and challenges in your personal and professional life, and adapt to a changing world. In fact, We’d go as far as saying that these core skills are indispensable for success in modern work environments.
The reason why employers tend to look for employees with a combination of soft skills is that they are also what is referred to as transferable skills. In other words, they are skills that can be used across a number of different jobs, industries or organisations. These skills generally suggest adaptability – another desirable trait valued by employers.
3 Essential Soft Skills You Need to Succeed
1. Learnability
In the 21st century, the ability to learn and adapt in response to the dynamic world of work is arguably one of the most critical skills anyone can have. Many skills are becoming redundant, while new skills and careers pop up on a daily basis. Those who lack the ability to learn new skills will ultimately be left behind. The ability to adjust your skillset and grow your knowledge base in response to the ever-evolving and changing requirements set by employers is incredibly valuable.
2. Empathy
Perceiving, understanding and sharing another person’s feelings is a crucial aspect of successful communication. Empathy, or the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, helps others feel seen and heard. Understanding the emotions that other’s are experiencing enables you to respond in a more meaningful way and reduces the likelihood of conflict.
3. Communication
Every job will require that you engage with others to some extent. The first thing that comes to mind is your ability to clearly express yourself and your ideas – whether in writing or in person. But, that’s not all – Communication is an interactive process that involves speaking and listening. To communicate effectively, you also need to be able to be a good listener. You need to listen carefully and empathically to what others say. The best communicators are able to transition appropriately between the role of speaker and listener.
How To Improve Your Soft Skills – Skillsme Academy Storytelling Course
Core skills are not the easiest thing to learn or evaluate. That being said, it can be done. If you’re ready for the challenge, we recommend you check out the Skillsme Storytelling Course. As taught by the award-winning public speaker and founder of Skillsme Academy, Diana Robertson, you will develop highly sought after soft skills, such as communicating effectively and with empathy. We are confident that this course will help you ‘wow’ potential employers and prepare you for years of success. You can find more information about the course here.