Personal Development: The Importance of Soft Skills
I wanted to take a slight detour from the general marketing and branding topics I usually cover in the blog, and touch on some useful skills in the workplace and in life overall. The use of soft skills is such an under appreciated tool to have in life and, to be honest, is probably something our general population has deviated from due to the introduction of computers and the digital world we live in.
If you’re not familiar with what soft skills would be, think of people skills or interpersonal skills that are used when you communicate with people in different settings. This could include scenarios with family or friends, and of course within your work environment. Those soft skills may slightly change from person to person or scenario to scenario, and working to refine those skills will help you tremendously in life.
Soft skills like clear communication, active listening, decision making, and embracing change are highly sought after skills as someone enters the workforce and are even more desirable as they climb their way up the work latter.
Being able to clearly communicate with your manager and team members, or maybe your spouse about plans and expectations, is a great asset to consistently rely on. Actively listening to friends and family can greatly impact your relationships for the better, strengthening your connections with them by showing that you are indeed listening, which can then set you up for making authentic decisions down the road. And lastly, being able to embrace change, even though it can be uncomfortable, is one of the best soft skills to have as a human. We’re all bound to experience changes throughout our life, and having the skill set of how to cope with said changes can truly make life a little easier as you endure both easy and difficult challenges.
The good news is that almost everyone can learn these skills and improve upon them over time. Podcasts, seminars, books, or a mentor are all great sources to tap into if you’re wanting to work on your soft skills, or really any skill you’re wanting to work on.