The hard truth about soft skills

The Hard Truth about Soft Skills

Soft Skills can increase Job Retention and Improve Advancement

05/03/2023

Transformative Leadership Group - 2016 2

- The Definition of Soft Skills

- The Benefits of Soft Skills

- The Training of Soft Skills

To Understand Soft Skills, Let’sLook at These Areas…

Soft Skills can increase Job Retention and Improve Advancement

05/03/2023


The Definition of Soft SkillsThe Benefits of Soft SkillsThe Most-Valued Soft SkillsThe Training of Soft SkillsHere is how it is

used:• Soft skills are personal attributes that enhance

an individual's interactions, job performance and career prospects.

• Unlike hard skills, which describe a person's

technical skill set and ability to perform specific tasks, soft skills are broadly applicable across job titles and industries. It's often said that hard skills will get you an interview but you need soft skills to get -- and keep -- the job.*

*http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/soft-skills.

http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/hard-skills

05/03/2023


Common Elements of Employability SkillsCommon elements of general employability skills (Bold = Soft Skills)

Basic Functional Skills: i.e., literacy, number skills, uses of basic technology People-related skills: i.e., communication, interpersonal, teamwork, emotional

intelligence (EQ or EI) Conceptual/thinking skills: i.e., collecting and organizing information, problem-

solving, planning, thinking innovatively and creatively, process thinking Personal skills and attributes: i.e., being responsible, resourcefulness,

flexibility, self time-management, personal self-esteem Business skills: i.e., innovation mindset, industry and enterprise sills Community skills: i.e., civic or citizenship knowledge and skills. Technical Skills: i.e., Programming, specific tool use skills, database

management, statistical analysis, research

The Definition of Soft SkillsThe Benefits of Soft SkillsThe Most-Valued Soft SkillsThe Training of Soft Skills

05/03/2023


SoftSkills Hard

Skills

Employability Skills


05/03/2023



Summary:

Soft skills are the character traits that enhance a person’s interactions, and job performance. They are personal attributes that relate to an individual’s likeability, and functional attitude toward work.

05/03/2023


The Definition of Soft SkillsThe Benefits of Soft SkillsThe Most-Valued Soft SkillsThe Training of Soft SkillsExamples

Optimism Positivity Responsibility

Sense

of hu

mor

Communications

FlexibilityIntegrity

EmpathyManners

Teachability

Friendlin

ess

Graciousness

Leadership EnthusiasmCollaborative

05/03/2023



1. Benefits for the Employer• Improved employee engagement• More pleasant work environment• More productivity• More efficiency• Less conflict• Less confusion• Better customer satisfaction• More profit

05/03/2023



2. Benefits for the Employee;• Getting hired• Staying employed• Career planning• Less conflict• Less confusion• More personal growth

05/03/2023



“According to a study of what corporations seek when they hire MBAs, the three most desired capabilities are communication skills, interpersonal skills and initiative – all of which are elements of emotional intelligence.”

(Caudron, S., 1999)

05/03/2023



• Because of the benefits we have already mentioned• Because it’s good for society, as a whole, to have more people

who:• Are polite and considerate• Are able to collaborate• Have a sense of responsibility to their jobs• Have integrity, honesty• Connect and communicate

• Many organization have hard skills training but struggle with soft skills training

• Soft skills training does not do well with standard methodologies, in my opinion

Training - Why?

05/03/2023


What would happen if we could provide training in these areas to allow each person to realize his or her maximum potential and to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to:

A. Evaluate personal attitudes and work habits that support career retention and advancement.B. Evaluate team member roles to describe and illustrate active listening techniques:

Clarifying Encouraging Reflecting Restating Summarizing

C. Evaluate conflict resolution skills as they relate to the workplace: Constructive criticism Group dynamics Managing/leadership Mediation Negotiation Problem solving

D. Evaluate time management strategies and their application to both personal and work situations.E. Evaluate strategies for career retention and advancement in response to the changing global

workplace.F. Evaluate the impact of lifelong learning on career retention and advancement.

05/03/2023



• Hire a professional coach to train internal coaches• Set up a coaching environment for training• Build relationship pods to allow cross silo interactions &

communications• Provide easy access to books & videos• Understand this is an ongoing process• Schedule in house seminars• Encourage role-play sessions & modeling of behaviors• Integrate soft skills topics in all training• Remind your students that soft skills are part of the

evaluation process

Training - How?

05/03/2023


Let us help you set up your soft skills training team Transformative Leadership Group PO Box 939 Batavia, IL 60510 Office: 630-454-4821 Email: [email protected]