{ The Hard Truth about Soft Skills Soft Skills as an Aid to Job Retention and Advancement

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The Hard Truth about Soft Skills

Soft Skills as an Aid to Job Retention and Advancement

I. The Definition of Soft Skills

II. The Benefits of Soft Skills

III. The Most-Valued Soft Skills

IV. The Training of Soft Skills

Here is where we are going with this presentation…

Soft Skills as an Aid to Job Retention and Promotion

I. The Definition

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

Defined by Usage


Here 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 are about a person's skill set and ability to perform a certain type of task or activity, soft skills are interpersonal and broadly applicable.

http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/soft-skills. Emphasis mine.

Soft Skills Vs. Employability Skills

Common elements of various listings of employability skills Basic/fundamental Skills: such as literacy, numeracy, using technology People-related skills: such as communication, interpersonal, teamwork,

customer service skills Conceptual/thinking skills: such as collecting and organising information,

problem-solving, planning and organising, learning-to-learn skills, thinking innovatively and creatively, systems thinking

Personal skills and attributes: such as being responsible, resourceful and flexible, being able to manage one’s own time, having self-esteem

Business skills: such as innovation skills, enterprise skills Community skills: such as civic or citizenship knowledge and skills. Table adapted from Cleary, M., Flynn, R., and Thomasson, S. (2006). Employability Skills from Framework to Practice. Commonwealth of Australia: Department of Education, Science and Training – Quoted from Gibb, J. (ed.) 2004, Generic skills in vocational education and training, vol. 2006, NCVER, Adelaide, 2006, http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/1448.html


Soft Skills Vs. Employability SkillsCommon elements of various listings of generic skills Basic/fundamental Skills: such as literacy, numeracy, using technology People-related skills: such as communication, interpersonal, teamwork,

customer service skills Conceptual/thinking skills: such as collecting and organising information, problem-

solving, planning and organising, learning-to-learn skills, thinking innovatively and creatively, systems thinking

Personal skills and attributes: such as being responsible, resourceful and flexible, being able to manage one’s own time, having self-esteem

Business skills: such as innovation skills, enterprise skills Community skills: such as civic or citizenship knowledge and skills. Table adapted from Cleary, M., Flynn, R., and Thomasson, S. (2006). Employability Skills from Framework to Practice. Commonwealth of Australia: Department of Education, Science and Training – Quoted from Gibb, J. (ed.) 2004, Generic skills in vocational education and training, vol. 2006, NCVER, Adelaide, 2006, http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/1448.html


SoftSkills

HardSkills

Employability Skills



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.


Examples

Optimism PositivityResponsibility

Sense

of h

umor

Ability to Communicate

Flexibility

Integrity

Empathy

Manners

The Ability to TeachTeachability

Friendlin

ess

Graci

ousn

ess

Leadership EnthusiasmTeamwork

II. The Benefits


1. To the EmployerBetter working relationships make

work:• More Pleasant• More Profitable


2. To the EmployeePossessing good skills makes one

more likely to:• Get Hired• Stay Employed• Be Promoted (“Highered”)


2. To the Employee• Getting Hired

Professor Zygmont says:

“I would be more concerned with their attitude and personal attributes. Specific job skills can be taught more easily than the ‘soft’ skills you are referencing.”


2. To the Employee• Getting Hired

CBI Says:

“Employability skills are vital to finding employment, 82 per cent of businesses said it is the single most important consideration when recruiting graduates, according to a CBI survey.”

[CBI = Confederation of British Industry].http://www.nus.org.uk/en/news/news/your-guide-to-better-employability-skills/


2. To the Employee• Getting Promoted

“Studies of close to 500 organizations worldwide indicate that people who score highest on EQ measures rise to the top of corporations. Among other things, these ‘star employees’ possess more interpersonal skills and confidence than ‘regular employees’ who receive less favorable performance reviews.”

(Caudron, S., 1999)


2. To the Employee• Getting Promoted

Soft-Skills and Long-Run Labor Market SuccessGreg J. Duncan (Northwestern University - Institute for Policy Research; National Bureau of Economic Research [NBER]) Rachel Dunifon (Northwestern University - Institute for Policy Research)

Listen to this abstract as I read it and notice the last sentence (I’ll read it twice).

III. The Most-Valued


Professor Zygmont Says:

“All of these skills are critical for success (job retention and advancement) but if I had to pick I would say, not in any particular order and from the list you provided: ability to communicate (optimism would fit here), flexibility, integrity.”


“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)


Here they are once

more:

• Communication skills

• Interpersonal skills

• Initiative

IV. The Training• Why?• How?


• 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 work together• Have a sense of responsibility to their jobs• Have integrity• Etc.

• Because CTE teachers are required to integrate these concepts into their instruction:

Why?

Pennsylvania Career, Education, and Work (CEW) Assessment Anchors/Standards

13.3.11. GRADE 11Pennsylvania’s public schools shall teach, challenge and support every student 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 solvingD. Develop a personal budget based on career choice, such as, but not limited to: Charitable contributions Fixed/variable expenses Gross pay Net pay Other income Savings TaxesE. Evaluate time management strategies and their application to both personal and work situations.F. Evaluate strategies for career retention and advancement in response to the changing global workplace.G. Evaluate the impact of lifelong learning on career retention and advancement.

Five of these standards relate to soft skills training.

Take a closer look.


• Evaluate personal attitudes and work habits that support career retention and advancement.

• Evaluate team member roles to describe and illustrate active listening techniques.

• Evaluate conflict resolution skills as they relate to the workplace.

• Evaluate time management strategies and their application to both personal and work situations.

• Evaluate strategies for career retention and advancement in response to the changing global workplace.

Why?


Professor Zygmont says:

“Training of this type would most likely require more of a counseling atmosphere vs. a professional job-focused approach.”

How?

The Definition of Soft SkillsThe Benefits of Soft SkillsThe Most-Valued Soft SkillsThe Training of Soft SkillsHow?

If you wanted to be really skilled at something, would you: Read a book? Watch a video? Hire a motivational speaker? Attend a seminar? Try a few role-plays? Practice with an expert coach under realistic working

conditions until you achieved fluency?

(Georges, n.d.)


“…learning the skills that contribute to emotional intelligence can't be done in a one-shot training course.”

(Caudron, 1999)

How?

The Definition of Soft SkillsThe Benefits of Soft SkillsThe Most-Valued Soft SkillsThe Training of Soft SkillsHow?

Simply Tellingis not training.


1. Integrate soft skills training in your instructional time.

2. Include soft skills training incidentally in your instructions and interactions.

3. Remind your students that they are graded on their employability and soft skills.

4. Enforce practice in your classroom.

5. Model employability and soft skills in your program by:• The way you teach.• The way you relate to students.• The way you interact with other instructors.• The way you relate to your employers.

(Administration, Tax-payers, School Board, Pennsylvania/PDE)

How?

A Final Word

What word goes with this definition from Merriam-Webster?

1 a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue

2 a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

Hypocrite

(Not a religious term; a theatrical term. “Playing a part. Pretending to be something you are not.”)

You need to be a model of the kind of personal character that you believe students need to have.

Three reasons:1. Students learn by example. 2. You are still becoming someone.

3. It’s right.

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