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The Hard Truth about Soft Skills
Kathleen DeeryUniversity of Wisconsin-Stout
Back2Basics.3
The Rules Are Changing…
…but not as much as some people think
Soft Skills Are…
…a cluster of personal qualities, habits, attitudes and social graces that are necessary for career success.
In other words, Can you pass ‘lunch break’?
Essential Soft Skills
Critical Thinking
Problem Solving
Teamwork
Adaptability/Flexibility
Ability To Take Constructive Criticism
Decision Making
Social Awareness (Respect, Deference, Sharing, Tact, Confidentiality)
Employer Priorities
Soft Skills
Millennials & Gen Y
• Need to feel special
• Highly social –need to connect
• Seek partnership & consensus
• Product of ‘power-parenting’
“Life is not divided into semesters. You don't
get summers off and very few employers are
interested in helping you find yourself.”
– Bill Gates
Generational Work Challenges
▪ High expectations - can feel like entitlement
▪ Multi-tasking is a way of life
▪ Zero tolerance for delays
▪ Crave frequent feedback, reinforcement, & structure
▪ Not used to speaking for themselves
▪ Fear of failure
“Tell me what you want and I’ll do that.”
“What I want you to do is figure it out.”
“OMG. You’re setting me up for failure. Why are you being so mean? I quit!”
How early is too early to start getting ready for work?
Answer? Never
Solution # 1: Experiential Learning
Reasons to Invest In Work Readiness
Increases Awareness (self and work) Proactive - not reactive Learn by ‘doing’ …. & learn from mistakes
Work Experience is
Work out the “kinks” in the system
Gives parents time to adjust
Continuous feedback helps info to ‘sink in’
Skills build in a cumulative manner
Practice, Practice, Practice
Critical
Work Experience as Evaluation
• Multi-tasking
• Organization
• Punctuality
• Knowledge Transfer
• Social Skills
Real Life
Feedback
Success Strategies
▪ Applied learning is best
▪ I2M2: Interesting, Interactive, Motivating, & Meaningful
▪ Delivery needs to relate to the person’s world view (Stories, Language)
Collaboration is VITAL
Student
Parents
TeachersVR
IEP team
Why Flipping Burgers Is A Good Thing
▪ Practice soft skills
▪ Work out the “kinks” in the system– Accommodations
– Disclosure
▪ Gain confidence
▪ Learn from choices (good & bad)
▪ Experience consequences
Other Benefits of “Food, Filth & Flowers”
▪ Reality-testing
▪ Gives parents time to adjust and discover capabilities of students
▪ Opportunity for a ‘do-over’ when someone screws up
Wash, Rinse and REPEAT AS NEEDED
Solution # 2: Frank Discussions
DON’T OVERLOOK THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
• If they don’t know there is a problem, they can’t change it.
• Step lightly around sensitive issues
• Tough love vs. setting up for failure
Nobody Said Life Was Fair
▪ Provide authentic feedback– NOBODY like constructive criticism…so don’t do it
– Find a way to examine the issue and brainstorm together without judgment
▪ Relationship matters– How you say it as important as What you say.
– Remember that change is hard
Cumulative Issues
Help your customers understand…
….It’s not just one thing – disability, perception, generational differences, soft skills, or accommodation…
….it’s EVERYTHING in combination.
Be human. Be forgiving. Be honest.
Recognition
• Information provided in this training was made possible with a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF RDE Grant # 1129682)
▪ Additional information may be found on the Soft Skills-Hard Science website at:
www.softskills-hardscience.org
![Hard [numbers, plans] is Soft. Soft [people/relationships] is Hard](https://img.pdfslide.us/doc/110x75/56812cee550346895d91b5a6/hard-numbers-plans-is-soft-soft-peoplerelationships-is-hard.jpg)
