Both sets of skills, soft and technical, are important to excelling in work and life.
During a recent social gathering the conversation turned to work and interactions at work. This led to an additional conversation about whether soft or technical skills were more important in the workplace. As I listened with interest, I discovered that most in the group valued soft skills over technical ones. Traits such as honesty and a strong work ethic were highly valued.
People began to share stories about employees/co-workers that did not know how to dress for their environment, communicate effectively or exhibit flexibility. These are all soft skills.
One story revolved around a candidate who was unable to carry on a conversation with the CEO. Another story shared concern over a friend who seemed to move jobs every six months because of his lack of flexibility. A third story was about a good person whose serious, negative tone was impacting business. In this case, the owner of the company suggested the employee take a month off with pay to find a new position and learn to “lighten up.”
These stories were all about real people and the skills impacting performance were all soft skills.
Employers often note a lack of soft skills as the reason for termination. Employees, on the other hand, often share their reason for leaving a job as a conflict with their boss or another employee, not specific job duties.
As you search for you next position, take a look at your soft skills. How do you communicate and add value with your soft skills?
Are you honing your soft skills as well as your technical skills?
Skills are like muscles — you need to use them to make them stronger. If you don’t exercise your muscles, they get weak.
Here are the key things you can do this week to hone your soft skills:
- Pick a soft skill where you excel.
- Note three ways you used the soft skill this week.
- Note the results of using the soft skill during the week.
“Rinse and repeat” 1-3 above with a soft skill you wish to hone.
What soft skills do you excel in? What soft skills do you need to hone?
Share what soft skill you want to hone below and how that will help you.
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