Having the technical skills and knowledge to successfully execute your job duties is only one part of being the best you can be in the workplace. In addition to these “hard” skills, we also need “soft” skills. Soft skills are those skills which allow us to effectively work with others. No matter what your position, organization, or industry, you work with people! Taking the time to build effective soft skills can contribute to a more efficient, more harmonious, and more productive workplace, as well as to your own overall job happiness and satisfaction.
Research has consistently demonstrated that when clear goals are associated with learning, it occurs more easily and rapidly. At the end of this course, you should be able to:
- Discuss how soft skills are important to success in the workplace
- Understand the 10 key soft skills everyone should have
- Use soft skills to relate more effectively to others in the workplace
- Understand how to use soft skills to communicate, problem-solve, and resolve conflict
- Apply soft skills to specific situations
What are Soft Skills?
- Definition of Soft Skills
- Empathy and the Emotional Intelligence Quotient
- Professionalism
- Learned vs. Inborn Traits
- Case Study
- Assessment
Communication
- Ways We Communicate
- Improving Nonverbal Communication
- Listening
- Openness and Honesty
- Case Study
- Assessment
Teamwork
- Identifying Capabilities
- Get Into Your Role
- Learn the Whole Process
- The Power of Flow
- Case Study
- Assessment
Problem-Solving
- Define the Problem
- Generate Alternative Solutions
- Evaluate the Plans
- Implementation and Re-Evaluation
- Case Study
- Assessment
Time Management
- The Art of Scheduling
- Prioritizing
- Managing Distractions
- The Multitasking Myth
- Case Study
- Assessment
Attitude and Work Ethic
- What Are You Working For?
- Caring for Others vs Caring for Self
- Building Trust
- Work Is Its Own Reward
- Case Study
- Assessment
Adaptability/Flexibility
- Getting Over the Good Old Days Syndrome
- Changing to Manage Process
- Changing to Manage People
- Showing You’re Worth Your Weight in Adaptability
- Case Study
- Assessment
Self-Confidence (Owning It)
- Confident Traits
- Self-Questionnaire
- Surefire Self-Confidence Building Tactics
- Build Up Others
- Case Study
- Assessment
Ability to Learn from
- Wow, You Mean I’m Not Perfect?
- Listen with an Open Mind
- Analyze and Learn
- Clear the Air and Don’t Hold Any Grudges
- Case Study
- Assessment
