There is always that one colleague or Team Member that everyone likes in the workplace, who is on top of their game and is asked for suggestions and comments they might have on projects.
Others may say it is because of their qualification or work experience, but most of the time it’s because they have acquired a good set of soft skills. They have a winning combination of communication skills, emotional intelligence, and other personality traits, which make it easy to engage and work harmoniously with other people.
What are soft skills and how can I use them to advance my career? In this blog, we will be unpacking this concept and more.
Currently, with technology so advanced, it’s not surprising that we still have a lot of organizations/companies that hire people instead of getting an automated system because it’s human nature to want to belong, to connect, to become one idea, and achieve a common goal, we gain more from the community than anything else.
We thrive on creating and maintaining connections that are of benefit now and in the future, but not many job seekers understand the importance of having soft skills. You can be the best at what you do, but if you don’t have good communication and collaboration skills, this can negatively impact your career especially when it comes to growth.
Examples of soft skills
The great thing about them is that they are used in almost every single industry you can think of. Though they may vary, every job has soft skills you need to have to be the best person for the job.
Unlike hard skills that can be tested and measured soft skills cannot be tested the same way, it’s how you interact with others and are able to influence others, which is vital for success in the working environment.
Some of the important soft skills to have right now
Communication
Having great written and verbal communication skills assist in how well you present yourself to others. They also improve your chances of building relationships with co-workers.
Communication skills boost your performance because they help you understand your manager’s expectations so that you can deliver. Employers like this because workers are more productive when they know how to communicate with their co-workers.
Teamwork
An organization’s success is the result of many people working towards a common goal. When employees can contribute their varied talents, everyone wins.
Employers like this because Employers need to have team players to help build friendly office culture, increase employee retention, and in turn attract top performers.
How you can strengthen this skill is by simply helping where you can, asking your co-workers if they are okay, and helping to lessen the load on others when the need arises.
Adaptability
No matter how much you can prepare, the unexpected can happen, and things don’t always go as planned. Great Team Members know how and when to be flexible, so instead of resisting, they learn how to welcome change.
Change in the workplace is one of the only constants you can be sure of. Team Members who can adapt to industry shifts and keep the company current are of key value.
How one can learn this skill: be proactive when change arises and always be ready to meet new challenges. Inquire about training sessions and offer to teach your co-workers what you learn.
Problem-solving
When something goes wrong, you can either complain, blame or act. It is best to be the latter, that skill is valuable. Knowing how to think on your feet can make you indispensable. This trait is important as many companies rely on problem solvers to mitigate unexpected challenges.
Conflict resolution
When different workers with different ideas and views are brought into one space, there can sometimes be conflict. Being able to resolve issues with co-workers will help you maintain better relationships and work harmoniously.
This is important in the workplace because: Being able to constructively work through disagreements with people is an indicator of maturity. Having someone like this helps to promote a healthy, harmonious workplace.
It’s never easy but the best way to resolve disagreements between co-workers is to address issues directly but delicately.
By having these great skills, you are sure to stand out and make your work life easier. . It’s not easy at first but there is a wide range of online sources that can help you learn and excel at these skills. The work experience and qualifications might get you the job, but soft skills are what can make you keep it.
Mbalenhle Bayeni and Samukelisiwe Zulu
Mbalenhle Bayeni (left) and Samukelisiwe Zulu (right) are BET Software's Graduate Trainees
