A Future of Jobs report by the World Economic Forum[1] now suggests that workplaces will place a higher value on complex problem-solving, critical thinking, and people management skills. Let’s learn about these soft skills and how they impact work performance.

What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills refer to various character traits or personal attributes that guide how you interact with others. Unlike hard skills, which include your technical abilities and knowledge specific to a particular job, soft skills are transferable and apply to almost any profession. Your soft skills can help you build connections with others, which enhances trust and helps with teamwork. In professional environments, these skills help you accomplish your job responsibilities. Soft skills include active listening, time management, networking, rational thinking, and problem-solving.

Why Are Soft Skills Important?

Every time you interact with another person, you rely on your soft skills to ease the conversation. Professionally, you require these skills to present your ideas to colleagues, engage in discussions, or win contracts. Once you join the corporate world, you must work on your personality development and soft skills to enjoy success. Let’s explore the importance of these skills in your everyday life:

Career Growth

Managers and HR personnel will value candidates with better soft skills. If all other qualifications are equal, individuals who actively listen, participate and demonstrate problem-solving abilities will likely get better offers and promotions. Remember, the best leaders can communicate well, lead by example and build relationships.

Interpersonal Relationships

Whether you work in an office or remotely, you must have the ability to foster interpersonal relationships with your colleagues. Soft skills have now become basic etiquette in the office, enabling you to work in a team and help build a productive work environment.

Client Requirements

In many organisations, employees must present themselves and their ideas to clients and customers. In a competitive market, soft skills such as efficient communication can set you apart from the crowd and enhance your company’s growth.

There’s No Replacement

In a world where AI and machines can do a lot of our jobs, soft skills have become even more crucial. Since computers cannot develop these skills, they cannot possibly replace the human touch required in most situations. In fact, some people are even using VR to improve soft skills and boost their personal and professional growth.

How Can I Enhance Soft Skills?

Concerned you don’t have the soft skills for professional development? We can help. Here’s a look at a few ways you can enhance your skills.

Prioritise

Evaluate your existing soft skills and think about what you need to improve. Now, list the most crucial skills you require at work. Analyse the lists and prioritise the skills you need to master first.

Ask for Help

Ask a trusted friend or mentor to give feedback on your soft skills. They can offer another person’s perspective, which could reveal incorrect self-perceptions or blind spots. Their views could provide valuable insight into your abilities.

Push Your Boundaries

Generally, people exhibit better social skills when they feel comfortable. For example, you’re likely to articulate your thoughts clearly when among friends and people you trust. But, you might feel tongue-tied at work or fail to get your point across. Try and put yourself in a situation where you can practise and brush up on these skills in unfamiliar situations. You could visit the bank in person instead of completing transactions online to test the waters.

Try and Online Course

Given the importance of soft skills for the future, many online learning platforms now offer courses on personality development skills for students. You can enrol to master these skills and develop professionally and personally. Remember, soft skills are not job specific and can help you regardless of what you choose to do in the future.

Learning Soft Skills Offline

Students today can develop various soft skills while in college. Let’s see how:

Communication Skills

Group projects and presentations help you develop communication skills. At most universities, students correspond with professors via e-mail, enhancing the written communication skills you need in the workplace.

Budgeting and Money Management

You will develop budgeting and money management skills if you move away from home for your higher education. Business leaders and managers have to make calls on budgets and must manage company expenses to turn a profit. These skills could help you climb the corporate ladder.

Problem-Solving

Colleges and universities encourage you to think for yourself and come up with creative solutions. Professors will challenge you to think outside the box to answer difficult essay questions and complicated maths equations. They encourage you to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Accepting Criticism

Learning to accept constructive criticism and continuously working on yourself could be the most crucial soft skill required for the future. In college, your professors and teaching assistants constantly provide feedback on your work. They teach you to deal with feedback and act on it to enhance your performance.

Time Management

Most students enjoy the feeling of freedom associated with being in college. However, if you want to do well, you must manage your time. You must attend classes, take on extra-curricular activities, complete assignments, and maintain a social life. Understanding how to make the best use of your available time will serve you well in the future.

Funding Your Soft Skill Development

You can develop soft skills through online and offline courses. Never allow financial hurdles to stop you from achieving your dreams, regardless of the path you hope to pursue. You can opt for an education loan to help fund your higher education in India or abroad. Today, many lenders also provide loans for students who study online.

Most people today work on making themselves future-proof. They upskill and reskill to avoid becoming redundant. But recruiters are now shifting their focus from hard skills to soft skills. You must develop the necessary skills to enjoy success at work in the future. Thankfully, you can enrol in an online course or work on developing your skills offline while you pursue your degree. Whatever you choose, you must remember that soft skills are the future.

[1] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/top-10-work-skills-of-tomorrow-how-long-it-takes-to-learn-them/