The hard truth about soft skills? They are essential to the success of all employees. No matter what job you have, there are 11 soft skills every professional needs. The more skills you have, the better your chances are of having a successful career.
What are Soft Skills?
Soft skills are also known as interpersonal skills or personality traits. It helps you perform duties and teaches you how to work well with others. You could be born with certain soft skills, such as being a natural born leader. But they can also be perfected through training and mentorship.
11 Soft Skills Every Professional Needs
Since they help you complete your tasks, it comes as no surprise that everyone needs soft skills. With so many to choose from, you may be wondering what skills to add to your bag of tricks. Dive right in to the top 11 soft skills every professional needs below:
- Good communication skills
- Leadership skills
- Strong work ethic
- Problem-solving skills
- Decision-making skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Creative
- Organisational skills
- Good time management
- Teamwork
- Flexible
1. Good Communication Skills
Communication is one of the most important skills you can have. It allows for understanding between colleagues. It contributes to the effective workflow and productivity in the organisation.
2. Leadership Skills
Take charge with great leadership skills. It shows you have the ability to manage a team and reach your goals. This is a great way to prove you are able to take initiative and make decisions.
3. Strong Work Ethic
Adding this to your CV is a great way to show future employers the type of person you are. A strong work ethic proves you are reliable and able to take responsibility for your work and actions.
4. Problem-solving Skills
Don’t allow obstacles to get in your way. Here is your chance to harness your problem-solving skills. It allows you to come up with solutions that will solve any issues you face.
5. Decision-making Skills
This is often a quality most managers need to have. These skills allow you to choose the best option, method or solution in order to get the best results.
6. Critical Thinking Skills
To make the decisions or come up with solutions, you need to be able to think critically. It allows you to analyse situations, create effective plans and confront situations strategically.
7. Creative
A little creativity goes a long way. You’ll be able to think outside the box when coming up with ideas, planning, decisions and solving issues in your duties.
8. Organisational Skills
Stay on top of things with organisational skills. When you are organised, it helps you keep track of your work and plan your duties. Your work will run smoothly and you’ll avoid issues easily.
9. Good Time Management
Managing your time is key in every workplace. No need to rush through your work. This skill helps you allocate enough time to projects and stick to deadlines.
10. Teamwork
No man is an island. If you want to be successful, you need to be a great team player. It shows that you can work well with others, allowing your projects to have a higher chance of success.
11. Flexible
When you are flexible, it means you are able to perform a variety of duties and adapt to different work environments. This is a great way to work with other departments and gain new skills.
Difference Between Soft and Technical Skills
Soft skills may help you get the job done. But your technical skills will teach you HOW to get it done. Also known as hard skills, technical skills can be used in every industry. These skills are specific to the career you have or field you are in. A great way to learn technical skills is through studying a course.
Skills Academy is the word support in every way.
Your Stepping Stone to Success
Your soft skills and our courses are a match made in heaven. From matric programmes to courses you can study without matric, we have what you need. Ready to learn more? Contact our course experts for more details. You can:
- Call us on 0800 39 00 27 – it’s free
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