Teamwork makes the dream work. It’s not an HR gimmick; you’ll only thrive in your career if you work with others. For this purpose, specific soft skills need to be developed.
Soft skills, also called “people skills” or “interpersonal skills, " refer to several personal abilities and attributes that allow you to interact effectively with others in a professional setting. Unlike hard skills derived from hands-on experience in a particular industry, soft skills are interchangeable and can be employed in any job, role, or sector.
7 soft skills you need to develop for absolute professional success
1. Communication
Communication is the key to success and is a necessity when it comes to fostering professional relationships. This refers to your ability to convey your messages (or instructions) clearly and concisely and also listen actively so it doesn’t leave for misunderstandings and setbacks. For those in a leadership role, communication with your team is the only way you will understand their needs and offer constructive feedback. Some ways to communicate with those at work include active listening, verbal communication, non-verbal communication and written communication.
2. Resilience
Showing the greatest resilience in adversity is an admirable trait that will get you far in your career. The world’s most successful people — from Bill Gates to Elon Musk — have experienced their share of setbacks and failures, but instead of giving in to them, they have taken them in their stride and used them to their advantage. Being resilient will naturally build your confidence in yourself and lead others to place their faith in you.
3. Collaboration
Being a team player and collaborating with others can help foster creativity and innovation. Brainstorming with your team will assist you in coming up with new and innovative solutions that can prove game-changing and promote a positive work environment.
4. Agility
Living and working in a digital age means you must constantly reinvent yourself. If a certain work project requires a different strategy, don’t be afraid to try something new and dynamic, even if it's never been done before. Develop the soft skill of changing, at least when the occasion calls for it.
5. Problem-solving
Being a great problem solver, which includes dissecting the issue to its root cause and then coming up with a logical solution or alternative for it, is an attribute that is widely appreciated by employers everywhere.
6. Negotiation
Having solid and practical negotiation skills will take you very far in life. On a personal level, it will help you fight for the salary you deserve, and it comes in handy when dealing with your teammates and clients.
7. Leadership
A good leader can guide their team into playing with their strengths and collaborating seamlessly to achieve a collective goal. To this end, you must enhance your listening, coaching, and guiding capabilities to help others grow and push them to reach their maximum potential.
The original article can be found on GQ India.
