Soft Skills: A Key Factor in Boosting Up Interpersonal and Professional Skills

When it comes to employment and the skills you must possess to acquire a job or work position, the first line of emphasis is usually towards the candidate's level of training, abilities, and knowledge of a particular skill set; in short, their hard skills. This leaves soft skills overlooked in a major way even though they play a hugely important role in the overall success not only of a business' day to day operations but also of its main goals and objectives. They impact how tasks turn out because soft skills are more about an employee's personal attributes, which impact/enhance his/her individual interactions, overall job performance, and general career prospects.

Contrary to hard skills, which impact an individual's ability to perform specific tasks and activities, soft skills are more interpersonal and are broadly applicable, meaning they are something every working person must have if they wish to be a productive and successful part of a team. The following are important soft skills every employee should have:

• Work ethic – While work ethic isn't easy to quantify, it isn't that difficult to spot the lack of it because employees who don't display strong work ethic also don't have the drive to complete tasks you have set out for them to do. It is for the most part, an innate skill, but it is, something that can be learned through proper training and the right motivation.
• Communication – Arguably, the most important soft skill an employee, must possess, the ability to communicate through speech and writing is a definite necessity across all industries and every workplace. Communication skills can effectively be improved with the help of proper training, although some people may take time developing good communication skills.
• Teamwork – Some people have an easier time adapting to team environments while others may find it more difficult integrating themselves into one, particularly those who prefer working alone. However, the ability to work within a group or a team is an important soft skill, especially when a particular task or project requires multiple heads and hands to accomplish. Teamwork can be developed through interpersonal communication trainings team building exercises, and similar types of activities that help enhance employees' people skills.
• Problem solving – Another important soft skill to learn, being able to find solutions to problems and making quick decisions/thinking on your feet are also major employee traits businesses look for. People displaying strong decision making and problem solving skills are excellent candidates for management level posts.

NADIA Training Institute, established in 1983, is the largest and most innovative Recruitment, Training and Management Consulting firm. The NADIA group comprises NADIA Recruitment & Manpower Services, NADIA Training Institutes.