5 Reasons Why Soft Skills are Important
Soft skills aren’t as soft as they sound. In fact, they can make or break your career. As the professional world adapts to the new norm of working from home, soft skills have become more necessary. Soft skills as defined by Workable are “general characteristics that help employees thrive in the workplace, no matter their seniority level, role or industry”— and these skills have come to the forefront in hiring and recruitment decisions. Below are five reasons why soft skills are important.
1. Building teamwork
No man is an island, the same applies to every organization. Many hiring managers lookout for how well you can fit into a group dynamic which is why they use soft skills as a way to measure your teamwork and communication abilities. Regardless of how great your technical skills are, you need to be a team player to use them effectively.
2. Maintaining relationships
People with a good disposition for customer service are good for business in any industry, at any level of experience. Soft skills not only support your relationships in the workplace, they determine your success working with clients and business partners. Soft skills set apart candidates who are qualified for a job and candidates who will exceed expectations by putting effort into their professional relationships.
3. Establishing a reputation
The way you interact with clients and business partners can influence how they perceive you or your company, and could determine their willingness to do business with you. Your soft skills determine the level of success of your social interactions, the timeliness of your work and your ability to resolve conflicts to build a great reputation. Once you have a good reputation it results in getting referrals.
4. Facilitating growth
The ability to accept and implement feedback is a soft skill that many people struggle with. Learning to respond to constructive criticism from others and consistently looking for ways to improve without being asked enables you to grow and distinguishes you from others.
5. Growing as a leader
Focusing on your soft skills shows that you are thoughtful about how your habits and attitude impact others in the workplace which is an essential part of great leadership. People with strong soft skills can analyze what kind of leadership strategies their team needs to succeed and implement different strategies based on the circumstances.
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Sources
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/why-are-soft-skills-important
https://resources.workable.com/hr-terms/what-are-soft-skills
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