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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nSoft skills are interpersonal qualities that help you navigate your personal and professional life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imagine you\u2019re playing Lego with your friends \u2013 yes, grown-ups do that. \ud83d\ude00 You put the pieces together and build anything you want, like the Hogwarts castle from Harry Potter. You need the ability to assemble the pieces together and follow the instructions to the T. These are your \u2018hard skills\u2019 \u2013 the teachable and specific skills you can learn and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, having patience, paying attention to detail, thinking out of the box using your creativity, and talking with your friends while you build together are your \u2018soft skills\u2019. They aren\u2019t taught through a credit course at a school or uni \u2013 you learn them over time through self-analysis, taking measured steps, and getting feedback from a trusted source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With strong interpersonal skills<\/a>, you can survive and succeed in the real world because you know how to talk and work with others. How to make the most of your efforts and lead teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are the top 5 soft skills that you can focus on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the moment you wake up to the moment you lie down, you communicate with people. At work, this translates into written, verbal and non-verbal communication. According to Grammarly and The Harris Poll<\/a>, 69% of workers feel stressed from confused messaging and unclear instructions. Effective communicators exhibit reliability, professionalism and persuasiveness. So don\u2019t underestimate knowing how to express yourself and adapting to your colleagues’ communication styles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of us get 24 hours each day, and with our work, family, and personal responsibilities, it\u2019s natural to feel overwhelmed. For example, if you\u2019re a marketer, you have to create social media reports, analyse web traffic, and deal with last-minute campaign changes. Time management helps you prioritise and work on tasks and improve your performance at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael Jackson had it right in Man in the Mirror (if you haven\u2019t listened to it, this is your cue): \u2018If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change\u2019. Being empathetic to others\u2019 emotions is crucial because it helps you connect with people and build relationships. Being emotionally intelligent equips you with skills to support your colleagues and keep calm under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Creativity fosters innovation and helps you approach tasks with a different perspective. Goodbye cookie-cutter approach to solving problems, hello improved performance and tailored solutions. \ud83d\udc4b Creativity is one of the most sought-after soft skills because it boosts productivity and helps you adapt to changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Influential leaders communicate in a way that engages others to take action. They\u2019re approachable and amiable and customise their communication style based on the person they\u2019re talking with. Who said you had to lead a team of 50 to be a leader? Start small \u2013 lead by example. To improve your leadership qualities, you can start mentoring your peers<\/a> or give reverse mentoring<\/a> a shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s the reason to test yourself at the end of each lesson? To learn about your strong areas and those that you can improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soft skills are vital in advancing your career and collaborating with others. Evaluating them helps you know what your strengths and weaknesses are in order to progress on your journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, you can be good at coding but need help communicating with your team. If you’re unable to tell them why you made that iteration in the loop, your team may not understand it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Evaluating your soft skills<\/a> enables you to focus your efforts and improve yourself. You enhance your employability and become better equipped to handle challenges in your professional and personal life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3 steps: reflect and set goals, get feedback, and work on the next steps. Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Self-reflection is one of the best ways to find areas in your soft skills that could use polishing. Start evaluating by reflecting on your personal and professional experiences. Think back to a point when your soft skills were put to the test. How did you perform when you didn\u2019t feel confident in your abilities?<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also do a SWOT analysis (that\u2019s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) to explore opportunities for success. Use this PDF by Forbes<\/a> to download a template for SWOT analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you understand where you need to improve, it\u2019s time to set goals and identify the steps that\u2019ll get you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re working on your communication skills, giving a speech at the Oscars next week sounds daunting (bathroom practice doesn\u2019t count). But talking with three colleagues this week is easier. Joining a group and delivering two speeches there is easier. You\u2019re still stepping out of your comfort zone but taking it one step at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key to setting goals is making them SMART \u2013 Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. SMART goals help you turn ideas into tangible, measurable actions. They\u2019re meaningful and tailored to your unique self. When you\u2019re working with a soft skills mentor, specify the time by which you will meet each objective. It gives you a clear timeframe for action and acts as a constant reminder to make the process disciplined and actionable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Feedback helps you correct your course and refine your plans. For example, if you\u2019ve been working on your public speaking skills, record yourself doing a presentation and see how far you\u2019ve come. Check your body language \u2013 are you slouching? Do you have a welcoming stance? Are you letting the nervous jitters take control? Check out these tips and tricks to improve your body language<\/a> and confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But if you want feedback from a trusted source, work with a mentor (we call them Navig8rs<\/a>). A trusted soft skills mentor evaluates and holds you accountable for your progress. So if you\u2019re struggling with time management, your mentor can tailor strategies to help you set priorities and SMART goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCommunication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Time Management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Emotional Intelligence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Creativity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Leadership<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why is Soft Skills Evaluation Important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Evaluate Soft Skills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Reflect and Set Goals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Defining The Next Steps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Feedback<\/h3>\n\n\n\n