How do soft skills support your career growth and development?

With AI on the rise humanity matters and we are losing our way of being human. Task based work cultures, increased use of screens, the pandemic, and the 'whole self" priority of the incoming GenZ all point to a very changed landscape. And let's be clear - soft skills are NOT soft. They are the hardest skills you can learn and develop. Soft skills are at the core of our relationships. Our relationships are at the core of everything. "Soft" skills start with Emotional Intelligence. They add on Social Intelligence so that we are confident in our actions. Actions that assure that those around you feel seen, heard, valued and cared for. In the end, people don't care what you know until they know that you care. #ShowingUp

Soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, enhance your career growth by improving collaboration, fostering leadership, and increasing adaptability. These skills make you more effective in the workplace and better equipped to handle challenges and opportunities.

Actually, that will be the "Game Changer" to any professional. It's important to think, connect and have empathy, that, until now, machines are not able to do.

Los empleadores valoran cada vez más las habilidades blandas. Las habilidades técnicas siempre se pueden ense?ar, ahora, ?Las blandas? Se entrenan, seguro, pero hay cuestiones de base que la persona debe traer consigo mismo.

Besides the fact that soft skills help you to "project" certain qualities and help you "fast track" your career, they are absolutely necessary for a human to human connection: 1. To point across your point in the correct manner in any situation good, bad, ugly 2. To be able to understand others meaningfully 3. To be able to adapt the communication or experience depending on the signals that you get, again be it for sales, presentations, team management, negotiations, conflict management, power play, absolutely anything Look at this subject with the right perspective and you won't have to push yourself to develop your soft skills, you will yourself start looking for ways to keep improving!

Reflect on experiences where interpersonal dynamics played a pivotal role. Identify instances where effective communication, empathy, or teamwork contributed to positive outcomes. Self-awareness is the first step; recognizing your strengths in areas like emotional intelligence, adaptability, and conflict resolution sets the stage for intentional development.

Experiencias pasadas, ejemplos, e incluso cuestiones de nuestra vida personal nos sirven para identificar nuestros puntos altos. Es clave que determinemos cuáles son nuestras fortalezas para poder destacarlas y generar un impacto positivo en el ambiente de trabajo.

Actively seek opportunities for skill enhancement. Engage in team projects, volunteer for leadership roles, or participate in workshops. Early in my career, I volunteered to lead cross-functional teams, a move that significantly honed my leadership and communication skills. Embrace challenges as chances to refine your soft skillset.

Mucha práctica, mucho feedback. Es clave constantemente pedir retroalimentación y estar abierto a recibirlo. Como profesionales de learning, gran parte de nuestra tarea es generar espacios de retroalimentación en las organizaciones para así entender dónde están esos gaps de aprendizaje y poder implementar soluciones que los cubran.

Integrate soft skills into your professional narrative. Craft your resume and cover letter with anecdotes that exemplify your collaboration, adaptability, or problem-solving abilities. During interviews, articulate how your soft skills have contributed to project success. I've found that storytelling resonates deeply, allowing interviewers to connect with your journey.

Establish clear benchmarks for your soft skills. Seek feedback from peers, supervisors, or mentors. Utilize 360-degree assessments to gather comprehensive insights. In my career, I've employed regular feedback sessions to gauge my progress in areas like leadership and communication, enabling targeted improvement.

As soft skills s?o um processo contínuo, em constante aprendizado e fortalecimento. Assim, a prática da comunica??o eficaz é importante, tal como a empatia ao compreender as perspectivas dos outros, e o fortalecimento da colabora??o através do trabalho em equipe. Além disso, é importante desenvolver resiliência para lidar com desafios, fortalecer habilidades de resolu??o de problemas, e buscar feedback regularmente para crescimento.