Breaking Down In-Demand Soft Skills in Today's Industries

We all know that technical expertise alone is not sufficient to thrive at work, no matter the industry soft skills are a key contributor to success. These skills encompass a wide range of attributes that reflects a persons work ethic and how they work with others. In this blog post, we will delve into four in-demand soft skills: adaptability, collaboration, creativity and emotional intelligence. We will break down each skill and provide examples of their application in different industries.

Adaptability

Adaptability is the ability to adjust and thrive in changing circumstances, whether it be technological advancements, market fluctuations, or shifting priorities. Individuals with adaptability skills have the following characteristics:

1. Critical thinking. To develop an appropriate adaptability strategy you need to critically analyse a situation, potential outcomes, available resources- amongst many things- before making a decision.
2. Resilience. When facing a challenging period it can be hard to stay encouraged. Resilience provides strength to bounce back from adversity.
3. Growth mindset. An open-minded person with a desire to continuously learn will find it easier to be adaptable because they're open to new solutions and growing from the experiences.

Collaboration

Collaboration encompasses all factors that impact how a person works with others. A good collaborator knows how to adapt their approach when working with different stakeholders, build relationships, resolve conflicts and is empathetic. As a result the person fosters innovation and a pleasant work environment.

Why are collaboration skills important?

1. Helps solve problems at work. You know the saying 'two heads are better than one'? Well that applies to collaboration. The solutions that come from discussions between people who have different perspectives tend to be much better than ideas one individual creates. In addition, a person that respects other perspectives is able to resolve conflicts in a healthy way.
2. Learn from one another. Everyone has had unique experiences which shaped their perspectives on life. When co-workers open-mindedly listen to other perspectives, they will better understand other points of view and learn from them. This will impact their work overall.

Creativity

Creativity involves approaching a task in a different way than the norm, whether it is it generating unique ideas or finding a innovative solution to a problem, creativity is a highly demanded skill that applies to several industries. A key part of creativity is overcoming fear of taking risks and experimenting with various ideas. This method of working is commonly used in the creative industries but is also a useful tool for most industries. The creative skill is largely connected to:

1. Analytical skills. The first stage of the creative process includes understanding the core of your problem, your audience and generally the space your solution will be in, so that you can make informed ideas.
2. Brainstorming. Think of several ideas that target your problem. Try to think as outside the box as you can and when you're choosing your idea apply realistic constraints. This method of ideation is great because you might find something unique in the unrealistic ideas.
3. Collaboration. Like we mentioned before, collaboration helps people understand others' points of view. By placing yourself in other peoples' shoes it encourages us to think outside our comfortable box and therefore opens doors to developing unique solutions.

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence refers to the capacity to understand and manage one's emotions and being aware of how that affects those around us. It also means empathising with others' circumstances.

Daniel Goleman, author of the internationally best-selling book, Emotional Intelligence created a framework of the five elements that define emotional intelligence:

1. Self-Awareness. Emotionally intelligent people are aware of their emotions, strengths and weaknesses. By understanding themselves, these people are able to carefully manage their weaknesses and work on them so they can perform better.
2. Self-Regulation. It means being able to control your emotions and impulses. One can feel emotions like anger and fear but disregard them and do what they know is right regardless of their emotions.
3. Motivation. People who have emotional intelligence are usually motivated. They're motivated by inner factors, like fulfilling their goals, not just external circumstances. They tend to be action-oriented, are constantly looking for ways to improve and are good at taking initiative.
4. Empathy. Being empathic not only means recognising others' emotions, but also how you respond to their emotions. This guides your interaction's with people and helps build good relationships in the workplace.
5. Social Skills. Being social gives you the opportunity to put your understanding of your and others emotions into action!

What do the skills look like in action?

Let's see how the skills discussed so far are practically applied in different industries.

Adaptability

In the technology industry advancements occur at a rapid pace so adaptability is crucial. Software developers who can transition between programming languages and emerging technologies stay relevant in the ever-evolving landscape. Similarly, sales professionals who can adapt their strategies to new market trends and customer preferences have a competitive edge.

Collaboration

In the healthcare industry multidisciplinary teams are essential for providing comprehensive patient care. Nurses, doctors, technicians, and administrative staff must collaborate to ensure a patient's well-being. Effective collaboration in this context minimises errors and improves overall patient outcomes.

Creativity

Chefs and food professionals use their creativity to craft unique recipes, experiment with flavours and presentation. From fine dining establishments to food product development, creativity is important for creating memorable dining experiences and pushing the boundaries of culinary innovation.

Emotional Intelligence

In the hospitality industry customer satisfaction is central so emotional intelligence is invaluable. Hotel managers who can empathise with frustrated guests, front desk staff who can remain calm under pressure, and restaurant servers who can build rapport with diners all rely on emotional intelligence to deliver great service experiences.

We've explored how soft skills are crucial in every job. But unfortunately recruiters rarely get to see the soft skills you bring to the table when you first apply, so candidates can get rejected before they present ALL the reasons why they're perfect for the role. That's exactly why we created Seesy. We saw the problem, how it negatively impacts candidates and employers and we're changing it. We give candidates the chance to present all the reasons why they are suited for the position with a 90-second video that highlights their soft and hard skills. So ultimately we want to help candidates and employers save time and find their perfect match.