Empower 45: Learning Soft Skills early Learning to be Employable anytime

What kind of learning leads to employability?

Traditionally, a businessman is able to impart the skills of selling at a very early age to the children of the family. So can a carpenter, a mechanic or many other similar other skill. We often speak about a Chinese dentist with a family tradition or a Chinese shoemaker and so on.

What makes this possible unless someone wants to leave the tradition?

There are two key elements to the process of learning which lead to greater employability

1.??? Going through the motions from an early age.

2.??? Adopting ways to self-learn and the 4CP (Curiosity, Creativity, Confidence, Communication and Positive)

Both the above start at an early age. Starting at an early age has many advantages.

a.??? There is less inhibition to learn and fail

b.??? There is the ability to absorb reprimanding for mistakes

c.??? The mind and hands are supple

d.??? Some nuances are picked up faster

Making oneself employable has two elements:

1.??? Learning a universal set of skills

2.??? Learning specific skills in demand during the time in question

A universal set of skills may include:

a.??? Ability to search for facts, information, answers

b.??? Ability to adopt new technology and adapt to the changes as they occur

c.??? Ability to express oneself –verbally, written, pictorially

?

In order to immerse in a universal set of skills one must/must be

1.??? Observant

2.??? Ask questions

3.??? Analyze a situation

4.??? Imagine

5.??? Take responsibility

6.??? Organize oneself

Specific set of skills may relate to technology, handicraft, craft, display art, performing arts, culinary, gardening and so on.

The universal set of skills can be started early as is done in many schooling practices in Scandinavian and other countries. It is selectively practiced in schools in India and not so pronounced too.

Being observant is key to absorb the surroundings and being aware of things around. If followed by enquiry, it leads to discovery.

If one observes a tree closely, one can be curious about it in various ways. Starting from what tree to questions on the growth and parts of the tree and the relation to the other parts of nature. The keenness to observe develops over a period of time. One registers several small details otherwise easily missed. The details remain etched and could be of assistance in other activities, like noticing an electric repair shop and recalling when needed.

Asking questions have been emphasized in detail in previous articles. Let us revisit it briefly here.

What is the name of the tree? How do the leaves become green? How do they grow? What are the parts of the tree called? What happens inside the tree? How long does a tree survive? How do the leaves know their size? And so on..

Asking questions makes one search for answers. One answer leads to another question and then a wholesome picture. Questions and answers supplement the stock of content. More content gives a wider perspective. A wider range of options for future employment opens up.

As content builds up, the level of confidence goes up too.

Asking questions within a given context and outside the context is a process of analysis. Let us see this with an example. Suppose there is a statement, ‘the? little was crying’.

The within context question? will be . what was the girl doing?? Was the girl big or little? How was the girl?

The out of context questions will be; ‘ why was she crying? What was she wearing? How was she crying? Where was she?

Now this is possible if one attempts to analyze.

Suppose one tries to answer the out of context questions. It will require imagination. A description of the girl and the reason for her crying will be part of imagination.

A gradual process of the above activities will also make an individual responsible for oneself. Being responsible is self-growth. As part of self-growth, is dong things in an organized way. It can be as simple as organizing one’s documents.. Organizing one’s study table or room or routine will increase effectiveness and efficiency.

All the above put together carry intense ?employability characteristics across a wide spectrum of employment. . Over time it reflects in whatever one does. These are universal and required always.

Dr. Srk

CEO ‘VCANINSPIRE’

?