How to develop Soft Skills by taking a study trip?
A good professional is not one who only has great technical knowledge in the area in which they operate. He must also possess behavioural skills that improve his performance in day-to-day work. Developing soft skills is essential to excel in the market and become a good professional and leader.
In this article, we will explain what soft skills are and show how they can be improved through a study trip. Enjoy your reading!
What are Soft Skills?
Soft skills are non-technical skills that a professional needs to develop to perform a good job.
For example, a manager may master the entire theory of business administration and have difficulty delegating tasks to employees. In this way, the work of the team he leads can be disorganized, which generates unexpected delays and errors.
A?study published by the Wall Street Journal, with nearly 900 executives, found that 92% think that soft skills are more or equally important compared to hard skills, but 89% point out that they have difficulty finding people with the necessary qualities.
Examples of Important Soft Skills
According to Forbes magazine, some of the most requested soft skills are:
Communication
Good verbal and written communication is one of the most important skills that a professional must develop to do a good job. In times of digitalization, knowing whether to communicate virtually is essential, especially for leaders and managers.
Having the ability to make oneself clear, speak objectively and know how to interpret what the other says are characteristics that demonstrate this ability.
“Speaking the language” of the company and the team and knowing how to conduct communication democratically ensures everyone understands and facilitates exchanges.
Intercultural Awareness
With customers, suppliers and business partners in different countries, it is increasingly important for professionals to know how to deal with cultures, ethnicities and religions from other parts of the world. More than just “respecting” differences, best management practices point to diversity as an important asset for an organization’s success. Thus, a manager with great skills and intercultural experiences can lead projects more competently, which imparts great things in their career.
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Work Ethics and Engagement
Punctuality, focus, and time management. All these characteristics are linked to work ethic. Knowing how to behave in the face of adverse situations and conflicts and dedicating yourself to doing the best are attitudes that demonstrate this very important behavioural skill.
Once again, citing the growing reality of remote and hybrid work, organizing and managing your schedule, being available at the stipulated times, paying attention to deliveries and being punctual are important postures for the results to be satisfactory.
Teamwork
A company does not work with only one person and knowing how to work with other professionals is essential to achieving good results.
Understanding what your role and responsabilites are and how each one of them influences the work of your colleagues, being mindful of deadlines and quality in the deliveries so as not to harm the team, knowing how to communicate politely and objectively, having empathy and respecting the diversity of people and ideas are the key to perform the job in a complete and satisfactory way.
Crisis Management
Creative, agile, calm and responsible thinking is what differentiates a professional in times of crisis. Knowing how to predict and devise strategies to deal with eventual crises and having peace of mind and creativity to solve unexpected problems are essential for companies.
Knowing how to deal with problems is a feature that draws attention and highlights professionals in the market. Prepared professionals and companies remain more stable.
In addition to these, other important soft skills for professionals to stand out in the corporate environment are:
How can a study trip abroad help me develop Soft Skills?
A trip abroad is accompanied by many experiences, starting with financial planning before the trip, the organization of documentation and time management to solve pre-departure issues. When you arrive at your destination you will have to adapt to the time zone, the food, and the new routine. While at the university, you will be communicating with people of different cultures and languages, doing teamwork and individual and group presentations.
Living this experience by making the most of it can help you develop many skills, which will be fundamental in your personal and professional life.
If you want to invest in your career and study abroad on a scholarship, you can join students from over 70 countries, who annually participate in IBS Americas’ short-term programs.
Among our programs, learn about the?International Management & Leadership?course. Offered in Europe in cooperation with the CUOA Business School, it represents a unique opportunity to gather theoretical knowledge and practical experiences in living with people from other countries, cultures, religions and ethnicities.?Click here?to learn more about the more than 25 options for short courses offered at?partner universities?in the United States and Europe. Join our selection process and earn an international certificate!