Importance of Soft Skills !!

I must “Thank you” all for going through my first blog and coming up with specific asks and your queries. I will be honest here, the number of responses, did give me a surprise, a pleasant one though.

Thanks for accepting me as a Blogger!! ??

You guys have reached out to me via messages asking me about the need and importance of Soft Skill Learning for being a successful SAP Consultant.?

Here, let me share a secret:

• Soft Skill Learning is not just essential for an SAP Consultant, it is very important for everyone irrespective of the job he/she is working on. Be it SAP or any other Industry you are employed in, Soft Skill enhancement is a must.?

I have listed below, based on my experience as responsible for Learning and Development at SAP IBSO, some soft skill trainings I consider most important for SAP Consultants:

• Communication Skills:?

Effective communication is the one most crucial element that goes a long way in delivering successful projects / deliverables. How we convey complex / critical information (technical or otherwise) to stakeholders makes all the difference. One characteristic that one must always remember is that Factual information, when communicated at the right time, supported with data points, goes a long way in building confidence and trust between the involved parties / persons.?

Communication Skill is a vast topic that encompasses different and varied areas such as Active Listening, Presentation Skills, and Written Communication.?

• Interpersonal Skills:?

SAP Consultants invariably work closely with different teams both internal and those of their?

clients. A focus on enhancing interpersonal skills like “team-work”, “conflict resolution”, and “building relationship” does helps in successful collaborations.?

Another very interpersonal skill, generally overlooked by organizations and the managers alike is “training on empathy.”?

Empathy enables us to understand the perspective, the logic behind the requirements of our clients and team members. It is only when we try to put ourself in the shoes of others, and strive to think from their perspective, we develop a better understanding of their business requirements, pain points, challenges and asks. Understanding this is generally crucial for delivering right solutions for our clients and working cohesively with our team members.

• Problem-Solving and Analytical Skills:?

A session or two, with a focus to develop problem-solving techniques, critical thinking, and analytical skills in the team is very essential. This helps in finding faster solution to complex issues that do arise during any SAP implementation or even while troubleshooting.

• Time Management and Prioritization:

All SAP projects typically involve multiple tasks, deliverables, and deadlines. A training with focus on “Time management”, and “Prioritization” helps the Consultants to effectively manage their workload besides meeting the project milestones.

• Business & Industry Knowledge:?

Last but not the least, an understanding of the business whose implementation you are involved with is equally essential. A session on business and industry knowledge prior to project kick-off surely helps. With business knowledge under the belt, the consultant can align his technical solutions with business goals of the Client Organization.?

• To Conclude....:?

One point to always remember here is that while soft skills are valuable, technical expertise in SAP is equally essential. One without the other, will never take you far.

A mix of strong technical knowledge with excellent soft skills will help you in becoming a successful SAP Consultant.

Like last time, do send in your comments and valuable inputs. They help me improve and focus on topics you are interested in.?

Till my next blog, which I am planning to do on Cloud Learning, it is “bye” from me.?

#Softskills #SkillTransformation #Learningjourney