Soft Skills For The Win

There is no doubt you have the grit and the expertise. Your business would not be where it is now if you didn’t, even if you learnt some of it along the way in the end, you make things happen! However, people are leaving, even good people. People down the line knew why but you don’t or you are turning a blind eye. Does that sound familiar?

While an executive is expected to direct and drive the company to soaring heights, he or she cannot achieve this without a team. You can have the best plans, but you still need a team to execute them. Two scenarios, you can have a performing but stressed-out team, or you can have a performing AND inspired team!

Soft skills. That is what will drive your team AND make them stay. You have, beyond the shadow of a doubt, the hard skills. But are you brave enough to face the hard fact that you lack some soft skills? Some people naturally have them. But do you?

Are you still there? Are you still reading this? Because here is the good news. Soft skills can be developed with mentoring and coaching. Critical soft skills are important from the top down. These skills are critical not just for the company executives but for each member of the team. Soft skills, as they are developed in your team, become part of your culture. These days, you will see companies take pride in their core values. Fine. But does each one of your team reflect each core value? Core values can just be big words if you create them randomly. Your team should understand each value and reflect them in the way they deal with people, at all times, without respect for the person. And it starts with you!

So, what are some of the critical soft skills you and your team need?

1. Integrity

If you have to choose between integrity and authenticity, choose integrity. Integrity is always doing the right thing even when nobody is around. Authenticity just means you are being true to yourself.

2. Communication

Listen to understand not to respond.

3. Dependability

Can people rely on your word to do what you said you will do?

4. Flexibility

Things rapidly change these days. Can you quickly shift gears to keep up?

5. Teamwork

Can you collaborate and adapt well with other people regardless of race, color, or creed?

6. Leadership

Are you able to deal with other people that you motivate, encourage and command respect in the process?

7. Decisiveness

Can you make effective decisions quickly?

8. Conflict resolution

Conflicts are inevitable because people can be passionate about their work. Are you able to deal with them in a respectful way?

This is a shortlist of soft skills and then some. Which of these soft skills do you or your team need? Learn them together. It does not matter whether you have a small team or a conglomerate, when your team develops soft skills together, you will live and breathe your core values. You will not lose your customers nor any of your team to the competition.

And the best thing, you do not have to do it alone. Coaching and mentoring will help you grow with your team. And when your team starts to grow together, you will not have any reason to be alone at the top.

In the end, it all starts with you…. The business owner and the choice is yours!