Soft?skills: what are they and how can you better yours?

Soft skills used to be in the background, but not anymore. Work as we know it is changing. And soft skills are being brought to people’s attention more than before.?

But first, what are soft skills??

Soft skills can be personality traits, behaviors, and interpersonal skills. These skills allow us to work effectively with others and thrive in our work environment, so employers need employees to have these skills.?

Soft skills are human, making them more valuable.?

The most important soft skills are creativity, communication, emotional intelligence (EQ), critical thinking, and work ethic.

Let’s take a deeper dive into each of these skills.?

Creativity:?Creativity doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be an artist. It’s about learning to find innovative solutions to solve problems for your organization. You can improve your creativity by keeping an open mind and using mind maps or role-playing techniques.?

Communication:?Successful communication is found through verbal, non-verbal, written, and active listening skills. Being a good communicator means being polite, clear, and empathetic. Use simple measures such as checking your body language to improve this skill.??

Emotional Intelligence (EQ):?Emotional Intelligence is when you can effectively understand and control your emotions while recognizing the feelings of others. To better your EQ, you can be self-aware of when your feelings control you.?

Critical Thinking:?Critical thinking is when you can reason and comprehend information effectively. In the workplace, you analyze data to find value and solutions logically. To improve this skill, thoroughly consider information and don’t take anything at face value.?

Work Ethic:?Having a good work ethic means being dedicated to your work and finding some sense of pleasure through it. You can better your work ethic by practicing punctuality and creating balance in your life.