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Critical soft skills to have in the workplace
For years, companies ignored soft skills training by thinking hard skills are the backbone of productivity. However, a study reveals that soft skills training boosted ROI dramatically by 250% in eight months. This advantage, among many, is one of the reasons why soft skills training is significant and on the rise.
There are many soft skills to develop in employee training. However, some are used more in employee training than the rest. Here are seven necessary soft skills that are beneficial for employees.
1. Communication
Communication is an irreplaceable tool for everything we do. Our success in work and life can be increased greatly by utilizing effective communication skills - this includes active listening, attempting to understand one another’s perspectives, and responding with respect and empathy.
Neglecting these fundamentals leads to miscommunications that erode employee engagement, productivity levels, as well as the overall success of the company.
2. Time management
Time is a precious commodity in the business world- it's one of those currencies that you can never reclaim once spent. Being savvy about how we use our time at work allows us to increase productivity, satisfy goals and objectives quickly, and even have some extra leisurely moments for ourselves.
Planning ahead leads to improved results; leverage this strategy so we are able to enjoy success both professionally as well as personally.
3. Teamwork
Workplaces, whether remote, in the office, or hybrid, are like small communes. Just like how nations live together in countries, employees must know how to live and work more peacefully and productively as a group. This skill encourages employees to enjoy working on their projects, get feedback, support each other, and learn from one another.
Teaching and making employees practice their teamwork skills can be fun and engaging when planned online. By choosing the right platform, employees can practice teamwork skills with simple tools. Trainers can arrange breakout rooms to assign tasks for each group. Thus, training sessions become a practice ground for learning, practicing, and testing the skill.
4. Emotional intelligence
Intelligence in a field is vital. How about Emotional Intelligence (EQ)? Working doesn't mean just completing your tasks and walking away from the office when the time is up. It also requires:
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Empathy,
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Understanding the feelings of others,
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Reacting wisely,
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And controlling your emotions at work.
Learning this makes communication easier and more respectful for everyone.
5. Adaptation
Adaptability is a necessary soft skill to have not only in the workplace but also in life. The work environment changes rapidly, and employees face many hardships when it comes to completing their projects, communicating with their coworkers, and dealing with customers. Thus, it is a significant advantage to know how to work under different conditions at work.
Adaptation becomes even more significant out of the office. When employees work remotely or hybrid, it can be difficult to be a part of a company or a project and work efficiently. Thus, a well-prepared soft skills training program will help prevent confusion and chaos in advance.
Employees who develop their adaptation skills adapt more quickly to changes that may occur later.
6. Leadership
Leadership training is significant both for managers and the rest of the employees. Employees should have developed planning, managing, and guiding skills regardless of their position. As a result, they will be prepared to the initiative, and take on the roles and responsibilities of leadership during a complex or straightforward task.
7. Problem-solving
There are many issues that can arise at the workplace. This issue may come from employees, managers, customers, or the project itself. However, employees should be able to solve these problems for a better working experience. When faced with a difficulty, employees should observe and analyze the issue calmly and find a practical solution to solve the issue.
What are the benefits of improving soft skills?
Soft skills training and its outcomes are not always easily observable compared to hard skills training. However, the advantages of well-planned training become visible in the long run. Here are some benefits of soft skills training that companies should not overlook.
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Employee engagement: In a place where people communicate respectfully, collaborate in harmony and support each other, employees will get a sense of belonging. They will enjoy working in that company and build their career there. That way, they will not try to find other job opportunities while working since work will not feel like a burden anymore.
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Higher productivity: When employees know how to control time, plan tasks well, and work as a team, working gets smoother for everyone. As a result, employees enjoy what they do, never rush, and create strong bonds with others. Thus, the success rate and the well-being of employees increase.
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Increasing profit: Happy and successful employees open the doors of success in every company. Successful work results from happy, hardworking, and talented employees working together. Naturally, this helps both employees and the company earn more.
Is it possible to use e-learning for soft skills training?
Anything is possible with the internet and a handy platform. As mentioned, soft skills are far from being technical and this makes them even more suitable for e-learning. Choosing a virtual classroom platform will save companies money and improve employee and working conditions by avoiding costly soft skills training.
On a virtual classroom platform, trainers can easily use different tools to create easily comprehensible training. Additionally, using diverse and entertaining materials on a platform allowing smoothly flowing training sessions will be suitable for such social matters.
In the end, employees will have fun and benefit from newly learned skills during their careers.
To sum up
Soft skills training should be at the heart of employee training. Since soft skills improve the well-being of employees, the working atmosphere at work, productivity, and the profit of the company, companies should not underestimate the power of soft skills. By prioritizing soft skills training, companies can easily follow the path leading to growth.
By choosing a virtual classroom platform, suitable materials, and trainers, soft skills training will not be a big deal for companies and large enterprises.
Check out Perculus to find out more!
