UNLOCKING POTENTIAL: Soft Skills and Supported Learning

Talent comes in a variety of forms.

While specialized education sets future employees up for success, recognizing transferable soft skills is also a bonus for companies and institutions—while looking for individuals with certain degrees, experience and know-how is fundamental, identifying specific character traits that demonstrate adaptability, teachability, and a willingness to grow will benefit work forces in the long term.

At Boise State University, Composition Professor Christy Claymore Vance emphasizes that knowing your audience is important, and knowing the genre you are writing within is equally important— essential techniques that ancients like Aristotle taught.

“I have my freshmen study the concept of ‘transfer’ and I have them write about their passions, telling their audience how a skill they love and participate in cultivates a transferable skill: snowboarding teaches perseverance; fishing teaches patience; the passions we follow give us strengths we can integrate into other contexts,” she said.

This learning translates into the periphery of professional situations. As the Harvard Business Review noted in a study by Frank Breitling, Julia Dhar, Ruth Ebeling, and Deborah Lovich, “[Businesses need to] prove to employees that there’s more to your organization than the bottom line. And don’t just talk purpose; use it to shape what you do and how you do it.” Purpose helps shape employees, and, furthermore so does, “loosen[ing] up on ‘qualifications.’ Consider hiring candidates who don’t quite fit your profile; if they have 75% of what you’re looking for, grab them.” Soft skills can be enhanced, but they usually come inherently in unsuspecting packaging.

Idaho LAUNCH, a new grant that gives graduating seniors up to $8,000 in tuition and fees for post-secondary education and training, offers an improved range of options for students. Students must select training associated with an “in-demand career,” which is defined as any occupation with 50 or more job openings in a given year in Idaho. This financial support hopes to improve the rates at which graduating high school students continue education, addressing Idaho’s skilled labor shortage.

Various local companies are on the lookout for such talent, not only when hiring, but also when educating. Delta Air Lines’ (Propel Pilot Career Path Program) guides students through various steps before they become a Delta Air Lines pilot, the first step being, “To participate in the Delta Propel program, you must be a current Delta employee in good standing and hold a private pilot certificate.” Each step provides students with experience, and eventually, expertise.

Northwest Lineman College emphasizes to potential students that “The electrical power and communications systems are vital components of the nation’s critical infrastructure and serve as an essential foundation for the American way of life.” Not only is know-how important, but character that perseveres through potential emergencies is critical to the well-being of citizens.

At Western States Equipment, individuals can select from two programs designed around their experience, including Western States Tech Academy and ThinkBIG. Both programs provide education and hands-on experience for students who wish to become a Caterpillar-trained technician but need some training. Students can apply for one or both programs, which provide them with the skills necessary for the job.

Business-wise, there are plenty of local opportunities to continue professional development. The Boise Metro Chamber offers a Business Education Series that provides small businesses “and beyond,” professional “education and networking opportunities that feature a speaker, panel, or program about a small business management challenge or emerging topic.” Or, check out the Chamber’s Boise Young Professionals (BYP) luncheon series and b|wise mentorship program. The Chamber also offers Leadership Boise, a prestigious program for business and civic leaders that addresses topics impacting folks living and working in Boise and aims to provide leaders with a variety of perspectives.

Growth and malleability are essential in fast-paced and ever-changing work environments, and championing workers who are willing to continue learning and adapting is key to professional environments. We are lucky to live in a community where these traits are valued. Learning goes well beyond the walls of the classroom.