10 Soft Skills You Need
Module One: Getting Started Soft skills are those skills which allow us to effectively work with others. No matter what your position, organization, or industry, you work with people! Taking the time to build effective soft skills can contribute to a more efficient, and more productive workplace.
Skill to do comes of doing. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Workshop Objectives
Discuss how soft skills are important
Use soft skills to relate more effectively
Apply soft skills to specific situations
Module Two: What are Soft Skills? What are soft skills, anyway? Simply put, soft skills are the personal attributes that allows us to effectively relate to others. These skills enhance our personal interactions and lead to greater job performance and satisfaction.
I think we all have empathy. We may not have the courage to display it. Maya Angelou
Definition of Soft Skills Communication
Empathy
Networking
Confidence
Empathy and the Emotional Intelligence Quotient Self-awareness Social awareness Relationship management
Professionalism Always reporting to work on time Speaking clearly and politely to colleagues, customers, and clients Striving to meet high standards
Learned vs. Inborn Traits
They can be learned Practice Seek opportunities
Case Study Dee was just not a “people person.� She preferred to keep her interactions as brief as possible Angela encouraged Dee to try changing her approach to coworkers She realized that cultivating better relationships was a way to prevent crises
Module Two: Review Questions 1.Which of the following are true of soft skills? a)They are aspects of a person’s personality b)They are actions as well as characteristics c)They can promote better workplace efficiency d)All of these 2.The technical and knowledge skills we bring to our jobs are known as which of the following? a)Soft skills b)Hard skills c) EI d)None of these
Module Two: Review Questions 3.The ability to identify with another’s feelings is known as which of the following? a)Empathy b)Sympathy c) Projection d)Role playing 4.Which of the following are components of emotional intelligence? a)Self-Awareness b)Self-Management c) All of these d)Relationship management
Module Two: Review Questions 5.The ability to recognize our feelings and express them appropriately is known as which of the following? a)Psychological intelligence b)Emotional intelligence c) Emotional regulation d)Emotion management 6.Professionalism does NOT require which of the following? a)Acting with integrity b)Seeking to always be productive c) Communicating clearly with others d)Maintaining a wide emotional distance from colleagues
Module Two: Review Questions 7.Which of the following is NOT true of soft skills? a)They are inborn b)They can enhance productivity c) They can enhance work satisfaction d)All of these 8.Which of the following is the best way to develop soft skills? a)Research them b)Watch other people apply them c) None of these d)Practice
Module Two: Review Questions 9.What best describes Dee? a)A Loner b)Relaxed c) Personable d)Imaginative 10.What did demonstrating empathy help increase? a)Productivity b)Understanding c) All of these d)Communication
Module Two: Review Questions 1.Which of the following are true of soft skills? a)They are aspects of a person’s personality b)They are actions as well as characteristics c)They can promote better workplace efficiency d)All of these Soft skills are aspects of a person’s personality that impact how he or she interacts with others. They are learned, and encompass both characteristics and actions. 2.The technical and knowledge skills we bring to our jobs are known as which of the following? a)Soft skills b)Hard skills c) EI d)None of these The technical and knowledge skills we bring to our work are known as hard skills. These are only one component of workplace success. Soft skills are also important.
Module Two: Review Questions 3.The ability to identify with another’s feelings is known as which of the following? a)Empathy b)Sympathy c) Projection d)Role playing Empathy is the ability to identify with another’s feelings. Demonstrating empathy is a key soft skill. 4.Which of the following are components of emotional intelligence? a)Self-Awareness b)Self-Management c) All of these d)Relationship management There are four domains of emotional intelligence (EI). These are self-awareness, selfmanagement, social awareness, and relationship management.
Module Two: Review Questions 5.The ability to recognize our feelings and express them appropriately is known as which of the following? a)Psychological intelligence b)Emotional intelligence c) Emotional regulation d)Emotion management Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize our emotions and express them appropriately. Emotional intelligence is key to developing strong soft skills. 6.Professionalism does NOT require which of the following? a)Acting with integrity b)Seeking to always be productive c) Communicating clearly with others d)Maintaining a wide emotional distance from colleagues Professionalism requires that a person always act with integrity, accountability, and responsibility. He or she should always seek to communicate clearly and be productive. Wide emotional distance is not required, and can even undermine professionalism.
Module Two: Review Questions 7.Which of the following is NOT true of soft skills? a)They are inborn b)They can enhance productivity c) They can enhance work satisfaction d)All of these Soft skills are not inborn – they can be learned. Some skills come easier than others based on our experiences and personal preferences, but none of them are hardwired into us! 8.Which of the following is the best way to develop soft skills? a)Research them b)Watch other people apply them c) None of these d)Practice Because soft skills can be learned, the best way to develop them is to practice! Professional development courses and mentoring can help you identify opportunities for practice.
Module Two: Review Questions 9. What best describes Dee? a)A Loner b)Relaxed c) Personable d)Imaginative Dee is a loner. She found people to be more of an annoyance than anything else. 10.What did demonstrating empathy help increase? a)Productivity b)Understanding c) All of these d)Communication Dee realized that not demonstrating empathy had created barriers to productivity. When she started to work on these skills, productivity, understanding, and communication were all enhanced.
Module Three: Communication Communication is the most important soft skill, because all other soft skills are built on the ability to communicate clearly and professionally. Communication is more than just sending a message – it is also the ability to receive messages, listen actively, and “hear” what isn’t being said.
The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said. Peter Drucker
Ways We Communicate
Verbal communication Body language Nonverbal communication
Improving Nonverbal Communication
70% nonverbal communication Pay attention to how you use your body Take time to notice your reaction to others
Listening
Receiving verbal and nonverbal messages Active listening Focused on the speaker
Openness and Honesty
Build relationship s
Transparent
People can sense dishonesty
Case Study Austin liked to get right to the point This meant sometimes he missed important details
Austin’s manager suggested he take a one-day communication course
Austin realized how off-putting his habits were
Module Three: Review Questions 1.Communication with written or spoken words is known as which of the following? a)Verbal b)Nonverbal c)Oral d)None of the above 2.Humans communicate in which of the following ways? a)With words b)Through body language c) All of these d)Through art
Module Three: Review Questions 3.Approximately how much of our communication is nonverbal? a)10% b)70% c) 50% d)90% 4.Which of the following communicates that a person is listening? a)Leaning away from the speaker b)Crossing arms across the chest c) Looking away from the speaker d)Leaning forward towards the speaker
Module Three: Review Questions 5. Rephrasing and repeating back to a speaker what you understand her to have said is known as which of the following? a)Projection b)Reflection c) Feedback d)None of these 6. A listening technique in which the listener stays focused on the present and reflects back what the speaker has said is known as which of the following? a)Reactive listening b)Engaged listening c) Rapport listening d)Active listening
Module Three: Review Questions 7. Which of the following is true of open and honest communication? a)All of these b)It creates trust c) It helps to enhance productivity d)It enhances workplace relationships 8. Which of the following is NOT true of open and honest communication a)It builds trust b)It allows you to choose how much personal information you disclose c) It requires you to disclose all your personal details d)All of the above
Module Three: Review Questions 9.What did Austin’s nonverbal communication convey? a)He was not listening b)All of these c) He was impatient d)He found others annoying 10.Who suggested that Austin improve his communication? a)Coworker b)Spouse c) Friend d)Manager
Module Three: Review Questions 1.Communication with written or spoken words is known as which of the following? a)Verbal b)Nonverbal c)Oral d)None of the above Verbal communication is communication through words. It is one of many different ways humans communicate. 2.Humans communicate in which of the following ways? a)With words b)Through body language c) All of these d)Through art Humans communicate in many ways. Becoming aware of different communication styles is key to building strong soft skills.
Module Three: Review Questions 3. Approximately how much of our communication is nonverbal? a)10% b)70% c) 50% d)90% Studies show that up to 70% of our communication is nonverbal. Cultivating good nonverbal communication is key to building overall communication skill. 4. Which of the following communicates that a person is listening? a)Leaning away from the speaker b)Crossing arms across the chest c) Looking away from the speaker d)Leaning forward towards the speaker Leaning forward is one way to communicate that you are listening. An open stance and frequent eye contact also communicate this.
Module Three: Review Questions 5. Rephrasing and repeating back to a speaker what you understand her to have said is known as which of the following? a)Projection b)Reflection c) Feedback d)None of these Reflection is a key part of active listening. It is the careful rephrasing of what a person has said, which is then repeated back to check for understanding. 6. A listening technique in which the listener stays focused on the present and reflects back what the speaker has said is known as which of the following? a)Reactive listening b)Engaged listening c) Rapport listening d)Active listening Active listening is a technique in which the listener stays focused on the present and reflects back what he or she has heard. This helps to build rapport and ensure that you are listening to understand rather than respond.
Module Three: Review Questions 7.Which of the following is true of open and honest communication? a)All of these b)It creates trust c) It helps to enhance productivity d)It enhances workplace relationships Open and honest communication helps to create trust and rapport. This enhances both workplace relationships and overall productivity. 8.Which of the following is NOT true of open and honest communication a)It builds trust b)It allows you to choose how much personal information you disclose c) It requires you to disclose all your personal details d)All of the above Open and honest communication does not require that each person disclose all details of their personal life. It does require that all information that is needed by colleagues or coworkers is disclosed.
Module Three: Review Questions 9.What did Austin’s nonverbal communication convey? a)He was not listening b)All of these c) He was impatient d)He found others annoying Austin’s nonverbal communication conveyed that others were a bother. He came across as impatient and as not listening to others. 10.Who suggested that Austin improve his communication? a)Coworker b)Spouse c) Friend d)Manager Austin’s manager suggested that he improve his communication. He recommended a communication course.