Why Are ‘soft Skills’ Crucial In The Business World?
A few decades ago, simply possessing university degrees was enough to earn everyone’s respect and receive special treatment. Nowadays, for better and worse, being a qualified professional no longer means being above others, and this is not just because the number of people who have completed university studies is much higher than before.
Furthermore, it is a consequence of a new way of functioning in the labor market: degrees are fine and indicate a minimum of technical skills, but What makes the difference in companies are soft skills In this article we will see why this is due.
If something characterizes companies, it is the division of labor: the principle by which each member of the organization is assigned a series of specific responsibilities that he or she handles personally, with some independence from what others do.
This way of organizing, apparently so simple and easy to understand, is what allowed the appearance of the first civilizations, since it allows each person to develop knowledge and skills that fit the tasks they must accomplish, assuming that others work taking care of the rest. In fact, in Western cultures, each person’s technical skills can be demonstrated through degrees and diplomas, which put this reality on paper.
However, in recent decades, organizations have reached a new paradigm Since the most successful companies are those with the ability to adapt flexibly to changes in the environment, the value of each professional can no longer be measured only through titles. Beyond the skills that these documents reflect, there are other characteristics that are highly appreciated or even necessary in the context of organizations. These are what are known today as soft skills.
Soft skills are skills that are between the psychological and the technical, which means that they cannot be acquired simply by reading manuals and studying theory, and that at the same time they are focused on specific goals, so that they are not personality traits. Specifically, they include skills that have to do with communication and the management of emotions, two crucial aspects in the context of the company.
Since soft skills are a reality, The organizations that do best are those that do not deny the emotional and intuitive side of the human being, but they focus on it to create teams that work and perform well. Assuming that workers are like robots who simply perform the tasks listed on their resumes is a trap that organizational psychologists have been warning about for decades.
Examples of fundamental soft skills in the company
These are some soft skills that greatly influence the work dynamics of companies. Many of them overlap in certain aspects, but it is possible to differentiate them in many ways.
1. Presentation of ideas
This is the fundamental pillar of communication skills, and consists of knowing how to explain more or less complex ideas to others, minimizing the risk of misunderstandings arising. It is an especially useful skill in everything that has to do with the education and training of workers, but it is still very important in practically all social interactions in general.
2. Conflict management
This soft skill has to do with finding solutions to cases in which there is a clash of interests. In companies this is especially important, given that everything is based on coordination and collaboration, and we must avoid creating a bad work environment.
Persuasion involves the ability to capture the interest of others and awaken their motivation at the prospect of carrying out a certain task It is especially important in negotiations.
4. Creativity
Creativity is the ease of stop reasoning from conventional thinking frameworks and to arrive at original solutions adapted to a specific situation.
5. Goal orientation
This soft skill includes the ability to make operational decisions without being paralyzed by indecision, assuming that the simple act of choosing involves taking risks but ensuring that these are worth it taking into account the goal to be reached.
Leadership is the union of all of them
Good leaders are those who are capable of mastering most of the relevant soft skills in the organizational context, since all of them are very important in their work.
Leadership involves, among other things, inspire by example, get everyone committed to achieving a goal, and establish clear roles maintaining an adequate communication flow. If this piece of the equation fails, there is a risk that the only thing that keeps team members in their jobs is the fear of authority or the inertia of mechanically carrying out a certain job, without being interested in the result. global.
How to train in leadership?
If you are interested in enhancing your soft skills and reinforcing your leadership skills, you may be interested in training through the Leader Coach Online Executive Coaching Program of the European School of Coaching (EEC) This online training program is organized by one of the leading entities in coaching, and is designed especially for professionals who work in the management and supervision of teams: CEOs, managers, middle managers, Human Resources professionals, etc.
It consists of 46 hours, and includes a coaching process carried out in a personalized manner by one of the EEC experts, as well as constant technical support and theoretical-practical learning sessions through live classes and materials available on the intranet. You can find more information about this course on the European Coaching School website.
