9 Examples Of Soft Skills Employees Need On-The-Job

9 Examples Of Soft Skills Employees Need On-The-Job
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Summary: Soft skills are a hot commodity in the corporate world. But which talents should you cultivate in your top talent? In this article, I highlight 9 prime examples of soft skills employees need on-the-job.

Examples Of Soft Skills Online Training

So many skills and so little time. This means that employees must pick-and-choose which talents to hone and which to put on the back burner. Soft skills are the most essential set because they lay a foundation for all other abilities. Service staffers need strong, active listening and communication skills to identify customers' needs. On the other hand, sales employees require firm persuasion and negotiation skills to boost their per-ticket totals. However, there's a core group of talents that every member of the team must possess to achieve business success. These 9 examples of soft skills are worthy additions to your online training strategy.

eBook Release: Racing The Customer Service Clock: How To Develop Soft Skills Online Training That Achieves Rapid Results
eBook Release
Racing The Customer Service Clock: How To Develop Soft Skills Online Training That Achieves Rapid Results
Discover the benefits of developing soft skills online training and improve employee performance and productivity.

1. Communication

Active listening and being able to articulate thoughts are crucial in the workplace. Or anywhere, for that matter. Employees must have the capacity to summarize their thoughts and make the customer feel heard succinctly. Instead of talking over them or trying to guess what they want. Communication abilities also extend to team dynamics. Employees must be able to interact with co-workers and form productive business relationships.

2. Compassion

Staffers have to maintain a certain degree of professionalism. But that doesn't mean they should be devoid of compassion or empathy. Every member of the team must be respectful of others and their opinions. As well as dictate their work practices based on the golden rule, treat others as you'd like to be treated. This involves a high level of compassion, tact, and even sympathy when necessary. For example, a customer has had a bad day, and the employee goes the extra mile to listen and help them resolve the issue.

3. Adaptability

Things change daily. New policies, tasks, and rules go into effect. Thus, employees must be flexible. Be able to adapt to the situation and maintain their composure. Instead of falling apart at the first sign of change. They should also seize every opportunity to try out new procedures because they know it's part of professional growth. As well as help their peers through times of transition. For example, guide their co-workers through a new task so that they stay in compliance.

4. Teamwork

One of the top examples of soft skills employees need on the job is teamwork and collaboration. They must be able to play nice with others and know how to lead as well as follow. Teamwork applies to every aspect of business operations. From group projects to joint sales tasks that require a vast amount of expertise. A variety of other skills fall into this category. Including project management, active listening, relationship building, and decision making.

5. Creative Problem-Solving

Certain work-related challenges call for outside-the-box thinking. Employees need to evaluate every angle and determine the best approach. For example, a solution that is usually the gold standard may not work in extenuating circumstances. So, staffers have to use all their skills and resources to come up with another plan. A plan that still achieves the desired outcome and doesn't violate company protocols.

6. Time Management

Employees have to complete their work tasks in the time allotted. But time management also pertains to other aspects of their work responsibilities. For example, they need to help each customer to avoid long wait times and loss of business. As well as wrap up group projects before the deadline. It even extends into professional development and goal setting. Can staffers accomplish personal milestones in a timely manner?

7. Conflict Management

Conflicts are bound to happen. After all, you're putting together a team of professionals from different backgrounds with different ideas and opinions. But conflict management soft skills training can help them work together with minimal arguments. They're able to voice their concerns and share insights without making others feel singled out. They can also step in if peers get out of line to prevent full-on conflicts.

8. Positivity

Your employees have to stay positive in the workplace to maintain stress levels and provide better service. No one wants to work with someone who constantly points out the negatives. That's not to say that employees should feign optimism and pretend that their job is all sunshine and rainbows. There are downsides to every position. The trick to positivity is learning how to navigate the challenges with a favorable mindset. Instead of letting limiting beliefs hinder their potential. For example, they may have to hear 10 customer complaints every day. However, every phone call is a chance to resolve a customer's issue and turn them into loyal brand advocates.

9. Strong Work Ethic

Work ethic isn't about how many hours they're clocked-in. It's whether the employee is willing to go the extra mile to achieve success. Even if that success isn't directly related to their personal objectives. For example, will they work with a colleague to help them build vital skills and broaden their experience? Are they ready to take on extra responsibilities if it serves the greater good? Do they serve as an example to their team? It's difficult to impart a strong work ethic. However, employees are more motivated if they know the benefits involved and have the necessary support.

Soft skills are more challenging to cultivate because they require real-world practice. Staffers usually uncover hidden pain points at the most inopportune times. Like when they're interacting with clients or in the midst of a co-worker conflict. Thankfully, you can give employees all the experiential learning they need with simulations, scenarios, and demo videos. Show them the subtleties of communicating with demanding customers or adapting to new tasks. Then follow up with periodic assessments to identify emerging gaps and reinforce their skill mastery.

If you need to learn more about the importance of honing soft skills in the workplace, read our eBook Racing The Customer Service Clock: How To Develop Soft Skills Online Training That Achieves Rapid Results and find out all the benefits of investing in your employees' soft skills training.