Five Soft Skills That You MUST Have to Succeed in Your Career
In today’s super-competitive professional marketplace, technical skills are no longer enough.
To truly excel at work, you will need to cultivate a well-rounded skillset that extends beyond hard skills.
In comes soft skills.
Soft skills are the interpersonal and social attributes and the drivers of success.
Having a high, proficient level of soft skills will enable you to navigate difficult situations, build strong (personal and professional) relationships, and achieve your career goals!
While all soft skills are valuable to have, there are five that stand out to me.
Let’s get into it.
- Communication:
Effective communication is the bread and butter of any successful professional.
It’s not just about using words and speaking; it’s about active listening, writing, and conveying your thoughts with precision and impact.
Moreover, honing and training and developing your ability to tailor your communication style according to different audiences, and express complex ideas succinctly – will lead to pay raises and promotions… period.
- Having a Collaborative Spirit:
No one succeeds to the highest possible levels in a vacuum.
The ability to collaborate effectively, and being a team player.
To be a great team player you should be able to actively listen to diverse perspectives, be open to compromise, and share the credit for wins.
In addition, by having a collaborative spirit, you will be considered a more valuable member of the company you work at and can lead towards the career growth you know you want to have.
Five Soft Skills That You MUST Have to Succeed in Your Career
- Adaptability:
Lets face it, change is the only constant in life.
Therefore, your ability to adapt and thrive in dynamic environments will be a superpower in your professional path.
I want you to embrace new challenges, learn from your losses and setbacks, and be hungry to continue learning… always.
If you don’t have one now, you need to work hard to evolve into having a growth mindset, and be ready to embrace new technologies and methodologies.
Be honest with yourself – and get started.
- Problem-Solving:
Problems are inevitable at work.
Meaning, problems with co-workers, tasks, projects, plans, and meetings.
Problem-solving is a really, really important skill to have as a professional.
Those who can approach problems with a clear head and a solutions-oriented mindset stand out.
Don’t shy away from asking hard questions, and seeking different perspectives.
Lean into problems when they occur and work on developing the skill of thinking outside the box – by any means necessary.
When you are working on improving your problem-solving skills, you are actually investing in having a long and successful career.
- Emotional Intelligence:
So, what exactly is emotional intelligence?
Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, empathize with people, and respond to the emotions of others.
Not an easy thing to do at all!
But by understanding your own triggers and motivations, you can navigate challenging situations with composure.
And by empathizing with colleagues and clients, you build stronger relationships and foster a positive work environment.
Ultimately, leading you to be the mature, caring, and super-helpful one in any room.
To lead others, you will need to have a high level of emotional intelligence.
So, read more psychology and books on human nature. I recommend any of the books written by Robert Greene.
Five Soft Skills That You MUST Have to Succeed in Your Career
In Conclusion:
Remember, mastering soft skills is a journey, not a destination.
Your personal and professional development will be dependent on a willingness to continually work on the 5 soft skills above.
You can work with a professional coach and / or attend soft skills training to help you grow to have the career you know you deserve!
Never stop pushing… ever.
Good luck!
- Claude Massey, Soft skills Coach and Soft Skills Trainer based in Tel Aviv Israel