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I’m sure you’ve heard people talk about soft skills before. Soft skills are the interpersonal skills that allow you to engage with your coworkers and managers better. They’re pretty important skills to master if you’re hoping to make a difference in your workplace. How does this impact your efforts at work? Curious as to how you might be lacking in soft skills? Hopefully I can shed some light on those areas and give you the answers you might be looking for.

 

Lone industrial worker who's lacking in soft skills works by himself near a dock with cranes.

© Penatic Studio / Adobe Stock

 

Communication

Communication, both written and verbal, is one of the most important soft skills you can work on. Communicating clearly and concisely leads to everyone being on the same page. When everyone at work has the same goal or message in mind, it reduces confusion and allows everyone to make the right decisions.

Not so great at communication? Take a look at your own work. Miscommunication can lead to all sorts of problems, from mild incidents like missing tools, to full-blown workplace accidents with serious injuries, and everything in between. Not taking enough care to properly communicate can result in your coworkers getting hurt.

Actively practicing communication with a willing participant can help you avoid these kinds of problems at work.

 

Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is your ability to recognize, understand, and handle your emotions. EQ is important when you have face-to-face interactions with coworkers or customers. It allows you to respond to problems and situations in the best way possible to keep your relationships healthy and productive.

Poor EQ can result in a wide range of personal issues at work. A typical consequence of poor EQ is workplace conflict. This is where you and a coworker have a disagreement or personal hangup that can evolve into verbal (and sometimes physical) fights. Of course, nobody wants that.

The first step to building up your EQ skills by recognizing how you feel when things happen to you. Do you get angry when you hear bad news or when you receive criticism? Once you get to the point where you notice your emotions, you can properly deal with them afterwards.

 

Adaptability

Adaptability is how well you respond to change, handle challenges, and evolve your skills in ever-changing industries. Not only does adaptability help you keep ahead of the curve, but it keeps you competitive in sectors that are constantly updating and changing.

Not so adaptable? Resisting change means you’ll be left behind. The “old way” of doing things might work fine for now, but it will eventually stop working. If you haven’t learned how to adapt to the “new” way, you might find yourself shifted to a different job or unemployed altogether. I don’t want that to happen to you, and I’m sure you don’t want that either!

As much as change hurts, you have to be open to it. Within your industry, take some time to keep up to date with technology changes, supply chain innovations, and other areas of interest that may impact your job or the jobs around you.

 

There are many other soft skills you can master, but these three are perhaps the most important ones you’ll need to be successful in any job. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help you thrive in a career and put these skills to the test!