We sometimes feel stuck in our careers, wishing we could give it a boost and stand out at work. We hope to discover the professional skills that will give us that edge so that we can stop feeling like we’re missing something crucial. If this sounds familiar to you, then here’s 10 essential soft skills that can set you up for success in any career (and in life !), so you can finally get noticed and reach your potential.
Communication
Working on this social skill will help you with many types of communication, from a simple email, all the way to public speaking.
Most of us are likely to talk to people every day, whether with colleagues, clients, or other businesses. To be a better communicator, improve your body language, learn to convey your thoughts effectively, without creating conflict.
Show your emotional intelligence. This is your ability to identify your own emotions and those of others, to understand them, and to use them in order to better communicate. We often associate it to empathy, and in turn, will allow you to create stronger relationships.
Conversations are not a one-way street, but an opportunity to share ideas that can benefit everyone so remember to listen to others and their needs. Aim to truly understand what the other person is saying and give them your full attention. Ask them questions, to further the conversation, and listen to their answers with intent.
Don’t try to impress others, but instead, aim to make them feel important. People love talking to those who make them feel good about themselves. As Dale Carnegie wrote :
“To be interesting, be interested. Ask questions that other people will enjoy answering.”
Great communication skills will directly help you improve this next soft skill.
Networking Skills
Have you ever heard the saying : “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” ?
Employers want people who can build professional relationships founded on trust. Even if you don’t work a 9 to 5 but instead have created your own business, you need to nurture a strong network of people. Building relationships should be a priority.
Establishing a connection with people will bring you many benefits, both personal and professional. It will allow you to advance your career with new job opportunities or even grow your business further. Networking will also expand your knowledge as you will meet people with experience you may not have.
One key principle of networking is to look for what you can do for others, not what others can do for you. That’s how they will remember you. That’s why they’ll be more willing to help you. Bring value to others, then allow them to bring value to you.
Adaptability and Resilience
Change is bound to happen in the workplace. You will meet many people with different personalities. Problems will often arise. You need to make sure you are able to adapt to any situation.
This makes you essential to your business or employer, because you’ll adapt, learn the relevant skills, learn to use the ever-evolving technologies of the workplace, and bounce back from any setbacks you may come across.
Not every day is going to be enjoyable. Not every task is going to be simple to complete. Inter-connected to the adaptability skill, resilience refers to the ability to overcome challenges, and keep moving forward without being thrown off balance by certain events.
As Seneca said :
“The point is not to wish for these adversities, but for the virtue that makes adversities bearable”.
Be brave. Face your fear of failure. Keep moving forward when times are tough at work.
Time Management Skills
Time should not manage us. It is up to us to manage our time.
Effective time management is the strategic process of organizing and planning how to divide your time effectively among various tasks and activities. It involves setting clear priorities, and requires discipline, focus, and the ability to minimize distractions, ensuring that you stay on track and accomplish what truly matters.
Mastering this skill will make you stand out in the workplace as people will see you as a reliable and efficient asset to the company.
Teamwork
Teamwork translates to the ability of a person to contribute to achieving a shared goal, collaborate with others, and prioritize the success of the group over individual achievements. As the famous African proverb says :
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Being able to work within a team is essential to any career and will be greatly helped by your skill in communicating and adapting. In order to work efficiently towards a common goal, you must convey your ideas while also listening and respecting others. Conflict within teams can surface, and managing the situation effectively will be of great benefit to everyone.
Cooperation is key !
Leadership Skills
Although they compliment each other, leadership is not the same as management, and not every job role requires you to be a leader, but being able to be one when the time comes is essential. Effective leadership is widely regarded as a crucial element of professional success and is highly sought after by employers across various industries and fields of expertise. Developing this skill will make you stand out within your organization.
Sometimes, leading means taking a decision that might not please everyone. Saying something that not everyone will enjoy hearing. And yet, you stay true to yourself and the confidence you hold in your decision making. Therefore, influence is a core aspect of leadership, as it’s not about achieving results through pressure or hierarchical authority but rather by generating enthusiasm and motivation. It’s truly a skill that can be developed—charisma alone is not enough to possess true leadership.
Great leaders help others in becoming better versions of themselves, inspiring, coaching, and developing them and their skills. They support others so they can shine and have their moment. As Jordan Peterson wrote in his book “12 Rules for Life” :
“Thus strengthened […], allow others to find strength alongside you when they would otherwise be overwhelmed with despair”
Overall, leadership is one of the key skills for working effectively with others. Remember, a leader must also be a team player.
Critical Thinking Skills
Most employers will consider critical thinking as a fundamental skill.
Mostly based on logic, it is useful in companies for solving complex problems, as it helps identify issues, analyze them, and find solutions. This involves the ability to break down and decompose a difficult problem into simpler components, allowing for a strategic and logical reasoning process.
To make better informed decisions analyze the different options you have, and the potential consequences and outcomes that might occur as a result. Effective critical thinking requires you to use logic to consider the strengths and flaws in solutions put forward by you, your team, or your managers.
As a bonus, this skill directly and positively impacts the next one on the list.
Problem-Solving Skills
Similar to critical thinking, problem-solving skills imply an ability to analyze problems and find intelligent solutions to resolve said problems.
Problem-solving skills involve identifying issues, generating and evaluating potential solutions, and implementing the most effective ones. You could say it is a blend of multiple soft skills, drawing on various other skill sets discussed in this video.
Someone who has developed good problem-solving abilities is an invaluable asset to any team, helping to anticipate and address issues before they even arise.
Here’s are the simple steps to keep in mind :
- Identify the problem
- Analyse it
- Generate solutions
- Implement the best one
Work Ethic Skills
A strong work ethic reflects an individual’s dedication to their job. It demonstrates reliability, and integrity, and is essential for anyone wanting to succeed in their career and business. Take responsibility for your actions and show that you can be trusted by others. When challenges come up, stay positive and show enthusiasm to change.
Show up on time, meet the deadlines, be happy to be there, and whatever happens, you can handle it.
BONUS SKILL
Improving the skills mentioned in this video will help you in building a successful career. But pair these with producing efficient work on a regular basis, and you become unstoppable. Being productive at work will ensure these soft skills are put to good use.
I talk more about how to increase your productivity in this video right here. I’ll see you there!
