HRM CHRONICLES
Soft Skills For Survival At The Workplace
By Samson Osero
Some organizations , which are worth their corporate salt , believe that employees have potential capabilities that can be unleashed for productivity in a supportive working environment . Whenever such firms bring new employees on board , the latter undergo formal orientation . The purpose of induction is to provide information about the organization ' s vision , mission , objectives , values and activities , among other factors . During the orientation period , a new employee is given a job description and informed of what he or she will be expected to achieve work-wise . To back up this process , it ’ s important for organizations to empower employees to continually develop five soft skills that drive work performance . Problem Solving : Organizations place a high premium on employees who offer solutions to its challenging problems . Such employees constantly appear on the radar of top management especially whenever complex work-related problems need to be solved . They are often seen as people who provide solutions that add value to operations . To join this breed of employees , you need to be conversant with problem solving models . Improve your problem solving skills by : defining the problem at hand to distinguish it from symptoms ; identifying the causes of the problem in preparation for tackling it ; generating possible solutions to the problem ; evaluating the solutions using an informed criteria ; and selecting the best solution in readiness for implementation . Creativity And Innovation : Creativity is about coining new things while innovation revolves around improving existing ones . Organizations cherish employees who think creatively to develop new products or services . They also retain employees who provide unique ideas for improving their branded products or services . To effectively contribute towards achievement of your work goals , it ’ s essential to continually develop your creativity and innovation skills . Nurture your creativity and innovation skills by : picking a problem or area on which you want to think creatively or innovatively about ; setting aside a time
of the day to devote at least 30 minutes to generate ideas about the problem or area ; asking yourself thought provoking questions on the problem or area ; out of your new ideas or solutions selecting the best one to pursue further ; and developing a daily habit of doing creative or innovative things . The habit will become handy when tackling complex problems . Communication Skills : Supervisors are attracted to employees who effectively communicate both verbally and in written . Employees who articulate their ideas or views get noticed by management and other employees . They also stand out from the rest on their contribution towards the pool of new or improvement ideas . Since bosses judge staff members on their ability to write not only in a persuasive manner but also on how they use correct grammar , it is crucial that you develop good communication skills . Hone your communication skills by : volunteering to speak before other employees whenever an opportunity arises ; preparing adequately in advance for scheduled talks or presentations ; packing your nervousness and expressing yourself with confidence when speaking in front of other employees ; drafting business letter or email and editing them before sending them out ; and using generally accepted styles in initiating or responding to official mail . Interpersonal Skills : The workplace is a flurry of activities that require time to time interactions with other employees and various stakeholders . These interactions require effective communication in order to facilitate work execution with limited misunderstandings . To achieve your work objectives , it ’ s important to establish and maintain good working relationships with your supervisor and colleagues . Poor working relationships affect both individual and organizational performance . Whenever misunderstandings occur at work , it ’ s crucial to address them amicably . Strengthen your interpersonal skills by : breaking the ice with fellow employees before discussing business issues ; listening actively to what the other person is saying before you respond ; avoiding interruptions when others are speaking ; being approachable so that people can feel comfortable dealing with you ; resolving any misunderstandings with workmates as soon as they occur ; and being nice to others which would make them reciprocate accordingly . Self-Confidence : Self-confidence is a base from which you accomplish what you are expected to do at work . This base is grounded on the knowledge , skills , attitudes and experience you possess . It supports you to carry out your duties and responsibilities to generally agreed expectations . The higher your level of self-confidence , the more you are likely to achieve your work and life goals . With low self-confidence , you are bound to lag behind in most things and end up not accomplishing much at work and even life . Instead of fronting excuses for not doing what you are expected to , acquire the needed expertise in your area of work . Thus , your level of confidence will increase and inspire you to accomplish greater work-related goals . Boost your self-confidence by : holding a positive self-image of yourself ; taming your inner critic which is always pointing out your weaknesses without substantive evidence ; continuing to increase your knowledge , skills and expertise in work-related areas ; trying again and again until you achieve your set goals ; complementing yourself whenever you meet your work objectives ; emulating a role model in an aspect you seriously want to improve ; and keeping good company that uplifts instead of demolishing your self-confidence . Proficiency in soft skills cannot be attained overnight . It requires time , commitment and a clear action plan of improvement coupled with timelines . Search and engage with a confidant who shall be providing you with feedback on your soft skills improvement program . As you embark on implementing the program , always uphold a winning attitude .
Samson Osero is an Independent HRD Consultant and Author of the book ‘ Transition Into Retirement ’. You can commune with him on this or related matters via email at : Samsonosero @ gmail . com .
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