12 Soft Skills for Success

Many of the top skills desired by employers are soft skills that involve purposeful work, personal qualities, and people.

PURPOSE
↳ Planning
• Problem solve
• Look at tasks to achieve outcomes
• Actively select important priorities
• Next actions to schedule
• Include time to think and review
• Target key results and measures
DO: Map a mission, AIM for a vision that is active, inspiring and meaningful, plan purpose.

↳ time management and priorities
• Plan the day/week – review calendar
• Look at priorities and make a to do list
• Act – focus on one task at a time
• Note peak time and use it well
• Include incoming tasks in system
• Take time to review progress
DO: Use a system to manage tasks and plan, follow a routine to manage energy, use peak time well, and focus on the important. Start with important priorities, include items with big impact and high engagement.
TED talk: the art of stress free productivity by David Allen

↳ goal setting
Goals that WORK are:
• Written
• On target with values
• Really SMART ⤍ Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Targeted
• Keep you motivated
DO: write down goals with measurable objectives, review progress
TED Talk: Why the Secret to Success is Setting the Right Goals by John Doer

↳ Motivation and focus
• Master distractions
• Observe outcomes
• Values
• Engage interest and energy
TED talk: the puzzle of motivation by Dan Pink
TED talk: how to get your brain to focus by Chris Bailey

PERSONAL QUALITIES
↳ integrity
• Follow through on promises
• Always be honest
• Responsible and reliable
• Respectful
DO: be honest, consistent, and committed to values. Keep agreements and follow through.
DON’T: over commit
TED talk: Building Integrity – keeping promises by Erick Rainey

↳ professionalism
DO:
• Use the greatness in you
• Engage the greatness in others
• Achieve and sustain extraordinary outcomes
Learn more and watch Susan Colantuono’s TED talk at Skills for Career Advancement

↳ work ethic
Find DESIRE:
• Discipline
• Exercise willpower
• Steady effort
• Inspire flow
• Remember purpose
• Exclude distractions
DO: have high standards, go above and beyond, be fully engaged
Video: How to develop insane work ethic

↳ critical thinking
• Locate information
• Evaluate sources and validity
• Analyze: apply logic and statistics
• Data visualization
DO: find and evaluate information from multiple sources
DON’T: accept information without question
Video: BIG think

PEOPLE
↳ communication
• Concentrate on being present
• Listen actively
• Observe responses
• Connect with empathy
• Know process and methods
DO: choose to be clear, concise, complete, considerate. Learn more about communication skills and watch the How to speak so people will want to listen by Julian Treasure

↳ teamwork
• Trust: open, honest communication
• Results: focus on outcomes
• Accountability: clear expectations
• Conflict: handle with respect
• Keep commitment
DO: be humble, hungry (hard working), and emotionally smart.
Learn more about teamwork and watch the TED talk: Are you an ideal team player? by Patrick Lencioni

↳ emotional intelligence
• Identify feelings
• Manage emotions
• Understand emotions of others
• Respond with empathy
DO: pause, understand connection of thoughts and feelings
Learn more about emotional intelligence and resilience, watch a Big Think Video: Daniel Goleman

↳ selling/influencing
• Prepare: know the product
• Identify the target audience
• Target key drivers (needs)
• Communicate with confidence
• Highlight the benefits (always be communicating the value)
DO: balance familiar with novelty
Learn more about selling and personal branding. Watch the TED talk: the four letter code to selling anything by Derek Thompson

Download 12 Soft Skills free printable pdf. Try the Soft Skills Custom List at onetonline.org. Look at 87 soft skills from Simplicable. Explore your skills, learn more about Work Skills and how to Develop Work Skills.

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I seek to create order from the chaos of complex information. Join me at the Daily PlanIt to gain insights, inspiration, and information to increase skills for a better life. I unlock the power of teaching reading with phonics in the pursuit of literacy at www.phonicspow.com. In my spare time I explore books and movies, often choosing titles available on both screen and page.