Soft Skills: More important than you might think!

From February 2010 archived blog
by Denise Philpot

We all know about teaching technical skills, whether it’s computer skills, welding techniques, or how to use a piece of equipment. These are the “easy” things to teach because we can design a rubric to assess knowledge learned, competencies acquired, and skills demonstrated. However, anyone that has ever hired or managed employees can tell you that it takes far more to be successful in the workplace. What does it take, in addition to those easily quantifiable, task-oriented skills to be successful? The answer is soft skills!

What are soft skills and what can be done to help our students improve them? Soft skills and other desired personal attributes include:

• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills
• Time management skills
• Leadership skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Social skills
• Teamwork skills
• Organizational skills
• Personal work ethics and integrity
• Attitude and demeanor
• Willingness to learn

Many of these seem to be difficult to teach and even harder to assess in the classroom. Employers look for these skills and attributes when recruiting as a way of predicting success in the workplace. It is important that classrooms provide multiple opportunities for students to learn and practice these “soft skills” to increase their employability when they leave high school and search for meaningful employment.

From my personal experience as a manager, I was frustrated by the lack of job readiness that many entry level employees displayed. They generally exhibited strong technical knowledge in terms of general clerical and computer skills, but did not bring to their first job experience those soft skills required to be successful in a professional office environment. Whether I had to address appropriate workplace attire, professional e-mail communications, phone etiquette, customer service skills, timely follow-up and task completion, or tardiness and attendance, I quickly realized the most valuable thing I could offer these young people was coaching and mentoring to support soft skill acquisition and development. Although some of these subjects were addressed during new employee orientation, until these new hires were actually on the job, the topics presented in training did not translate for them into constructs in the workplace. Unfortunately, not all managers are willing to take the time to coach and mentor new employees that do not already have the necessary soft skills to be successful.

Classroom teachers can promote these highly sought skills by requiring professional behaviors in the classroom/lab/workshop, modeling appropriate interpersonal skills with students and peers, designing lessons that incorporate teamwork and problem-solving activities, and using case studies to examine the impact of ethical behaviors and positive/negative attitudes. Provide opportunities for students to complete an inventory of their skills and attitudes early in the semester and repeat the measure at the end of the course. Invite professionals in your industry to share with your students what they expect of their employees and how to improve their competitive advantage when applying for jobs. Talk about and be a shining example of life-long learning and discuss why it is important to embrace continuous learning for lifetime success.

As teachers, helping our students improve their soft skills also helps us! When we regularly and consistently model behaviors it strengthens them. Soft skills, in that sense, are just like technical skills. We need to practice them to keep them sharp! Demonstrate effective classroom leadership skills, communicate professionally with students and parents, provide timely feedback, always bring a positive attitude to your classroom, and treat all students with respect and dignity. Reward students when they are successful and provide opportunities for them to improve in areas that need work. Keep commitments and encourage students to practice time management skills outside the classroom. Prepare you students for the world of work by teaching them important soft skills through role modeling and practice. It truly is a win-win for both teacher and student!

References

• Chakraborty, Manishankar. (2009). Soft Skills: Essential for Shaping Well-Rounded Individuals. The Icfai University Press.
• Harris, Kara S. & Rogers, George E. (2008). Soft Skills in the Technology Education Classroom: What Do Students Need? The Technology Teacher.
• Sharma, Meenakshi. (2009). How Important Are Soft Skills from the Recruiter’s Perspective. The Icfai University Press.
• Smith, Lauren. (2007). Teaching the Intangibles. Fundamentals, T&D.
• Vincent, Kevin. (2009). Hard Facts of Soft Skill Management. New Zealand Management.