Teaching Soft Skills
In your opinion, what is the most difficult soft skill to teach to students?
I find that trying to teach dependability to my students is sometimes difficult I find that they feel that being on time for school is not important I try and relate to them that being on time for class and having the right attitude is going to transfer over to the workplace.
I feel that the most difficult soft skill to teach is patience and understanding. I find that most of my students what things right now without having to work for it.
I have the same problem with some of my students. They have to write a paper at the end of each module in APA format and they never get it right. I try to get through to them that in our profession it is very important to pay attention to detail. I get through to some who are already that way. But others have a difficult time with it.
In my opinion, the hardest thing to teach is controlling emotions when communicating. Poor verbal and written skills are difficult enough to teach. Controlling emotional responses can make it even more difficult. Also, good verbal and written skills can sometimes be overshadowed by emotional reactions.
I find the most difficult skill to teach students at a technical college is to control their emotions and their behavior as a result of them. Many of their past experiences have made it seem imperative that they defend themselves in every way (verbally & sometimes physically) to show strength.
In my program we teach students to go into the medical field and work with all types of supervisory medical professionals and difficult patients. As a medical professional who works in the medical field it seems like common sense to not allow someone else's anger and drama to control how I do my job and my ability to control my emotions and reactions. As hospital & clinic personnel, we encounter stressful situations and difficult patients on a daily basis, we cannot be defined by one situation or let that hinder our jobs and our future. Trying to get that idea across to students is incredibly difficult. We, instructors try to lead by example at the school level. We discuss scenarios & "what would you do" and students role play. We even have guest speakers. My concern is when students get out into their externships and have inappropriate responses and negative interactions with patients in real-life situations. It not only reflects poorly on the student and school but also on that medical office.
Any suggestions for us to train students better in preparation for exhibiting proper workplace soft skills?
customer service is difficult to teach, not all students have those skills which makes it hard for them when they start the extern portion of their training.
In my opinion, the most difficult soft skill to teach is maintaining a positive attitude. I like to tell positive and uplifting stories to help my students to think positively. I also caution them that if they are finding it difficult to remain positive, they my need to consider the fact that they are not in the right environment; it's okay to move on if you have tried your best and you are still unhappy. The right environment can make all the difference in your attitude and overall happiness.
find that the most difficult soft skill to teach to students is Dependability, specially when it goes to wanting them to do more than required, at least among my students, they love practical classes not theoretical, then they want just to pass can be hard sometimes make them understand that as professionals they need "the whole package" not only practical knowledge.
I also find that students frequently don't want to socialize and that goes against them practicing how to be good team players.
It has been difficult for me to teach attention to detail. It could be partly to due to a comprehension issue because I have noticed that many dont have the ability to follow the details of written homework. I have read specific homework instructions to my studenst in class, highlighted with examples of what they are expected to submit and will still recceive something different.
Patricia,
That is hard for some students to accept. Keep working with them on that.
Philip Campbell
Controlling emotions is the most difficult soft skill to teach students. I have worked with many students who do not properly manage their time and then become very upset when a deadline approaches.
Just practice and be aware that what is being said is meant to be constructive not insulting.
Laura,
Good point. Everyone needs to be able to deal with stressful situations and understand that sometimes things are directed at situations and not individuals.
Philip Campbell
I think conflict resolution. We are in the medical field, and trying to make students understand that they will not be able to choose their patients and the people that they will work with is very difficult.
Ambition can't be taught. You have to want it to be truly motivated to go get it. You can succeed without ambition but you likely won't be happy with your success. Doing what you love and loving what you do, starts off by deciding what your ambitious about. That can't be taught it is only felt by he/she who has it.
Socrates,
Good job, many see homework as a task instead of an assessment. Great way to use it.
Philip Campbell
Common sense cannot be taught either a person was born with it or not so I would have to say understanding and respecting others. Some students really struggle with this because they have not had anyone around them to make them stop and step back from even a simple situation and think about what steps to take next while considering the consequences of their actions prior to them reacting.
Kathy,
I agree with you that accepting responsibility is a hard skill to teach. Taking ownership is hard and some students never want to take ownership for their mistakes. We try very hard to teach this as an employer will respect them more if they own up to something they have done wrong rather than blame everyone else in the facility.
One of the most difficult soft skill to reach is dependency and reliability. I explain to my students that it is very important to hand in their homework on time. This will prepare the students for the work force by being dependable and reliable. Homework demonstrates timeliness, organization, and time management.
