Get Your Students Hired
I agree that good work ethic is waning in our society. I think this is part of the larger problem of students' general lack of respect for others, and perhaps lack of self-respect as well.
The need for good soft skills is obvious in many fields, but not as obvious for fields such as lab technology. Most lab techs work behind the scenes, away from the hustle and bustle where patients and visitors are typically found. We must still keep in mind who our ultimate customers are, and remain compassionate in their care.
Benny,
It is the most difficult. Why do we think this is. We know people are intelligent, but it takes them some time to "get it". Maybe it is is something in how we present the information and not them?
Philip Campbell
Students need to learn to understand and respect others, have a positive attitude, and maintain a sense of integrity. Teaching them to listen to each other without attempting to thing about a rebuttal is often difficult. Teaching them not to just hear but listen and be respectful of others beliefs, comments, and opinions can be a challenge at times.
In my opinion, attention to detail has been the most difficult soft skill to teach. Being a keyboarding instructor, I receive lesson assignments such as formatting business letters where the students fail to proofread or even use spell check. When they complete the assignment, most simply just print the letter. Another example is transferring answers from a study guide or exam to a scantron. They may have the answer(s) marked correctly on the paper exam, but circled the incorrect response on the scantron. In many cases, these examples of not paying attention to detail has sometimes made a difference in a final letter grade for the course.
I feel that teaching soft skills is very difficult. Unlike hard skills where knowledge is more easily assessed,teaching someone soft skills requires more attention and patience from the instructor. It is teaching by example if you will. Some of our students have grown up in a society that lacks some basic soft skills and it takes much patience, time, and understanding to change those learned behaviors in such a short amount of time. I feel the hardest to teach are time management and conflict resolution. A lot of my students feel if they have an excuse to be late, then its acceptable. As far as conflict resolution goes, so many of them are quick to react or give up, instead of taking the time to think things through.
I think the most difficult soft skill to teach to students is common sense. I feel that common sense is something a person develops all throughout their life. It should be part of everyday events. Making appropriate judgments and practical decisions may not come so easily for some people, and that is when it is most difficult to simply teach. The same might actually go for any of the other soft skills as well, since we likely encounter any of these in our everyday lives. So I guess one can believe that the important soft skills are all equally difficult to teach, more or less.
I feel teaching student "Conflict Resolution" is the most difficult softskill, because of the "It is all about me world" in which they live. It seems complicated for the students to place another before themselves.
Mr. Cothron
Jacqueline,
Team building skills is always a good way to improve communication and in turn helps with the soft skills. Thank you for pointing that out.
Philip Campbell
Teaching students to be team players and positive attitudes and empathy to others students regard less of age or culture.
The problem I see with students coming into school is that they don't know what soft skills are. That is were I start. I send them to a computer room to find out what they are and then we go from there.
Personal responsibility is difficult to teach. The blame game is a common issue here at my campus. On occasion, I get a student that will accept full responsibility for their actions. Those students seem to be higher achievers in the long run, although they might not be a straight A student. Accepting responsibility for something that has gone wrong goes a long way in my book!
Conflict Resolution is the most difficult soft skill to teach. Many of our students either avoid conflict completely, or approach someone looking for the answer to the conflict. It is very difficult to get students to think through a problem and rationalize ways to correct the situation. Many times, they want an answer, and do not care how that answer was achieved. Although conflict resolution is the most difficult to teach, it is also the most rewarding to see a student have a light bulb moment and figure out how to resolve their own conflict.
We use lean six sigma to improve cycle time - Collision shops are monitored for their average cycle time by insurance companies. When a shop is requested to lower its cycle time, techs need to know how to increase the speed of the job (productivity) and not simply try to work faster, which will create mistakes - waste. Eliminating the 7 waste areas will increase the speed of the job (lean) while working the same speed. Also working at the speed that does not create mistakes (six sigma) - waste.
John,
What kind of things has your school done with six sigma to explain those concepts to students? Special classes? All of the supplementary material that you can give to students will help them in the long run.
Philip Campbell
We are technical school that is training for the automotive industry. Teaching the importance of customer service is a challenge. Too many are more interested in themselves and find it difficult to be evaluated on quality and quantity. We use lean six sigma as tools and explain every shop is rated on CSI by industry partners.
In my opinion, dependability is the most difficult soft skill to teach to students. I believe gone are the days of instilling a good work ethic in our children. This is waning in our society as a whole. The "What's in it for me?" mentality prevails. Just do enough to get by seems to be the attitude. Accountability and willingness to do more is a foreign concept to a lot of students. These, however, are must needed skills to succeed in the workplace. So, how to teach them? Teach by example first. Sometimes, we must be not only teacher, but mentor and parents as well to our students. All of my assignments have deadlines, and I don't accept work late except in extenuating circumstances. I think this practice serves students well in getting them prepared for the real world.
RESPECT--and that encompasses all areas. Ranging from student to student; student to faulty and student to Program/School.I.E-in class on time and prepared; not entering/exiting whenever they wish; NO CELL PHONES/TEXTING; addressing all persons with courtesy and appropriately; follow the chain of command, etc. etc. It is difficult to teach an adult respect when they have not been taught the concept at an early age or at all.
Yes, I agree that common sense is the most difficult soft skill to teach. I have met many individuals whose IQ's are in the brilliant/genius range but were unable to have empathy or be able to make appropriate judgements/decisions. Breaking items down in to the most manageable pieces may help students to make practical decisions.
Integrity and empathy while managining emotions
area challange to adjust in a given situation
which involves other people.