If believe that most important soft skils for any workplace are: dependability, effective workplace relationships and common sense.
Dependatbility is important because if you can not depend on your employees or your peers to do their job then at the end there will be a disconnection and things will not get done.
Effective workplace relationships are important to maintain the integrity of the workplace and to have a conflict free workplace. Relationships allow for employees to help each other and work in a team atmosphere.
Common sense is important when dealing with employees as well as students you must always think before you speak and understand the rules and procedures of your place of work if you say the wrong think the reprecussions could be unfixable.
When reflecting on what soft skills are important for the workplace, the reality is that they are all important. There is no real wrong answer...it just depends on the perspective taken. That being said, the three most important soft skills for me would be:
1. Integrity
2. Positive Attitude
3. Common Sense
A person is defined by his or her integrity. People who carry themselves and do what is right, just, and fair typically will have the respect of others. They may not always be liked, but respected. I am also a firm believer in the power of a positive attitude and remaining optimistic. Most people probably do not enjoy working with people who have a negative attitude. Common sense is also very important to not complicate all matters.
I welcome any thoughts or comments.
Have a great day!
Michael ,
Nice post. Good follow up with communication as well.
Philip Campbell
Michael ,
This is true. What would you say if someone disagreed with you. How could you prove that you need to?
Philip Campbell
Gwendolyn,
Success is determined by a lot of factors. You have many listed here already and congratulations for being able to identify those in yourself.
Philip Campbell
I think that dependability is extremely important in the workplace combined with a positive attitude. Colleagues are more likely to work with someone with a positive attitude which will in turn affect their teamwork abilities.
Common sense would dictate we are more often successful when we employ the age old wisdom, "Weep with those who weep, rejoice with those who rejoice." The old Jewish Rabbi Shaul (Apostle Paul) didn't say fix-em, he just said be with them. I don't necessarily think he meant physically. While it is a profound act to sit 7 days and 7 nights with someone suffering ref. Job's three friends, "sitting Sheva" while rooted in that profound act of being with someone, it is employed today at St. Jude Hospital for children. Just being with someone emotionally is an excellent approach and undoubtedly the first step in rapport; before we rush in uninvited; "common sense."
While I agree "The most important soft skill is a combination of having a positive attitude and good common sense" in on the ground classes e.g. face to face Educators must needs be ever vigilant "you can not not communicate." This is to say, our verbal message must parallel our body language.
"You can not not communicate."
To be ever cognizant, " You can not not communicate." Conceptually both Educator and adult learner unwittingly speak more honestly with their body language than their oral responses. Conventional wisdom dictates Educators continaully practice the art of developing their skills of reading(listening)the adult learners body language. All too often we as communicators may send a more serious tenor than intended. Effective communication oftentimes is predicated largely on the peripheral route processing. Although anyone can improve their EQ, soft skill deficits remain.
It is my opinion that dependability and integrity are the most important soft skills. In order to be successful, you must be flexible, reliable, and willing to go beyond the call of duty. It is important for management and co-workers to know that they can count on you regardless of the circumstances.
In addition, there is nothing more important than integrity. It is important for an organization or employer to trust that you will do your job and impartially without being influenced by your personal biases or prejudices.
I think that it is. for an example, while teaching high school i found that a lot of my automotive students when told to turn something clockwise did not know how . come to find out some of them had never seen or learned how to read an analog clock. so i would take them back to the basics in life and show them how. i hope this might help you clear up the question if you can teach common sense.
Martin ,
True. Maybe all they need to do is vent. As long as we discuss appropriate times to vent.
Philip Campbell
John,
Out of curiosity, how do we teach common sense? Is it possible?
Philip Campbell
Having a positive attitude and good common sense as they can get you to move a class in the direction you want them to go. You are being a role model and an easy listening tool for them to suceed in the class.
Exactly. You cannot let a student get you down and cause you to have a bad attitude. Let the student vent and then give some kind of a positive comment.
I woud have to agree with this ,with out it you can find yourself in a situation very quickly.I would have to say common sense is a for sure one.
I belive that all of the soft skills are important to the success of any enterprise how ever If I had to pick one, I will pick "Possitive Attitude" and the reason I believe this is because it all atarts with the attitude, just about any problem or conflict in the work place can be worked out and resolved as long as you have the possitive attitude to work at it.
Thank you for your feedback. Upon reflecting I see what your saying and totally agree.
Joseph,
Both are important as well as so many other things. Understanding that everything is important is hard at times. We want to rank and rationalize which ones take precedence. But, all are important.
Philip Campbell
