Patricia,
Very good points. As the leaders, we need to remember this.
Philip Campbell
Leigh,
Change happens. We know it does, yet we get uncomfortable when it is time for change. I agree embracing change is the best way to deal with it. By denying change, it does not mean that something will be changed back. Usually it means you will have a tougher time changing.
Philip Campbell
Ray,
Teamwork lends itself to the creating a positive learning environment. Sometimes the students and the teacher make up the team to gain knowledge in a course.
Philip Campbell
Betty,
All are important. Interaction is forgotten many times. It is up to us, the professional to remember that.
Philip Campbell
I firmly believe that if the professional remembers that the key soft skill is customer service in any profession. The customer, no matter if it is a client, a defendant, a buyer, a seller,a student, etc...and serving and keeping the customer's needs first, foremost and most importantly relevant is the key to success in any workplace. The customer and his/her needs should be priority and the goals of the organization should always directly reflect that.
I think dependability is very important. If we are on time, willing to do more, and show our students that we are accountable to them I think that isn't just talking the talk. It is walking the walk, which hopefully will encourage them.
Being positive, particularly in the face of change. There are always changes happening everywhere and there is no way you will ever get away from it, so, you are better off to embrace it with a positive attitude and look at it as an adventure!
In my diverse background throughout the education industry, I would say the most important soft skills are stress management and patience. Education is certainly a stressful environment with constant change, especially in the vocational environment wherein students need and demand a lot from everyone, especially instructors and program chairs. Similarly, patience is needed when working with a diverse population of students and employees to meet their needs and best determine how to relate to various personalities/motivational styles.
I think the ability to understand and be willing to be understanding of other peoples ideas and views is very helpful to a person that has good soft skills
I think it is to create a positive learning enviroment and discuss that not all job enviroments are going to be positve. Teach them the fact that as long as you put your differences aside and work as a team you will become more productive.
I feel being a good listener would be very high on the list of desireable soft skills. It forms a basis from which many other skills, soft and hard, can be launched.
Christopher,
These are also important for co-worker relationships.
Philip Campbell
Anne,
I agree. Having a relationship with a student in the sense where you can make small talk and you learn things about them is an important piece to the puzzle.
Philip Campbell
Steven ,
Constructive manner is the one that most people forget or ignore. It is easy to point things out, it is harder to come up with ideas to make better.
Philip Campbell
Jose,
Good point, a lot of what we are discussing is related to students. Many times we forget about our own peers. If the students see that they may take it back and relate it to their own work.
Philip Campbell
Important softskills in the workplace are relating well to others, a positive attitude, being a good listener, dependability, and understanding others. Often times, people are so caught up in the tasks at hand they forget interaction is a key role.
Dependability and attention to detail are the 2 most important to me. I need an employee who I can depend on and not have to worry if they will show to work today or not.
I think showing that you are interested in your students not only in your classroom, but in them as a person is very important. I'm not saying I need to know every personal thing about their life, but asking how they are doing on a regular basis. If there is a student who seems to be having an "off" day asking if there is anything I can do to help. I have found that just asking a student how they are doing or if I can help can help them to refocus and get back to the task at hand.
The ability to work with others in a positive and constructive manner. This applies to the workers that are easy to get along with as well as the ones we don't particulary like. You must always be able to work with others in a polite way, whether you care for their work and personality traits or not.
being honest and integerity
