I totally agree with this one I know as a manager it is one of the hardest things to do for me. Many times you are caught in the crossfire of the student and instructor and are left to smooth things over.
I find this to be tricky because on one hand I'm sincerely intersted in my students and their success but on the other hand I don't want to know about their personal lives and I don't want them involved in mine. Sometimes when students tell you too much about what is going on in their lives it leads to excuses and rationlizing behavior. I think that's what Student Services is for.
I agree that developing soft skills is really important but for another reason. Our society has become so casual that often times instructors act more like friends to students than mentors. It's important for educators to learn how to be available and relatable without crossing the line of professionalism.
I think the most important soft skills are Integrity, because if you do the right thing you might not be popular but you'll be respected; Attention to Detail, because in the healthcare industry one little mistake can cost someone their life and it's important that we display this skill and pass it along to our studetns; and Positive Attitude, because when you feel good and display positivity it has a huge impact on the demeanor of students and colleagues.
I think that integrity is the number one soft skill that is not only lacking in society today but it is also the most important. I think being happy and having a positive attitude is great but the smile is only worth so much if the person is not honest. How can I expect my students to act right if I do not have the integrity to set a good example.
Although they are becoming less common, I think common sense and common courtesy are very important and can help resolve many situations, often times, before they become “situationsâ€.
I think listening skills is the most important soft skill. People just someone to listen, to take a moment and hear what they have to say. The students want to know that they are important and what they have to say matters. That is why I think listening skills are important, students need us to hear them.
As far as my schools student population is positive attitude and common sense when in a situation is important
Being positive, polite, motivating & being a good listener.
I agree that being positive is one of the most important soft skills for success in the workplace. Just having a smile on your face, greeting people, being courteous and having a "can attitude" can go a long way to create a positive experience for your self and others.
The ability to not only get along but also "go with the flow". The one common thread is change. Change will always happen and it all depends on how you handle it as to how you work out in the workplace.
We are seeing that with different types of students via geographical locations that sometimes they do not exhibit the appropriate soft skills needed to even obtain a job, let alone to keep it once they get it.
In this day and age it is very important to be polite and courteous. Often people are negative in their response to others and that makes their people skills not so "soft."
I think the most important soft skills are appearance, politeness and ambition.
I have to agree with you Dan, Integrity is at the top my soft skills list because if we don't have it or use it. Students lose respect and their minds shut down to what we say, I do have a question could you expand on the descriptor "principled". for me.
Thank you,
John
Active listening and having a positive approach to every situation that you have to address. I try to find a positive response to any questions or comments. How can we turn around the negative to make this problem a positive situation. It works. Smile and work through the situation.
Dependability (accountability and willingness to do more) are vital and crucial skills to have professional effectiveness and great team work. Being a great team player provides a positive impact to a work environment; in which will also impact the success of the students.
All of the 10 most important soft skills discussed in this module are equally important. However, I feel that having a positive attitude tends to rank low in the level of importance for many people. The power of attitude often gets overlooked and underestimated.
To quote the module, "enthusiasm is contagious", but the opposite holds true as well. All too often, the mundane tasks and daily stressors of life in general weigh us down. Naturally, as human beings, sometimes it creeps into our workplace behavior. We are in a unique position that as instructors, we can greatly influence the attitudes of our students about the subject matter we teach.
Attitude is the only thing you can control. Therefore, I believe that our attitudes, both as teachers and students, greatly has a direct effect on the end outcome of success in the workplace in general.
To be able work with your co-workers in a drug free and conflict free workplace. To have integrity and be dependable.
molly,
True, so where do we start with the soft skills and students?
Philip Campbell
Ive had a challenge with soft skill and students on extern. This is the area where I get the most negative feed back from sites. Two soft skills that I think are important in this case are adapt to change and exhibiting ambition
Listening is indeed one of the most important of the many soft skills, to add to that,being able to empathize with our diverse student population is also very important.We really have no idea what their life outside of the class room is, maybe the y do not have the funds available to feed their children and pay rent. These life situatiuons can immobilize a student who has few or poor life coping skills.We can listen to these students but how can we really help them? Perhaps we could share our opwn struggles in hopes of motivating them and teaching them a better way to handle this major life stress.
