THE TOP SOFT SKILLS SMALL BUSINESSES
NEED MOST IN 2019
Unlike hard skills, which can be proven and measured, soft skills are intangible and difficult to quantify. These are the interpersonal skills which help you to successfully interact and connect with others in the workplace. Vital soft skills for business success include communication, leadership, time management, problem solving and teamwork.
However, if you want to stand out at work, or take your career/business to the next level, then starting today you need to invest in developing the three soft skills listed below.
1. CREATIVITY
LinkedIn, the top social media network for professionals, recently published its annual ranking of the most in demand job skills for 2019. Its research showed that the number-one soft skill employers seek most in candidates, this year, is creativity. According to LinkedIn, “Creativity is the single most important skill in the world for all businesses today to master”. Being creative often means finding ways to solve problems with relevance, innovative thinking and often limited resources. The greatest innovations tend to arrive under constraints. Creativity is a key defining factor in business success no matter the size of the company. Creativity is a habit that can be learned and practiced every day. A strong ability to think creatively will serve you well throughout your career and life. Make improving your creativity a priority for 2019!
Here are a few tips to enhance your creativity:
i. Regularly utilise creative thinking techniques – Thought provoking activities like brainstorming. ‘What if’ questions and role playing help to get the creative juices flowing and can lead to improvements in productivity and growth. They can also be the source of ‘big ideas’ which can help to transform your business, so be sure to constantly exercise those creative muscles!
ii. Be open-minded – When new ideas are presented, take time to listen to them and think them through. Refrain from being quick to judge. This also includes being open to taking risks. Don’t be afraid of failure. At worst, your failure will provide you with a greater insight/learning experience and, at best, your idea will succeed beyond your highest expectations. Stay open, dream big, take risks and never give up.
2. ADAPTABILITY
Adaptability is a critical tool for navigating today’s ever-changing world, as yesterday’s solutions won’t solve tomorrow’s problems. The ability to compromise, adapt to change and still thrive are keys to success in the increasingly fast-pace workplaces in which we operate. As we all know very well, ‘The best laid plans often go awry’. As such, successful leaders and employees need to be able to pivot, demonstrate flexibility and find alternatives when problems arise. Studies show that people who are highly adaptable may be more valued than those who are highly skilled but less willing to adapt and change.
Here are a few ways to demonstrate your adaptability on the job:
• Be an early adapter of change – Avoid the ‘this is how we are accustomed to doing things’ conversations and, instead, be a change leader. Inquire about training sessions in the new areas and offer to teach your co-workers what you learn.
• Demonstrate confidence in your ability to complete the job even when you’ve had to adapt.
• Showcase your ability to be flexible and work well in high pace or stressful situations.
• Be open to constructive feedback/challenges to your proposed ideas, and demonstrate willingness to collaborate with others to generate alternative solutions/plans.
3. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE (EQ)
Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and manage our own emotions. It also involves being aware of the feelings and reactions of others and understanding why they react as they do. There are five (5) vital skills of emotional intelligence. These are self-awareness, self-regulation, internal motivation, empathy and social skills. The culmination of all of these skills is relationship management. That is, using your understanding of situations and intuition about human interaction to create successful teams, provide fruitful encouragement and continuously cultivate healthy relationships with consistency and intentionality. Emotional intelligence is extremely important for business as it aids in effective communication, self and staff motivation, managing stress and anxiety within the workplace, collaboration/teamwork and conflict resolution.
Here are a few key ways to improve your emotional intelligence this year:
• Be mindful – Practice mindfulness whether it is through yoga, prayer, meditation or quiet time alone. Self-assessment and discipline are some of the building blocks of emotional intelligence.
• Develop active listening skills – This involves being attentive, asking questions and providing constructive feedback to the other person.
• Maintain a positive attitude (as best as possible).
• Think before you speak – Take time to think before making any work-related decisions. Allow time for initial emotional impulses to subside. Often, emotions (work/home related) can interfere with our ability to think clearly and reasonably. Remain calm and give yourself time to process to ensure effective communication.
• Carry out daily self-assessments – Think about how you’re feeling today. Contemplate your feelings, the reasons and causes. This will help you to be more aware of your emotions and how to manage them throughout the day. This can positively impact the way you interact with others.
Written by Sherise Brooks
