Laura Butler
Contributor

Soft Skills are very important especially when you are a professional. If you are an entrepreneur, your team represents your desired image and how you would like your business to be perceived by others.

Therefore you need to ensure that your employees are properly trained and aligned with your goals and objectives. Technical and job related skills are a must but they are not enough to progress up the corporate ladder or make your business successful.

SOFT SKILL POINTERS
Soft skills cover a number of areas which includes: Interpersonal skills, team spirit, social and business etiquette, negotiation skills, time management and behaviour as it relates to attitude and motivation.

• Ask for feedback but do not take it personally; you may become defensive and attack. Always try to take constructive criticism and stay focused on the desired end result.


• Personal assessment is another way to monitor your success on a daily basis.


• Be responsible for your professional and personal growth.


• Examine how you are currently managing your time to see if you are getting the most out of your days.


• Make a conscious effort to examine your behaviour in groups and your thought process.

Soft skills help to build relationships, promote team spirit, improve customer service. It can assist you in a leadership role and add value to your business. Ongoing training is critical to keep you and your team up to date and armed with information to get the job done and done well.

KNOWLEDGE IS THE KEY
One of the keys to a successful business is to know as much as you can about your business, the industry, products and services being offered. You should also look for ways to improve yourself and your business.
Remember to treat others the way in which you would like to be treated. You should show a genuine interest in others, have a positive outlook on life.
You should treat challenges as opportunities to learn and grow and recognise the value of hard work, dedication, discipline, compassion, faith.

ATTITUDE
A positive attitude, leading by example, believing in your self, knowledge & skills, professionalism and continued development in achieving your goals and objectives are imperatives.

It is important to be confident but there is a thin line between being confidence/assertiveness - arrogance/ignorance, don't confuse the two. Confidence and assertiveness are important ingredients for success.

Soft skills can enhance your personal growth and development making you a more well-rounded and marketable individual. I am confident that practising these skills will make your business more productive and successful.

Laura Butler is Human Resources Consultant/Training Specialist and director Success Jamaica Ltd. Invision Training Consultants Ltd. (ITC). She can be contacted at laurabutler2@mac.com