When we were younger, most of the parents push their children to do well in school. They promise rewards when their children get high grades. On the other end of the spectrum, some impose strict rules and high expectations from their children. This carrot and stick motivation produces varying results. However, the bottom line is that our society gives much importance to grades and technical know-how.
But knowledge without character leads to disaster. I remember a picture commentary showing an old beggar at the center and two sets of mother and her child. The mother on the left told her child, "my son, do well in school so when you grow up, your life would be better and you wouldn't be like that old beggar." Meanwhile, the other mother told her child "my son, study hard and do well in school so when you grow up, you can help that old beggar to have a better life."
We need to learn more than the technicals. The world is full of knowledgeable and skillful people who lack empathy and relational skills. People who can craft wonderful artworks, crack complicated codes, think awesome ideas, but speaks very little in the language of kindness, has a problem with listening and feels no remorse when does something wrong. Technicals are important, but so are soft skills.
Soft skills are non-technical skills that relate to how you work. This includes interacting with colleagues, conflict management, time management, and prioritization. It also includes kindness, empathy, dependability, positivity, positive work ethic, adaptability, creative thinking, teamwork, and resilience, among others.
Why are soft skills needed?
Soft skills give you distinction
Have you ever noticed how in any given environment, people have a soft spot on someone tender, generous, and compassionate? We love to hang out with positive people, team players and are sensitive to the feelings of others. We dislike rash, irrational people. Skills can be learned, but these soft skills also prove valuable especially in-between and after-work.
The workplace is interpersonal
As cliche as it may sound, but no one is an island. In any given organization, relationships must thrive for the organization to grow and achieve its goals. When people within an organization are in constant friction, productivity and continuity of the organization are at risk. This is the reason why employers are seeking team players and employees who can still work with grace even under pressure. Collaboration is an integral part of an organization.
Soft skills complement hard skills
Hard skills, or technical skills, are awesome and produce results, but it is not everything. Especially in the case of companies engaged with customer relations, empathy is of utmost importance. People need someone who will listen to their concerns empathetically, not rudely. When an organization aims to win supporters and financers, excellent communication and persuasion skills are necessary. It is not just the work of the hands that wins support, but the contents of the heart.
We need more soft skills more than ever
Our fast-changing technology ushered in the reality that some manpower can now be replaced with machinery and computers. Machines are slowly taking over. But soft skills will always be distinct to humans. Compassion, empathy, the ability to imbibe a positive attitude, etc - these things are human and cannot be relegated to computers.
As we enter the New Normal, we need to realize that the world needs more of "us" more than what we "do". We have already proven that we can do great things with technology, politics, economy, leadership, etc. But as the world faces a collective longing for genuine human connection, let us put forth our soft skills into action.
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Hi, I am Marts! Aside from read.cash, I also run my blog - martsvalenzuela.com. I plan on growing my readership while learning to improve my craft and journey towards my passion to write and publish books that add value to people.
Carpe Diem!
