10 Soft Skills for the future of work - World Youth Skills Day 2019

Dear Friends,

On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, I congratulate all students of DSOM for working hard towards building their hard skill set. However, time and again, I see young people with an excellent skill set failing at their workplace. There is no rocket science to answer the reason for the failure. If you lack soft skills you cannot be successful at your workplace. You need soft skills to become successful in the workplace. 

Here is a list of top 10 soft skills employers look for in young people: 

Communication

Self-Motivation

Leadership

Responsibility

Teamwork

Problem Solving Ability

Decision Making

Adaptability

Interpersonal Skills

Time Management Skills

Communication

Good communication skills are particularly important in the workplace. Nowadays, both verbal and written communication is an integral part of work. It is a soft skill that is especially needed for leadership roles as leaders should be able to delegate work clearly.

Self-Motivation

If you have a positive attitude and initiative to work well without micro supervision you are self-motivated. Such employees are always an asset for the employer. This soft skill demonstrates reliability, commitment, and fitment into an organizational structure.

Leadership

You can show leadership skill even when you are not a team leader or managing others. Soft skills related to leadership are – positive attitude, helpful, selfless and ability to motivate others.

Responsibility

An employee who is willing to take responsibility will always have an upward graph. This soft skill is highly valued by employers as it shows a willingness to accept mistakes, learn and progress. 

Teamwork

Good teamwork is a skill that you will need both in leadership roles and also when you are part of a team. One important ingredient for successful completion of large scale projects is teamwork. Good team players always display empathy and are receptive to other’s needs. 

Problem Solving

This is a soft skill that requires an open mindset, a solution-oriented and a positive approach. Problem-solving often relies on good teamwork. 

Decisiveness

Decisiveness is a soft skill that can only come if you have mastered your skill set. Knowledge about your work gives you authority and purpose. 

Ability to Work Under Pressure and Time Management

In today’s fast-paced environment every job demands a lot from you. There will be tough deadlines to meet and a stressful environment. An employee who knows how to navigate through this situation is always successful. Clear thinking and prioritization are soft skills related to working well under pressure and employers value them lot.

Employees who can manage their time wisely are considered efficient. They are organised and well planned which helps them take on new tasks and deadlines.

Adaptability

Often, employees who have spent a long time at one workplace get into a comfort zone. When given a challenging situation such as employees find it difficult to adapt. Adaptability or flexibility is an ability to acquire new hard skills and adjust to changing work environments. Employers often seek candidates who are flexible and show a positive attitude.

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

This is one of the soft skills employers look for in potential team leaders. One should be persuasive and find a solution benefitting all stakeholders.

To resolve conflicting situations, you will need strong interpersonal skills. These are the networking skills that will help you build a good rapport with your colleagues and management. 

Content is written by Chetna Sharma student of DSOM. visit her blog  40youbeautiful