Soft Skills: 5 Ways to Develop Them and Step up Your Game in Any Job
Be it a doctor, engineer, teacher, politician, or business owner, developing soft skills are crucial in any profession. Soft skills can be defined as skills that are not tied to any specific job. Instead, they are more reflective of your personality, and you can apply them to any situation. Some examples of soft skills include creativity, leadership, empathy, teamwork, adaptability, and communication.
Be sure to watch this video to understand the difference between soft and hard skills!
Unlike hard skills like programming, directing, painting, or baking, soft skills may take years to acquire and refine.
Here are 5 ways that will get you on your way to honing your soft skills.
#1 Volunteer
Volunteering is a perfect way to practice your soft skills. Whether you’re taking care of animals, working with children, canvassing for a political party, or tutoring, there are ample opportunities to practice your teamwork, interpersonal, problem-solving, and listening skills.
#2 Use free online resources to brush up on your knowledge gaps
If you’re working at a bookkeeping office, yet don’t understand math, how do you expect to succeed? By making sure you are up to snuff on basic concepts that may come up in your job, such as math, science, reading, and grammar, you will have the confidence to start seriously building your soft skills. Check out Khan Academy, Crash Course, or other educational resources to strengthen your educational foundation!
#3 Seek out constructive feedback from friends, family, and teachers
Let’s face it: Sometimes we don’t like to hear when we’re wrong. Yet without asking for feedback, how can we expect to improve? In developing your soft skills, don’t be afraid to reach out to trusted people in your life and ask for their honest opinions. Did you just do a big presentation in class? Make time to meet with your teacher and ask for his/her thoughts on your public speaking. Chances are, those around you will be more than willing to support you and offer helpful tips.
#4 Take on a leadership position--no role is too small!
Assuming a leadership role on your sports team or in one of your extracurricular activities is another great way to build up your soft skills. What good qualities make a leader? Good communication, empathy, trustworthiness, patience...those are all soft skills! Don’t feel like you have to start off by running for student council president, either! Start by taking on small leadership roles and focus on gaining the necessary skills and experience before transitioning to bigger ones.
#5 Identify role models in your life, and try to emulate their behavior
Who do you look up to? It could be an actor, activist, family member, or even a character in a film, book, or television program. Identify the most noteworthy traits this person has, and try to incorporate them into your daily life. It’s important to remember that even though you may admire this person, don’t completely copy them--you are unique, and there’s no reason to transform yourself into someone you’re not!
Vocabulary words:
Empathy (n.): the ability to understand the feelings of another person; putting yourself in someone else’s shoes
Honing (v.): developing, refining, improving
Canvassing (n.): various activities done on behalf of a political party (knocking on doors, registering people to vote, etc.)
Ample (adj.): a lot of something
Up to snuff (expression): up-to-date, current
Noteworthy (adj.): important
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A Texas native, Bianca Navia is currently in her junior year at Arizona State University, pursuing a dual major in Political Science and Global Studies. She is most passionate about international affairs, diplomacy, foreign languages, traveling, and teaching. A fun fact about her? She’s the oldest of four sisters in a big Cuban-Italian-American family!