Soft skills. Often overlooked by many technology professionals as they develop their career skill set, are skills that all of us need to develop and many of us are lacking. So what is the magical combination? Leadership, Communication, and Collaboration. In this day and age, given the global nature of our jobs, the use of collaboration technology coupled with the remote workforce, and the mix of talent on most teams today, soft skills are essential to succeed in any job.
For those are skeptical, there is a host of evidence showing that soft skills are not only relevant but in fact may be the largest area of deficit for most companies when looking across their employee ranks.
Research from Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center concluded that a whopping 85 percent of job success comes from having well-developed soft and people skills. This means only a measly 15 percent of job success comes from pure technical skills and their accumulated knowledge base. Let’s take a closer look.
1. Leadership
While it may seem like a no-brainer, strong leadership skills are ranked as the number one skill workers may be lacking today. According to a recent LinkedIn survey among 2,000 business professionals, it discovered leadership to be the top skill sought after by companies when they are hiring. Still, need some convincing?
In another study conducted by LinkedIn up to 27 percent of North American businesses are going to spend more money on internal learning programs in 2017, with a primary focus on management and leadership development. So, what exactly does being a leader mean today?
Unfortunately, there is no magic mix. Leaders come in many shapes and many forms, but they all seem to have several traits in common. For starters, it helps to be enthusiastic about what you do and the area you lead. Showing your enthusiasm for products or projects can become infectious and really help motivate your team during tough times or when the company encounters unforeseen problems. People like to work with people who make them feel that their work matters. A little enthusiasm goes a long way.
Set expectations and let others know what to expect. This may seem pretty basic, but frankly the one thing people fail to do. Showing that you are on the same page with everyone else is key for anybody working in a team environment. Be transparent about your understanding of the expectation and also what you expect of others. You can get out in front of a lot of issues by following this basic rule.
2. Effective Communication
We’ve heard it time and time again, communication is key, but what does that really mean and more importantly what does that look like in 2018? Well, with teams becoming increasingly global and many team members working remotely, there is an inherent challenge to communicate effectively.
With technology at the center stage, we find ourselves breaking from the traditional chat and email as they all become things of the past. A host of collaboration tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Flock have taken over, and knowing how to navigate and use these tools effectively is paramount in any industry. So, with all of this technology at our fingertips what does efficient communication look like?
Well, it comes in many forms. It could be as simple as acknowledging new information from your team members, or perhaps creating an effective task distribution process to utilize the available skill sets most efficiently. It also means you need to be able to speak to stakeholders and make sure they buy into your vision and have skin in the game. After all, these are the people paying the bills, so keeping their interest throughout the business or development lifecycle is imperative. Sometimes it’s simply knowing when to put down the devices, grab a cup of Joe and talk face-to-face.
Also, here is a hint: the most important communication skill is the one where you say nothing. It involves opening your ears and listening. Not to yourself, but to others. You would be amazed at what you hear.
3. Collaboration
Be a team player. Don’t be the lone wolf. The is no “I” in Team. No matter what phrase you’ve heard they all point to the same premise; collaboration is the key to making great things happen.
No matter what point you are in your career you will probably work with one or more people on projects or products, but there is more to collaboration than just working with someone. It involves sharing and accepting ideas whether they are yours or not. All too often people are concerned with having the best idea or saving the day. As they say the “squeaky wheel gets the grease”. However, often times the loudest idea is not necessarily the best. Use all of the resources available big and small to find the right solution
Additionally, in order to be considered a great collaborator, you must strive to find the strengths and weaknesses of those around you. This also fosters a problem-solving environment for everyone involved and allows other employees to teach each other a new way of thinking, which may ultimately lead to finding new out-of-the-box solutions. As a result, tasks are designated to the right people and improve the overall efficiency and productivity of the team.
Final Thoughts
No matter what job you have soft skills remain vital to not only you but also those around you. Whether you work with others or a lead a team yourself these soft skills are relevant to any position and any job. By brushing up on your soft skills you may just find yourself improving your team’s efficiency, productivity, and even on the way to a new leadership position to teach others your skills.