Q&A for How to Improve Soft Skills

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  • Question
    What are the most important soft skills?
    Devin Jones
    Devin Jones
    Career Coach
    Devin Jones is the creator of “The Soul Career," an online career incubator for women. She is certified in the CliftonStrengths assessment and works with women to clarify their purpose and create meaningful careers. Devin received her BA from Stanford University in 2013.
    Devin Jones
    Career Coach
    Expert Answer
    Focus on your own strengths. Strength finders are really helpful for developing your interpersonal skills. By taking the Clifton Strengths, Enneagram, or Myers-Briggs, you can then realize what your patterns are, lead with your strengths, and mitigate your weaknesses.
  • Question
    What is the definition of a soft skill?
    Devin Jones
    Devin Jones
    Career Coach
    Devin Jones is the creator of “The Soul Career," an online career incubator for women. She is certified in the CliftonStrengths assessment and works with women to clarify their purpose and create meaningful careers. Devin received her BA from Stanford University in 2013.
    Devin Jones
    Career Coach
    Expert Answer
    I call them interpersonal skills instead of soft skills, because that has a better connotation I think. But, interpersonal skills are actually what more and more employers are looking for. You can always teach a hard skill, but we need people who have skills like empathy, communication, active listening, teamwork, and collaboration. They're skills in emotional intelligence that help you be an effective team player on a team or in an organization.
  • Question
    How can I find hidden soft skills?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Your hidden soft skill is something that you are confident in doing. Take time to look inside yourself and realize what you have been doing easily and without any difficulty - the skills that seem to just come to you are your hidden soft skills.
  • Question
    Whenever I'm questioned at work by a supervisor and I explain myself in an honest manner I've been told I sound like I'm a blunt person. I dislike the label blunt. How can I answer without sounding blunt?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You just need to choose what to say or not. In your work place nobody intends to know what kind of person you are. Rather, they want to know whether you are able to finish the task or not. So instead of giving honest excuses, apologize for not making the task complete and try to explain them when and how it can be finished.
  • Question
    My voice level is too low. This is a problem for me when I was giving presentations and attending interviews. Could you please suggest what I should do?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Try to aim your voice at the back of the room. This is often referred to as "projecting" and can greatly improve your volume. Make sure you're well hydrated; dehydration can make your throat raspy and decrease volume. Also, practice speaking before presentations to warm up your voice.
  • Question
    How can gadgets help me to build soft skills?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    They most likely can't. Since soft skills are primarily about how you interact with other people, gadgets cannot take the place of another person.
  • Question
    How can I develop my personality to appear less shy?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Challenge yourself to do one thing each day, even if it is small. For example, maybe today you will smile at a stranger or say hello to someone new. The more you do this, the less shy you will become over time.
  • Question
    How do I overcome my fears?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Gradually expose yourself to things you are afraid of. For example, if you're afraid of public speaking, start by speaking in front of small groups, and gradually work your way up to larger ones. The more you expose yourself to whatever you're afraid of, the less frightened you will be.
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