Soft skills make the difference between an average employee and a great employee, and in today’s competitive business place, we all need great employees who can help set our businesses apart from our competition, communicate effectively, lead successfully, and are innovative and creative.
Employees with well-developed soft skill sets are vital to businesses the world over; leaders who can motivate their teams, individuals capable of working under pressure, and those able to negotiate effectively with confidence, ensure that projects are completed on time, that stress doesn’t interfere with their ability to get the job done, and that deals are worked through and finalised.
A wide range of soft skills in your employees will translate into happy staff, content clients, repeat business and increased revenue.
What Skills are Considered Soft Skills?
A degree, academic qualification or accredited apprenticeship are termed “hard skills”. They are the skills studied for to perform a specific role or job, for instance, a law degree or computer science apprenticeship.
Soft skills are more personal. They are linked to empathy, emotional intelligence, and an individual’s character.
The following list comprises some of the most business relevant soft skills:
• Organised
• Effective Communicator
• Motivated
• Resilient
• Committed
• Problem Solver
• Cultural Awareness
• Effective Negotiator
• Innovative
• Creative
Developing Soft Skills in your Employees
The first step to take in developing soft skills in your employees should be an assessment and evaluation of your employee’s current skills and abilities, and your existing and future business requirements.
Once you have discovered any weak points, possible performance deficiencies, or potential business developments or expansions, it is then possible to form a soft skills training strategy which matches your firm’s needs.
For instance, if you plan to develop international sales in a specific region, it is well worth utilising cultural awareness training for your employees so that they are better able to work with overseas colleagues, clients and customers.
Similarly, if your firm is planning expansion, it is more beneficial (and less costly) to train your current team for potential leadership roles, as they already know your business and you know their abilities, than have to recruit new talent.
Selecting a Soft Skills Training Provider
There are a plethora of training providers who claim to offer relevant, effective, value for money training, so selecting the best training provider for your business may take some time and research.
The following points should always be considered before selecting a training provider:
• Do they understand your business? Look for a provider that offers expert trainers in your sector and who really understands the unique problems and potentials your business faces.
• Do they offer multi-channel learning options? Since Covid-19 the need for online/remote learning has become essential, but this shouldn’t be your only option and it definitely shouldn’t mean reduced or tedious content. Partner with a training provider that offers E-Learning courses that include a wide variety of learning modules including, Q&A sessions, interactive elements, videos, webinars, and so on, as this will engage learners and improve retention.
• What accreditation do they offer? There are usually 3 types of accreditation – an external body accreditation (an awarding authority that is officially recognised), trade accreditation, or in-house certification. Depending upon your requirements, it is worth checking which type of accreditation your selected provider offers. External accreditation is usually the best option but also check quality assurance and ISO standards.
At Creative Word, we offer training courses designed and delivered by expert trainers who are highly regarded in their field. Our courses are externally accredited and we conform to ISO standards for quality. We believe soft skills are vital for the workforce of the future and tailor courses to our client’s needs.
If you would like to discuss your training requirements with a member of the team, please call 44 (0)20 8408 2268 or contact us.
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