In the age of AI, soft skills are more important than ever.
But these skills, which can be defined as the personal attributes and interpersonal skills that help people to collaborate more effectively, are increasingly in short supply.
As communication in the business world tends to be virtual, by text, email and messaging, many of us are shrinking from some aspects of real-life interaction through fear and lack of experience.
The younger generation of digital natives in particular struggles with soft skills in the workplace. So much so that Gen Z students in Greater Manchester are set to be taught soft skills, such as empathy and teamwork, in a new programme aimed at teaching young people how to succeed in the workplace. The initiative was launched in response to UK employers reporting that young recruits were too afraid to speak on the phone or do job interviews.
If you want to improve your soft skills at any stage in your career, you need to be aware that understanding people starts with understanding yourself. You can apply the following methods and strategies to yourself first, and then use them to help understand others, ultimately growing your soft skills.
Understand personality types
When you become aware of your own personality traits, you can look at the spectrum to understand the qualities and behaviours of others. Remember that your personality type can change or fluctuate over time. There are lots of different methods and tests out there to help you understand personality, including DISC, Myers-Briggs, 16 Personalities and Enneagram.
Define your values
We all have different values that ultimately determine what drives us. I recommend using a sorting card deck or tool to shortlist 5-7 values. If you are triggered by something or someone at work, pause, take a deep breath, and assess if this is simply because your values are not aligned. Values misalignment is often the cause of the problem, rather than someone intentionally coming for you or being ‘bad’ at their job.
Get to know your blind spots
Even those with a deep understanding of their own personality will have some traits that are obvious to others but that they can’t see themselves i.e. blind spots. To help with this, there is a great exercise you can ask teammates to anonymously submit to you called Johari’s Window. Give your colleagues a list of adjectives and ask them to select which ones describe you (and remember to also do this yourself too). This will help you learn which traits which are known by you and others; which qualities you know you have but don’t show to others; and which are your blind spots.
Remember, feedback is a gift
Digital natives who are more comfortable with opening up on social media than IRL, often struggle with (or even fear) feedback. With so much trolling and toxicity on social media, feedback of any kind can be seen as negative.
But getting constructive feedback in the workplace is extremely helpful and needs to be encouraged and embraced. The more you’re able to give and receive feedback the better for you and those around you. There are many methods for giving constructive feedback but the most important tip is to be specific. And the most important tip in receiving feedback is to show gratitude for the feedback, but don’t respond or react straightaway. Go away and think about it, and respond later.
Adapt your leadership style
Research shows that the most effective style of leadership involves the ability to apply different styles of leadership at different times. There are six styles of leadership most commonly recognised in the HR sector and the best leaders are able to leverage 4 styles of leadership of the six at any given day or with any employee, depending on the situation.
Be explicit about your ways of working
We all have different preferences when it comes to ways of working. Some people prefer email, others will respond more quickly to a text. Some want to see and digest all relevant documents before a meeting, others don’t. Being more mindful of how people like to work will enable you to collaborate more easily. Share how you like to work and encourage others to do the same.
Practice assertive communication
Like leadership, communication involves a blend of approaches depending on the individual, group or situation. Being clear and direct while respecting the feelings of others – also known as assertive communication – tends to be the most effective approach for leaders, but different styles may be required depending on the circumstances.
Show disability awareness
Ensure you’re actively helping to foster an environment where individuals with disabilities feel valued, heard and supported. If you have a disability, don’t be afraid to share what reasonable adjustments need to be made by the business to help you.
Remember, we are all on a journey, and the work is never done! Be open to learning about yourself, others and adapting to meet the ever changing landscape of workplace environments. None of us have it all figured out so take it one day at a time, giving yourself and others grace in the process of life.
