Want To Excel At Your Job? Learn These Key Soft Skills To Boost Your Career

You hustle, you put in extra hours at work, you go the extra mile - all to prove that you are the best at your job. But isn't everyone else also trying to do just that, to prove they are an indispensable asset at work?

In order to stand out from the crowd, there is a unique, lesser-known hack: learn soft skills.

Most people tend to overlook soft skills, but it is these that will give you brownie points at work, guaranteed.

What are soft skills?

Soft skills are basically attributes in your personality that enable you to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people.

As opposed to "hard skills", which refers to the knowledge and skills of a person, soft skills refer to the personality traits of an individual, which makes them easier to work with.

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While hard skills can be learnt and quantified - such as through degrees and certificates, soft skills are more difficult to teach but can definitely be picked up on.

Why are soft skills important?

Employers today look for a combination of hard and soft skills when hiring.

While hard skills are necessary to get the work done, soft skills are crucial in communicating with clients and co-workers, for instance.

Soft skills involve communicating well, having good interpersonal relationships with co-workers and resolving conflicts better.

Which are the soft skills that can help you do better in your career?

These soft skills can help you stand out in your career:

1. Team work

The ability to work in teams is a quality that employers look out for. While most of us are quick to write 'team worker' in our CVs, it may prove to be a difficult task when it actually comes down to it.

Thus, the soft skill of being able to interact with diverse members of the team and get the work done is crucial.

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Further, showing that as a team worker, you can bring out the best in others can also help prepare you for leadership roles.

2. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage emotions effectively.

Emotional intelligence in the workplace is crucial since it will help you understand not only your own emotions but also those of others better. High EI can lead to better relationships at work, improved conflict resolution skills, and an enhanced capability to handle stress.

3. Communication

The ability to communicate effectively is of great importance in any workplace.

This includes being able to communicate your ideas clearly and listening to another actively, which will also result in fewer misunderstandings.

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Allied with these soft skills are other related soft skills such as problem-solving, conflict resolution, negotiation, and time management - all of which will make you excel at work.

Soft skills thus complement hard skills and give you an edge over the others. Besides, it also contributes to your personal growth and job satisfaction.

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