These are some of the comments we may hear in a corporate scenario. People may be good technically, yet may lack the required soft skills.
Soft skills are essential for professional and business success. Corporate trainings and educational institutions concentrate on equipping individuals with technology and industry knowledge. Though these are core entities for business operations, businesses can become ineffective if employees are not well trained with soft skills.
Soft skills are skills that are essential for work place and business interactions. They comprise of communication skills, effective listening, presentation skills, time management, attitudes and behaviors for critical thinking, problem solving, team building and goal setting. It also comprises of how to cope with stress or emotions for these play a significant role in our lives that can directly impact work and performance.
It has been observed that companies shrink at the idea of soft skills since it is not measurable. Soft skills though cannot be measured in quantitative terms has now come to be recognized as an essential component for business success. Corporate are realizing that the employees ability to manage themselves and their interpersonal ability relate to others in work place is more important than their educational background or core knowledge. Studies have found that factors such as self-awareness, interpersonal skills, commitment, responsibility and integrity not only create successful employees but also produce business results and the outcome- successful companies.
Companies that desire to see their employees work smart and achieve good business results view soft skills as essential business component.