Are you tired of cracking the written part of the job interview process but somehow not cutting the HR or interview rounds? Maybe it’s time to brush up on those soft skills. 

 

Author Peggy Klaus once rightly said, “Soft skills get little respect but they will make or break your career.” Soft skills are an indicator of your personality and work ethic and determine how capable you are of contributing to a company’s success.

 

A 2022 survey revealed that hiring managers valued a candidate’s problem-solving, teamwork and communication skills over the depth and breadth of their specialised skills. In other words, job applicants with certified soft skills are more likely to land a job than those without.

 

What better way to hone your soft skills than from the comfort of your own place? Step up your career with online learning as the passport to unleashing the potential of soft skill development.

 

But what exactly is soft skill development, and how can you leverage online learning for soft skill and personality development? Explore the answers to these questions and more with this blog.

What Are Soft Skills?

Different people and companies have varying definitions of what soft skills are. At their core, soft skills are non-technical skills that enable individuals to communicate effectively, resolve problems, handle workplace conflicts, and build stable professional relationships.

 

While hard skills are a must for specialised job roles, soft skills are applicable across all industries and professions. They play a major role in creating a healthier and more productive work environment. 

Examples of Soft Skills

Did you know that 30-40% of jobs in the future will depend on social and emotional skills? Here are some invaluable soft skills that are essential for a smooth career progression:

 

• Empathy - Empathy is the ability to understand the thoughts and feelings of another person from their point of view. It helps in resolving workplace conflicts and fostering healthy professional relationships.
• Critical thinking - Critical thinking enables you to leverage your analytical and problem-solving skills to make meaningful and positive decisions.
• Listening and speaking skills - According to a 2022 survey, communication was the most important soft skill for a professional. A good communicator listens to and empathises with the people they are conversing with and responds to them appropriately. 
• Time Management - Managing your workload in a time-effective manner enables you to improve productivity and manage stress.
• Teamwork - The ability to work in a group setting to achieve professional goals is critical to successfully completing projects.
• Leadership - Good leaders can formulate strategies and motivate their teams to fulfil their company’s productivity goals and targets. 

How To Develop Soft Skills

Wondering how can you improve your soft skills and leverage them for overall personality development? Here are some guidelines that can help:

• Practise self-awareness and empathy, and learn to think from an unbiased point of view. Habits like journaling and meditation can help you instil in yourself introspection and mindfulness.
• Work on your skills consistently, and focus on developing one skill at a time.
• Venturing out of your comfort zone can make you feel uneasy. Be sure to seek support, feedback and guidance from your colleagues and superiors and accept constructive criticism.
• Practice, practice, practice. Soft skills are like a muscle - the more you use them, the stronger they get.
• Enrol in a soft skill development online course.

Benefit of Soft Skills and Personality Development Courses 

An online certificate course in soft skills and personality development is an easy and accessible way to gain the necessary skills. That said, here are four major benefits of soft skills and personality development courses:

 

1. You can gain in-demand skills that help you progress in your professional journey.
2. Many online soft skill development courses are self-paced, allowing you to get certified at your own pace. They also enable you to upskill without compromising on work hours.
3. Online courses are interactive and include online learning resources, exercises and discussion forums. Interacting with people from around the world helps broaden your perspective and gain new experiences.
4. Online personality development and soft skills courses are flexible, meaning you can complete them anytime from anywhere in the world.

Soft Skill Development Courses List

Enrolling in soft skills and personality development online courses that teach you a variety of skills at once is great when you are short on time. 

 

However, this often leads to a diffused understanding of the skills that are taught. Ideally, soft skills courses should have carefully curated lessons that focus on one or two skills at a time, helping you develop those skills properly before moving on to the next one.

 

Look for courses that teach the following skills:

• Creativity
• Active listening
• Emotional Intelligence
• Observation Skills
• Conflict Management
• Written and verbal Communication
• Business Etiquette
• Goal Setting
• Leadership
• Analysis and Logical Reasoning
• Strategy and Decision Making
• Critical Thinking
• Problem-solving and Troubleshooting
• Positive Thinking
• Public Speaking
• Negotiation and Persuasion
• Confidence and Self-esteem
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Timer Management
• Teamwork, networking and collaboration
• Planning and Organisation

Summing Up

Soft skills are an essential requirement for creating an able workforce. They aid in fostering teamwork, creating strong company and client relationships, navigating workplace challenges, and building your personality. Developing your personality and boosting your soft skills enables you to have a fruitful career working your dream job.

Remember, the journey of self-improvement is ongoing, and online learning is your trusted companion along the way.