Whether you’re just starting out in your career or you’re looking to move up the ladder, developing both soft skills and hard skills is essential for professional growth. Here’s a look at what each of these skills entail and how you can develop them.
What Are Soft Skills?
Soft skills are the interpersonal skills that help you interact effectively with others. They’re also sometimes referred to as “people skills” or “social skills.” Examples of soft skills include:
• Communication: The ability to communicate clearly, both in writing and verbally
• Teamwork: The ability to work well with others in a team setting
• Problem-solving: The ability to identify and solve problems
• Time management: The ability to manage your time effectively
• Conflict resolution: The ability to resolve conflicts effectively
• Emotional intelligence: The ability to be aware and understand your own emotions and the emotions of others
Why Are Soft Skills Important?
Soft skills are important because they’re the skills that are most related to job performance. In fact, a study by the Harvard Business Review found that soft skills are twice as important as hard skills when it comes to job performance.
Additionally, soft skills are important because they’re the skills that are most related to career advancement. A study by the Institute for Corporate Productivity found that 87% of respondents said that soft skills were important for career advancement, while only 13% said that hard skills were important for career advancement.
How Can You Develop Soft Skills?
There are a number of ways you can develop soft skills. Here are some suggestions:
• Communicate: Make an effort to communicate clearly and effectively, both in writing and verbally.
• Practice active listening: When someone is speaking, make an effort to really listen to what they’re saying and understand their perspective.
• Be a team player: When you’re working on a team, make an effort to contribute and work well with others.
• Solve problems: When you come across a problem, try to come up with a solution.
• Manage your time: Make an effort to use your time effectively and efficiently.
• Be aware of your emotions: Make an effort to be aware of your own emotions and the emotions of others.
What Are Hard Skills?
Hard skills are the technical skills that are specific to a particular job or industry. They’re also sometimes referred to as “job-specific skills” or “technical skills.” Examples of hard skills include:
• Programming: The ability to write code or program computers
• Accounting: The ability to keep track of finances and prepare financial statements
• Graphic design: The ability to create graphic designs
• SEO: The ability to optimize websites for search engines
• Project management: The ability to manage and coordinate projects
Why Are Hard Skills Important?
Hard skills are important because they’re the skills that are most related to job performance. In fact, a study by the Harvard Business Review found that hard skills are twice as important as soft skills when it comes to job performance.
Additionally, hard skills are important because they’re the skills that are most in-demand. A study by the Manpower Group found that 45% of employers worldwide said that they couldn’t find the skills they needed.
How Can You Develop Hard Skills?
There are a number of ways you can develop hard skills. Here are some suggestions:
• Get formal training: You can get formal training in many hard skills, such as programming, accounting, and graphic design.
• Get on-the-job experience: One of the best ways to develop hard skills is to get on-the-job experience.
• Use online resources: There are a number of online resources, such as online courses and tutorials, that can help you develop hard skills.
• Read books and articles: You can also learn hard skills by reading books and articles on the topic.