Are soft
skills innate or can they be learned?
By: Greg Enright
Network World Canada (06 Feb 2008)
The process of integrating technology into
a company’s fabric of operations is quickly becoming a more
collaborative process. In this new reality, IT staffers must
begin to learn the tricky skill of communicating complex
technology concepts to management and peers who are coming
to the table toting MBAs, not networking certifications.
What two years ago may have been a
“nice-to-have” skill, effective communication is an
undisputed necessity for any IT pro looking to move up the
corporate ladder. But what exactly does it encompass these
days? Are the elements that make up a sound set of “soft
skills” teachable, or are some lucky ones simply born with
them and others left to struggle through as best they can?
There’s no doubt that the art, just like
painting or woodworking or throwing a football, comes more
naturally to some. Whether they had a parent of older
sibling who set a graceful example in the company of others,
or whether they just naturally like being around other
people, this area of career development doesn’t even
register a blip of concern on their radar.
For others, though, working in a
collaborative manner can be a perpetually uphill battle.
Taking into account the feelings, objectives and points of
view of others is usually an exercise in patience,
especially when they run counter to what one believes or
requires. Career ManagementRead more about skills and the IT
workplace in our Knowledge Centre and our Career Corner blog.
What makes the process so difficult is
that it is comparable to building a house of cards: You can
answer every oddball question with the greatest civility and
always keep calm in the face of the toughest boss, but one
terse reply or angry sigh can destroy whatever goodwill
you’ve built up and leave others feeling like they can’t
trust you.
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The good news is that soft skills are much like
other, more tangible abilities — they can be learned and
honed over time. And just like most skills, this one has a
set of tools that make the task that much easier. You could
probably build a chair without a saw, but you’ll get to the
finish line more quickly if you have one — and have a better
quality result.
The most important soft skills tool is
patience or, more specifically, the ability to count to five
before speaking. Even if your instincts are correct and you
want to blurt out a response to someone who is clearly
off-track with a suggestion or request, that extra few
seconds of down time can allow you to position your words
with a civil and polite tone.
Another key tool is optimism. There’s no
need to paint a plastic smile on your face for eight hours a
day, as that won’t resonate with others for long. But if
you’re used to looking at a half-full glass of water as
half-empty, try seeing it in the opposite light. Ask
yourself what can be done to fix a problem your team is
struggling with instead of stewing about what’s broken.
Other tools include inquisitiveness and
curiosity about others’ situations and concerns, as no one
can effectively help someone else if they don’t know their
pain points. Simply asking will help in the effort to stand
out. While not all soft skills come naturally or easy to
most people, but over time these approaches will become
second nature to those who stick with them, making those
individuals wonder how they got through the new corporate
jungle without them.
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