What Are "Soft Skills" and Why Are They Important to Trade Professions?
SaveThis article will take a look at what "soft skills" are, and why they matter in trade professions.
In recent publications targeting the skilled trade industries, there's been a lot of buzz over "soft skills" and whether individuals entering various trade professions are lacking those skills (see the articles Soft Skills Are Building Blocks to Better Teams in the Construction Industry, and Is There a Soft Skills Gap in the Trades?). This article will take a look at what "soft skills" are, and why they matter in trade professions.
Soft skills are uniquely human behaviors and communication techniques that machines or automation cannot replicate. Before the technology revolution ushered in by widespread computer use and the internet, soft skills held a prominent place in the business world, customer-centered jobs, and skilled trades.
Without the assistance of web pages, social media, and many other internet-dependent marketing and communication, the only way to reliably grow, improve, and succeed as a business enterprise or entrepreneur was to shine brighter than your competitors using soft skills. Soft skills include interpersonal communication, customer relations, crisis management, time management, problem-solving, leadership, and critical and creative thinking. You might have heard these referred to sometimes as "people-skills."
In 2022, one of the first things an entrepreneur or start-up company does is cultivate their online identity. Companies pay a great deal of attention to developing a brand. Brand building includes:
- The aesthetic of a website.
- Establishing a social media presence.
- Crafting various online marketing and communication tactics.
These are fantastic "first steps" necessary for success in the 21st century. Employers have started to notice that something else is missing beyond the online presence of their company or brands, helpful forms, information, or consumer details on websites. This gap between their employees' technological and tactical skills and the soft skills they need to make a difference and have successful relationships with clients and customers.
For many, the idea of writing and speaking persuasively, engaging in literary or critical analysis, and summarizing articles and stories seems completely unrelated to their chosen field. As seen in recent articles (see above) and across the social media platforms like LinkedIn, employers are noticing deficits in their employee's abilities to think critically, analyze situations, write effectively, and present themselves convincingly. Those soft skills are imperative to the success of individuals and businesses. As a result, employers look as much for soft skills as for technical skills.
Regardless of your profession, in a high-tech, fast-paced, global economy, the ability to be creative and innovative and communicate effectively across platforms and cultures is more important than ever.
Even the most highly skilled tradesperson won't grow their business or promote themselves in their field, only by being good at their trade. They will need to craft resumes, cover letters, marketing, and sometimes, even websites.
They will need to be able to persuade others, analyze situations and consumer needs, and critically evaluate any issues that arise in the workplace. And they will need to show employers that they can contribute to the culture and story of the company or business they want to create. If you're headed into a skilled trade, remember, those humanities courses you might think are unrelated to your career are teaching you valuable soft skills, preparing you to take on leadership roles, and so much more.
Nichole Brazelton
Nichole Brazelton is a professor of writing and humanities at Manchester Community College and a poet. Her creative works have been recognized as finalists for multiple literary awards, anthologized, and featured in national and international literary journals, including Marathon Literary Review, Sand Hills Literary Magazine, Canary, Landing Zone, and Hip Pocket Press. Her scholarly works have appeared in Educational Philosophy and Theory and the International Journal of Listening.Articles & Advice
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