The Importance Of Your Soft Skills

Soft skills, all too often deemed the less important skills for a leader, are needed now more than ever.

• Soft skills are interpersonal skills that demonstrate a person's ability to communicate effectively and build relationships with others in one-on-one interactions as well as in groups and teams.

According to Maxine Kamin, author of the book, Soft Skills Revolution, "The practice of soft skills aids in communication and promotes problem solving, negotiation, conflict resolutions, and team building."

Each of the book's nine chapters, listed below, provide dialogue, questions, tips and recommended activities:

1. What Are Soft Skills?
2. The Hidden Side of Communication
3. The Power of Positive Intentions
4. Tack and Diplomacy
5. The Challenge of Problem Solving
6. Soft Skills and Teams
7. The Personality Factor
8. Taking the Sting Out of Feedback
9. Conflict and Cooperation

One of my favorite parts of the book is where Kamin explains the common expectations of staff members when it comes to the Principles of Reciprocity.  They are:

• Courtesy
• Greeting
• Cooperation
• Expediency
• Listening
• Supporting
• Remembering
• Following through
• Understanding
• Honesty
• Accurate work
• Initiative
• Problem solving
• Technical expertise
• Documentation
• Reporting

Image what a business can accomplish when all its team members practice the Principles of Reciprocity.

Kamin, M.Ed., is the founder and president of TOUCH Consulting, Inc.