Top 10 Personal Skills Professionals Need for Workplace Success
In this world of cut-throat competition, professionals can survive the workplace only if they are adaptable and ready to take on any challenge. In other words, while hard skills may be essential to get your foot into the door, personal skills are just as important. Ultimately, soft skills will help you excel at work.
In this article, we will talk about the significance of personal skills. Learn why adding them to your resume can help you land your dream role and keep it.
Why Working Professionals Should Develop Personal Skills
Personal skills are intrinsic behaviors and personality traits that set employees apart as effective leaders, good communicators, and valued team members. These kinds of skills have gained greater importance in the workplace today.
A study by the McKinsey Global Institute found that 56 foundational skills (termed DELTAs or Distinct Elements of Talent) can help professionals thrive in the future of work. Adaptability was found to be the strongest DELTA to increase an individual’s chances of employment. Self-motivation and wellness were found to have the most impact on participants’ job satisfaction.
These changing trends will require employees to strengthen their existing skill sets or acquire new ones. Professionals who can communicate clearly, have listening capabilities, and work harmoniously with others outweigh those who do not possess these skills.
ALSO READ: Soft Skills in the Workplace: Why They Matter for Your Organization
Role of Personal Skills in the Workplace
Skills such as communication and confidence are imperative across the board, for functions such as team collaboration and customer negotiation to work delegation and stakeholder engagement. Employees with high-quality personal skills are most likely to deliver better outcomes for companies. The reasons for this are obvious. They are excellent at meeting deadlines, communicating requirements, and completing tasks to an expected standard. This invariably improves their personal standing, trustworthiness, and reliability. Whether you have recently joined a startup or an established multinational corporation, there are important personal skills one must develop and hone.
Top 10 Personal Skills to Develop for Work
Today’s professionals will need to master the following personal skills to stay ahead of the curve.
1. Communication
No matter what your job profile is, communication is essential. Being a strong communicator makes things easier for everyone in the professional setting. It goes without saying that communication is a two-way street. So, it is important to observe how people react and listen to what they are expressing. You will be able to respond tactfully, establish trust, and have more meaningful conversations.
2. Critical Thinking
Whether you are a writer, salesperson, coder, or accountant, critical thinking is necessary for every role. Moreover, the ability to be proactive, use an analytical approach, and fulfill the task at hand is highly sought-after by employers.
3. Problem-Solving
Problems arise in any company and job. Someone who can understand the issue and take quick measures, and not panic when things go awry, is what defines a problem-solver. Employers prefer candidates who can suggest realistic solutions by using their experience, creativity, and intuitiveness to drive key decisions.
4. Time Management
Good time management helps timely deliveries, promotes well-being, and improves overall performance. Companies value employees with time management skills. It reflects their goals and priorities towards both—the organization and themselves. Employees who lack this skill eventually become difficult to work with. The reason is they are most prone to missing deadlines, which creates a ripple effect on the entire team.
5. Adaptability
The phrase, change is the only constant, applies to business scenarios. Any employee willing to step outside their comfort zone as the need arises is a high-value asset. Being adaptable to new processes, environments, and technologies will make you an employee a company would want to retain in the long run.
6. Interpersonal
Interpersonal skills, also called people skills, indicate your ability to interact and build relationships with others. They reveal your personality traits and how equipped you are to handle certain circumstances. If you develop good interpersonal skills, you will find it easier to work with colleagues, clients, customers, and other people in the workplace. These skills are necessary for professional networking and overall career growth.
7. Leadership
Developing dynamic leadership skills help in all aspects of your career. You can seamlessly spearhead a project or confidently fulfill your duties as a newly-promoted manager. It is not about guiding your team members or delegating work to them. It involves leading by example and taking accountability whenever necessary.
ALSO READ: Is a Leader Different from a Manager? How and Who is More Important?
8. Detail-Oriented
Being detail-oriented is not a role-specific skill. Paying attention to the specifics and accurately working on tasks helps in all areas. Want to know the best way to show this skill to a potential employer? Submit a well-formatted resume and a faultless cover letter.
9. Self-Motivation
Demonstrating the desire to grow and having confidence in one’s abilities are critical contributors in the workplace. Every manager appreciates having a confident colleague who can work independently without the need for constant micromanagement. So, if you want to get noticed, stay proactive and intrinsically motivated.
10. Work Ethic
This is one of the skills you can build on with time. Someone with a strong work ethic practices punctuality, respects everyone’s time, and works to the best of one’s ability.
Best Personal Skills to Include in Your Resume
Most candidates list relevant technical skills in their resumes. But adding personal skills by describing instances from previous roles can help you stand out. Let us say, for instance, you are confident of your leadership and adaptability skills as a result of prior experience. The statement, “Spearheaded a remote team of 10 for implementing a new product launch across two countries,” will instantly back your claim. This shows that you are flexible across different work settings and know how to leverage your skills to get the job done.
Accelerate Your Career with Emeritus
In conclusion, honing your personal skills is crucial to achieving career success, and Emeritus can help accelerate your growth. With a wide range of courses designed to improve your personal skills, you can learn from top industry experts and gain practical knowledge and insights that will help you advance in your career. Invest in yourself and take the first step towards realizing your full potential with Emeritus’ online courses.
Write to us at content@emeritus.org
