Course Summary:

Having the technical skills and knowledge to successfully execute your job duties is only one part of being the best you can be in the workplace. In addition to these “hard” skills, we also need “soft” skills. Soft skills are those skills which allow us to effectively work with others. No matter what your position, organization, or industry, you work with people! Taking the time to build effective soft skills can contribute to a more efficient, more harmonious, and more productive workplace, as well as to your own overall job happiness and satisfaction.

Course Objectives:

Research has consistently demonstrated that when clear goals are associated with learning, it occurs more easily and rapidly. With that in mind, let’s review our goals for today.

At the end of this workshop, participants should be able to:

• Discuss how soft skills are important to success in the workplace
• Understand the 10 key soft skills everyone should have
• Use soft skills to relate more effectively to others in the workplace
• Understand how to use soft skills to communicate, problem-solve, and resolve conflict
• Apply soft skills to specific situations

Course Outline

Module One: Getting Started   

• Workshop Objectives

Module Two: What are Soft Skills?         

• Definition of Soft Skills
• Empathy and the Emotional Intelligence Quotient
• Professionalism
• Learned vs. Inborn Traits
• Case Study
• Module Two: Review Questions

Module Three: Communication

 

• Ways We Communicate
• Improving Nonverbal Communication
• Listening
• Openness and Honesty
• Case Study
• Module Three: Review Questions

Module Four: Teamwork             

• Identifying Capabilities
• Get Into Your Role
• Learn the Whole Process
• The Power of Flow
• Case Study
• Module Four: Review Questions

Module Five: Problem-Solving 

• Define the Problem
• Generate Alternative Solutions
• Evaluate the Plans
• Implementation and Re-Evaluation
• Case Study
• Module Five: Review Questions

Module Six: Time Management

• The Art of Scheduling
• Prioritizing

 

• Managing Distractions
• The Multitasking Myth
• Case Study

Module Six: Review Questions  

Module Seven: Attitude and Work Ethic              

• What Are You Working For?
• Caring for Others vs Caring for Self
• Building Trust
• Work Is Its Own Reward
• Case Study
• Module Seven: Review Questions

Module Eight: Adaptability/Flexibility  

• Getting Over the Good Old Days Syndrome
• Changing to Manage Process
• Changing to Manage People
• Showing You’re Worth Your Weight in Adaptability
• Case Study
• Module Eight: Review Questions

Module Nine: Self-Confidence (Owning It)          

• Confident Traits
• Self-Questionnaire
• Surefire Self-Confidence Building Tactics
• Build Up Others
• Case Study
• Module Nine: Review Questions

Module Ten: Ability to Learn     

• Wow, You Mean I’m Not Perfect?
• Listen with an Open Mind
• Analyze and Learn
• Clear the Air and Don’t Hold Any Grudges
• Case Study
• Module Ten: Review Questions

Module Eleven: Networking      

• Redefine Need
• Identifying Others’ Interests
• Reach Out
• When to Back Off
• Case Study
• Module Eleven: Review Questions

Module Twelve: Wrapping Up  

• Words from the Wise