Get Your Students Hired
I feel that having a positive attitude is the most important soft skill that you can posess. As an educator we can teach students the skills they need to be successful, however if they have a negative attitude they will be unemployable. We can help them make good choices while they are students, but these are skills that are taught as children.
I feel the most important soft skill is your ability to listen. I've really found this changes how students view you as not just a teacher but a mentor.
The ability to be open and empathetic are important "skills" and enhance the quality of communication between student and instructor as well as instructor to instructor.
I couldn't agree more! As someone who has taught an Interpersonal Communications course for many years that emphasized content related to "soft skills," I have always stressed the connection between good "people skills" (soft skills), communication skills, and professional/personal success. I often remind my students that they can have the most advanced degrees, a multitude of professional connections, and the most cutting edge technical skills/training, but if they can't get along well with others, they will never achieve the kind of success they might otherwise achieve with good soft skills/people skills.
Joan,
I love the two way street comparison. It is very easy to point fingers when a message does not get conveyed. As much as we try to communicate it is hard to say that message will ever get to the recipient unless they are willing to accept it.
Philip Campbell
Communication and respect are very important soft skill in the classroom for both, the teachers and students.
It seems to me that an awareness of others and willingness to cooperate are the most important skills necessary to function successfully in any workplace, especially in one that requires interpersonal behaviors rather than solely solitary labor.
This is brought about by a level standard of emotional maturity which needs to be brought to bear in all personal interactions. Having the wherewithal to recognize the emotional environment of those around you, as well as being in tune with your own emotional life are the key components. It is important to then apply a degree of determination to make sure one takes the necessary steps to resolve conflict and facilitate amiable and productive communications.
Put simply – it is essential to be nice to people - and to empathize with the concerns and grievances of others. This cannot be contrived however – it must be a sincere effort. And good communication skills are the only things that can make it all work.
Communication is a two way street. It is very important for us to consider not just what we think we are communicating to others, but to confirm that they actually understand what we are communicating.
Jeanette,
Stay with the kind of thinking and the students will appreciate you as well as your coworkers.
Philip Campbell
Donna ,
Keep up the positive attitude. The students will appreciate it and there will be more interaction in the classroom.
Philip Campbell
Effectively communicating and respect; both to co-workers and to the students I teach. It is very important that my students feel valued, and that their voices matter.
I believe having a positive attitude when giving students feedback would be of the utmost importance. It does not matter what answer they are seeking as long as your demeanor and tone is positive and well explained.
Ali,
That is important and one that many people should take a loo at more closely.
Philip Campbell
Cynthia,
Glad you liked it. Keep focusing the energy where it needs to be.
Philip Campbell
Communication that is effective, positive, that deflects confrontation and channels it into a purposeful and constructive outcome is a tremendous workplace behavior and invaluable in establishing relationships that are cooperative, supportive and which yields productive outcomes for all involved.
Art,
Good for you. I think one of the things that you are probably successful at as well is when not to beat a dead horse. You most likely have the ability to step back and allow the learning to happen instead of forcing the learning, which ultimately is not enjoyable.
Philip Campbell
I think that the most important soft skill is the ability to actively listen to others. Too many times people stop listening before I am done talking and are already forming quesstions or a rebuttal in their head.