Get Your Students Hired
As an instructor and manger of adjuncts i feel like if i have solid individual who is willing to learn then I can help them gain the skills they need to be successful in the classroom.
I have to be honest, I was surprised that attitude wasn't the most popular answer!
What do you think the most important soft skills are for success in any workplace and why?
I would have to say that the most important soft skill is common sense. Possessing common sense can help someone be successful because it encompasses so much of the important soft skills. With common sense one can more easily practice other soft skills.
Have you ever seen someone who has a great deal of knowledge and expertise, but lacks common sense? An example that comes to mind is Warren Buffett. I remember his wife discussing a time when she was ill and too weak to get out of bed - she needed something to thow up into and sent Warren to get something. He came back with a colander! As smart as the guy is, in that instance he didn't exhibit common sense.
People who lack common sense are probably very frustrated because I think it is difficult or impossible to learn. How do you teach common sense?
I agree David. Being positive is contagious. It is hard for a student to stay in a negative frame of mind when they encounter a positive attitude. As the students enter the classroom I like to call them by name and say "Good Morning"! Many come in to the classroom with so much baggage and drama. We may be the only person that is positive in their life or takes the time to care about them.
I feel that a positive attitude is always winning, if we can keep positive Polly's in the front and the negative Nancy's to a minimum the whole class will win.
Joslyn,
Nice list. Understanding others is sometimes difficult but we can all do it.
Philip Campbell
Misty,
That is a great example. It surprises most people when it happens to them.
Philip Campbell
Well done, Karin! I like how this explains everything one could possibly possess, yet when one item, soft skills is lacking, it makes the other skills in the person's profile, seem not so strong or important. I truly believe that soft skills comprise 85% of the skills in the workplace. Everything we do in class, or how we say things to students, is critical of their learning and success.
I think of soft skills as wearing 'kid' gloves. Even the loudest person in the room may have the most delicate emotions.
Rita Palasek
The most important soft skills in the work place are integrity, common sense, dependability and understanding others. These are the main situations that you deal with and have control over each and everyday.
Integrity, maintaining a positive attitude, trying to understand others and using common sense
positivity and the encouragement of people. It's nice when someone see's all of the creat qualities in you, that you don't often see in yourself...
I believe that having integrity, a positive attitude, and understanding others are very essential components for a successful working environment. It is with these three things that most people develop a genuine respect and support which in-turn generates strong TEAM work values.
Michael,
Extremely important. Not everyone sees it that way, but more of us should.
Philip Campbell
Anna Marie,
If we all keep doing just that, success will come to all of us.
Philip Campbell
I do not think there is one skill more important than the other. I believe they are all equally important although, depending on the job, certain soft skills might be required more that others. Example, a job where sensitive information is handled, the soft skill most required would probably be integrity. As an instructor, all ten soft skills mentioned are very important in particular moment. Let's take "positive attitude". If you walk into the classroom with a negative attitude, the student will immediately catch on to it and his/her attitude and that of the entire class could change making it monotonous and boring. "Integrity", if you do not show fairness in the treatment of each of the students in class, they will feel uncomfortable to the point that this unfairness could be reported therefore your effectiveness as an instructor in the workplace can be compromised.
Your thoughts?