Empowering Soft Skills: Transforming Sensitivity into Strength
Written on
The Hidden Strength of Soft Skills
My sensitivity is an asset. It's a quality that has earned me numerous accolades in my role as a People + Culture leader, yet it’s also something others often criticize and wish for me to change.
Through my experience, I've discovered that soft skills are acknowledged when they alleviate burdens for others, but they tend to be undervalued when they require someone to confront challenging tasks. My sensitivity encourages individuals, particularly leaders, to reflect on the effects of their words and the inclusiveness of their strategies and processes.
To foster appreciation for soft skills, I must articulate them clearly, value them personally, and present them effectively.
Despite the abundance of literature on the importance of soft skills in the workplace, they often remain unappreciated. Why is this the case? It's challenging to grasp the true impact of soft skills.
While we may understand that a kind person enhances customer experiences, this understanding can get lost when examining customer satisfaction metrics. For women, the expectation to exhibit soft skills increases the pressure, as society commonly anticipates traits like patience and compassion. A woman who embodies these characteristics is often seen as merely meeting expectations rather than earning recognition. Nonetheless, organizations cannot thrive without these essential skills, given their profound influence on workplace dynamics and safety.
Valuing Your Soft Skills in the Workplace
Storytelling — Linking Soft Skills to Measurable Outcomes
At work, the emotions of employees, partners, and customers shape perceptions and influence the organization's trajectory. However, emotions can feel elusive, especially to leaders focused on quantifiable results.
Thus, it’s crucial to present them with a narrative that connects data to human experiences. Data alone lacks depth without context. Storytelling incorporates behavioral insights and ethical considerations, making it a comprehensive approach. Unfortunately, many are skeptical of what cannot be quantified. Therefore, it’s important to bridge the gap between data and emotions.
For instance: My approachability and open-mindedness fostered a safe environment for team members to share innovative ideas. This led to my team experimenting with projects A, B, and C. Here are the outcomes of those initiatives and the sentiments of my team regarding them.
Specificity — Clearly Define Your Skills
Repeated use of a term can dilute its meaning. What does it truly mean to be a strong communicator? When expressing your value, it’s vital to use precise language and clarify what “good” entails.
For example: Here are the results of my marketing initiatives. Our findings indicate that prospects respond positively to content that is both straightforward and accurate. I developed this content style by collaborating closely with the engineering and customer success teams to understand their perspectives.
Organizations prioritize efficiency and cost reduction, yet the essence of humanity cannot be automated; it is an art. Being specific about your skills cultivates respect and understanding for them.
Self-Awareness — Reflect on Your Motivations
Cultivating appreciation for your soft skills is essential; they are hard-earned. Over the years, I’ve often heard individuals downplay personal achievements as things anyone could accomplish. However, not everyone has done so; it was that individual who made it happen.
Reflect on your journey—consider the values, lessons, and experiences that have shaped you and how they relate to your successes.
Evaluate what you bring to the table. Your unique experiences have woven a tapestry of skills and knowledge that cannot be replicated. The way someone thinks is their greatest differentiator. Do you provide original insights? Do you pose thoughtful questions to uncover new information? Do you grasp the fundamental issues at hand? By dissecting your thought process for others, you illuminate the complexities of your role and your approach to it.
For instance: I embrace a learner’s mindset, which encourages others to feel comfortable offering me feedback. While developing a new website design, I received a wealth of input. I considered all feedback, integrated relevant suggestions for the brand, and followed up with everyone to express gratitude for their contributions. Even ideas not directly implemented influenced other decisions. By managing expectations and involving diverse voices throughout the process, we achieved team support and buy-in all the way to the executive level.
Incorporating soft skills into the workplace infuses humanity into daily operations, and connecting these efforts to data and narratives allows individuals to be acknowledged, appreciated, and heard.