Benefits of Soft Skills Training
Soft skills can be defined as personal attributes needed for success in the job. These include time management, teamwork skills and communication skills. These skills make it easier for communication within the workforce and collaboration which will in turn lead to increased productivity and well-rounded idea generation. A lack of soft skills can limit a staff member’s potential within the organisation.
By improving and exercising soft skills, projects will run smoother and results will be visible. Staff will be much more comfortable presenting and it will help staff progress and even help individual employees when reaching for a promotion or to move to another role.
Research shows that retention rates are higher in companies where investment is made in training and 63% of UK employees said that they would change to a job where training is offered on a more frequent basis. When a company invests in training, employees feel valued. The company is not only allowing employees to progress in their careers, but it is also allowing employees to develop skills that will help them in their personal life also.
As well as benefits internally, employees who have developed a bank of interpersonal soft skills will be hugely beneficial when it comes to meeting clients and business partners. This will lead to increased business and sales as better relationships will be built and maintained externally. The ability to communicate at a human level is important in setting you and your organisation apart from your competitors.
Networking is an essential activity in the world of business. One must be able to make small talk and ask the right questions while subtly providing contact details or business solutions. Extending your network is a great way of bringing new business to your company. Even if the contact that you make at an event does not need the solution that you offer, they may meet someone at a future event and pass on your details.
A salesperson could have all of the knowledge and experience in the world, but if they do not listen to potential customers or have any soft skills to go with their hard skills they won’t close a sale. They need to have organisational skills and demonstrate good time management when meeting potential clients and make them feel like a relationship has been formed. At the end of the day, soft skills are what a potential client will remember.
In today’s world of automation, people seek out human contact. Sometimes human contact and easy communication will be the deciding factor for consumers picking between two competitors. These kinds of interactions and soft skills are hard to automate.