Ways to build your soft skills bench

Soft skills are in high demand. Employers have already acknowledged that they find them important¹ in multiple industry reports. But how do you build up your skills and which ones matter the most?

If you want to be shortlisted for the role of your dreams, you've come to the right place. Let's get started on building your soft skills bench!

Why soft skills matter

Today's most innovative employers are hiring in a skills-first way. That makes sense because 85% of job success is likely linked to strong soft skills.² Those same skills can also help you transition³ into new roles more easily as they aren't inexplicably linked to any specific industry or vertical.

Essentially, soft skills are strong predictors of success and give you career flexibility.

Skills to build first

There are hundreds of soft skills to consider, but which should you focus on first?⁴ We would advocate for these five, which the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy feels matter.

1. Communication
2. Problem-solving
3. Teamwork
4. Flexibility
5. Time management

Let's talk about how you can work on each!

How to start earning soft skills

Communication⁵

Communication skills are sought-after in all professional areas. To enhance your prowess, do all of the following:

Consider who you're communicating with and craft the right strategy for that individual.

Simplify your communication to make it more effective. Don't overcomplicate things unnecessarily.

Get involved with others. Join groups and collaborate. Team communication is important!

Focus on and project confidence using tools like eye contact. People will appreciate you paying them attention.

Solicit feedback from anyone willing to give it. Multiple perspectives help improve the breadth of your knowledge and solidify your position.

Observe non-verbal communication and use it to be better. Lots of signals are sent silently.

Always acknowledge messages and other forms of communication so others feel heard by you. Even if you don't have an answer to a question, you can reply to emails, etc., stating that you've seen the correspondence and are working on a solution.

Practice patience. This can come in handy in many ways. For example, sometimes, you must wait for an answer to be revealed in a more extended conversation. It's worth it!

Be open and kind to others so they feel comfortable coming to you. Kindness and transparency will never go unnoticed.

Work on your active listening. This goes hand-in-hand with patience. Listening is key to understanding and eventually responding in an informed way. 
 

Problem-solving⁶

The best candidates adopt a solution-forward attitude. Here's how you can boost your problem-solving skills:

Track back to the source of the problem and work to solve it using the information you uncover about how it started. The cause of a problem often helps reveal potential solutions.

Lay out all the possible solutions from your point of view and others. Remember, others may have ideas you didn't!

Make an educated choice on the best option. Consider the evidence, different perspectives and any other relevant information needed to do this.

Take action to put the solution you've chosen into place.

Whether it's successful or not, take inventory of the outcome. This will help you make better judgment calls in the future.

Teamwork⁷

While you may work best on your own, at some point in your career, you will need to work with others. You can be a better teammate by doing these things:

Know everyone's purpose and goals. They may differ from your own and that's important.

Make sure each person understands their role in any project. Duplicating efforts can create friction.

Prioritize clear communication. This will help you get further faster, together.

Stay positive! It can be tempting to slip into negativity, but especially in a team setting, it can be hugely detrimental.

Head off any conflicts as soon as you can. Little things escalate quickly. Don't let them!

Be ready to pivot. If you find yourself moving in the wrong direction, course correct, even if it feels counterproductive. Ultimately, it will serve you better.

Banish your instinct to micromanage others. No one likes to feel like they're living under a microscope.

Take time to give kudos to all team members. Appreciation goes a long way.

Flexibility⁸

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” –Albert Einstein

Things aren't always going to go how you hope they will in your personal or professional life. That's why you must be flexible. Here are some ways to make it happen:
 

Embrace change and roll with it. Acceptance is half the battle.

Be confident in your abilities. Believe in yourself because you can do whatever you want and that includes changing.

Create long-term goals to achieve. Far-out targets help you see the bigger picture and lessen your fixation on the exact steps to get there.

Push your limits when you can. You can't constantly be pushing, but when you can move beyond your comfort zone, do it!

Time management⁹

Getting things accomplished requires being the master of your time. Try these ideas to make the best use of your minutes:

Be aware of time. It's not infinite, and you must use it wisely and realistically.

Organize and plan to accomplish things promptly. Don't let yourself procrastinate because something else may come up and impede your last-minute crunch strategy.

Ready yourself for things that may derail you and switch strategies up if needed. Remember, flexibility matters.

Join team Beacon Hill

While many seek specific roles that our partners advertise for, we also do internal hiring. Are you looking to join Beacon Hill's internal team? We care about these soft skills above all else:

1. Competitive
2. Resourcefulness
3. Personal initiative
4. Interpersonal communication skills
5. Leadership skills
6. Independent judgment
7. Passion
8. Attention to detail
9. Adaptability
10. People person

You can learn more about why in this piece.

Building up soft skills takes time, but they're well worth the effort. Are you ready to test your skills? Try applying for a new position and flex them if you get an interview.

Sources

1. 84% Of Workforce Insists Job Candidates Must Demonstrate Soft Skills, New Study Finds
2. Carnegie Foundation FAQs
3. Using soft skills and hard skills to follow a non-linear career path
4. Soft Skills: The Competitive Edge
5. 18 effective strategies to improve your communication skills
6. How To Be a Better Problem Solver (With Steps and Tips)
7. Important Teamwork Skills and How to Improve Yours
8. How To Be Flexible at Work (With Tips and Examples)
9. Time Management Is About More Than Life Hacks

Further reading

• The 5 soft skills that should be on your resume
• Top hard and soft skills each of our Divisions search for
   

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