2011-11 Why IT Professionals Need Soft Skills
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The document discusses why IT professionals need soft skills. It defines soft skills as personality traits and emotional intelligence that characterize relationships with other people, such as communication, empathy, and teamwork. Soft skills are less tangible than hard skills but are important for getting and advancing in jobs. The document provides examples of how soft skills are important for individual contributors and managers in areas like communication, conflict resolution, and leadership. It recommends learning soft skills to be more strategic, see other perspectives, have less conflict, and gain opportunities for responsibility, promotion, and salary increases.
2011-11 Why IT Professionals Need Soft Skills
- 1. Why IT Professionals Need Soft Skills Define “soft skills” Compare with hard or occupational skills List of soft skills How soft skills apply in different positions Why learn them Benefit © 2011 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved.
- 2. Soft Skills Definition Emotional Intelligence Quotient - Personality traits Social graces Communication, language Personal habits, responsibility, integrity Friendliness, optimism, sense of humor, common sense Characterize relationships with other people Complement hard skills © 2011 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved.
- 3. Emotional Intelligence Quotient - Personality traits Can translate to abilities that can be learned and practiced Empathy Communication Sociability Negotiation Willingness to teach and help others Teamwork Leadership © 2011 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved.
- 4. Hard Skills and Soft Skills Side-by-Side Hard Skills Soft Skills Tangible Less tangible Can be defined Harder to quantify Can be measured Personal and Relate to an interpersonal occupation or job attributes May be technical Determine a person’s work performance Learn in school or from books Require adaptability Get the interview Land the job © 2011 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved.
- 5. Expanded List of Soft Skills Leadership Strategic thinking Communication Delegation and motivation Conflict resolution and negotiation Influencing Creative problem solving Coaching and mentoring Team building Personal effectiveness © 2011 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved.
- 6. Soft Skills as an Individual Contributor Individual contributor Work with others Communication Conflict resolution Problem solving Help and support Initiative © 2011 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved.
- 7. Soft Skills as a Supervisor or Manager Supervisor or Manager Now a leader, coach, mentor Direction, strategy Goals and objectives Working guidelines and processes Communication up, down, across for all Delegation and motivation Effective feedback Difficult people and interpersonal situations Remote and multicultural employees Appropriate style © 2011 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved.
- 8. Why Learn Them Use of strategic thinking More effective and appropriate communication Increased ability to discuss difficult issues Greater inclination to see the other person’s perspective Less conflict through discussion and negotiation Development of leadership skills © 2011 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved.
- 9. Why Learn Them (continued) Opportunities Greater responsibility Learning, new skills Visibility Promotion Salary increase © 2011 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved.
- 10. So Why do IT Professionals Need Soft Skills? To get the job To keep the job To advance To grow as a professional and as a human being! © 2011 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved.