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As we progress in our careers and take on greater responsibilities within our organizations, it becomes evident that professional skill development is just as crucial as technical competence. While we often associate training with acquiring skills and knowledge directly related to the technical performance of our job, the reality of daily work requires a different set of skills. These include managing diverse workgroups with varying profiles and expectations, developing professional networking, handling difficult clients, communication and interpersonal skills, complex negotiations, and adapting to changing environments. This set of skills is commonly referred to as “soft skills.”

Understanding Professional/Soft Skills

Soft skills encompass competencies related to personal behavior, social relationships, leadership, and emotional management. They enable us to interact and manage our environment effectively. On the other hand, technical skills, known as “hard skills,” are the specific technical abilities required to perform a job. Mastery of technical aspects is essential for any career: a doctor must diagnose accurately, an architect must design creative and functional spaces, and a marketing professional must understand and segment their audience, manage a budget, or develop a marketing plan. However, these competencies, while necessary, are not always sufficient for a successful professional career. We all know individuals who, despite being technically proficient, are stalled in their careers due to their inability to relate optimally with their environment or to leverage their strengths and achievements.

The Shift from Hard to Soft Skills

We are often hired for our technical abilities but grow in our careers through our professional skills. As we accumulate years of professional experience, technical competencies gradually give way to the need to develop other types of soft skills directly related to higher responsibilities, such as team management, leadership, change management, and strategy development. Interestingly, while hard skills are acquired systematically and procedurally through academic life and continuous training, professional competencies are often learned (if at all) through practice, typically in a haphazard manner, late, and usually after making many mistakes due to not having internalized them when assuming responsibilities where their use was critical.

Key Soft Skills

The list of potential non-technical skills to consider in our professional development is extensive, especially given the increasing variability of professional profiles in an ever-more specialized world. However, a preliminary categorization to help distribute this broad list might include:

1. Skills Related to Our Attitude Towards Work:

– Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Constantly seeking to change our environment.

– Professionalism and Integrity: Being a good professional requires being a good person.

– Creativity: Thinking outside the box to find new solutions.

– Growth Mindset: Continuously seeking to learn and improve.

2. Skills Related to Our Future Expectations:

– Clarity of Professional Goals: Knowing what we want professionally.

– Acting in Accordance with Future Goals: Aligning today’s actions with tomorrow’s expectations.

– Wealth vs. Influence: Understanding whether we aim to be rich or to have significant influence can guide our career decisions and reduce frustration from unmet expectations.

3. Skills Related to Managing Our Environment:

– Networking Development: Building a network of contacts with the principle of “giving without expecting, receiving without forgetting.”

– Communication: Effectively conveying ideas and listening to others.

– Negotiation and Difficult Situations Management: Handling complex interactions smoothly.

– Adaptability: Adjusting to a constantly changing environment.

The Evolving Workplace and the Need for Continuous Learning

A generation ago, the functions and competencies associated with job positions remained static for many years. Today, new competencies, challenges, and skills are constantly required, necessitating continuous evolution. Our ability to manage change and adapt is arguably the most critical aspect to consider in our professional training. In a rapidly shifting professional landscape, those who can evolve and adjust their skill set in response to new demands will be the most successful.

In conclusion, while technical skills form the foundation of our professional capabilities, it is the soft skills that enable us to grow, adapt, and excel in our careers. A balanced development of both sets of skills is essential for achieving long-term professional success and personal fulfillment.