Recently I had a hella week! I wanted to wish every bad situation away by clicking my heels three times, just like Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz.” But that didn’t work, so I turned to soft skills to solve my hard problems. They work first time, every time.
I talk a lot about soft skills, but are they a mystery to you? Could you name your best soft skill if someone asked you to?
I don’t want you to be stumped. I want you to be ready with ninja moves, but that’s going to take some training! So, in July, we’ll walk through five key soft skills—adaptability, creativity, discernment, empathy and healthy self-esteem—in the series, Soft Skills Basic Training.
Let’s set the stage by differentiating between hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are quantifiable abilities like computer programming, editorial writing, mathematics, or art design. Soft skills are intangibles such as the way you communicate and listen, how you solve problems, and how you apply critical thinking.
Soft skills are essential for job success because recruiters and managers are increasingly seeking and grading employees on their expertise. However, they are even more important for your off-hours relationships with family, friends and in your community. You can’t push and shove your way through the world, as I mentioned in my book, Genuine Power—7 Techniques to Be Powerful in a Loud, Complicated World. But you can manage the curve balls of life by using soft skills. Most important, you can customize them in a way that makes sense to you.
So, let’s start with adaptability. Adaptability sounds reasonable but is your first thought, I know someone who needs the message to be adaptable!? Adaptability can be hard to implement because we have a secret fear that we’re undercutting our personal power. That’s why we think it’s for everyone else.
But let’s put adaptability in another light. Adaptability is the key to transforming a closed mindset. You empower yourself to get out of a grumpy, circular conversation of “me vs. you” to the higher question of, “What’s the best answer?”
Think of a difference of opinion with a neighbor or friend. Being stubborn and trying to strong-arm them into your way of thinking probably put the situation in lock-down. How did you find common ground? By being willing to be open, receptive, flexible, and give a little—all qualities of adaptability.
So, instead of feeling obstinate or trying to force an outcome, use adaptability when:
Disagreements happen every day, but don’t let them become the boss of you. Use the qualities of adaptability like compromise, cooperation, and flexibility to be the creative, wise CEO of your life.