Let me give you a statistic: 70% of human resource professionals believe their organization has skills gaps. Managers agree, voicing concerns that employees may not have the necessary skills to be effective.
These stats sound discouraging, but they’re openings to show off your soft skills expertise, whether you’re seeking work or wish to expand your profile on the job. However, the trick isn’t to cite a bunch of random competencies—like communication, problem-solving, or emotional maturity. Instead, you want to paint a vivid picture of how you execute. So, in the March series, Unforgettable, In-Demand Soft Skills, we’ll talk about three ways you can be unforgettable.
First, let’s start with a common problem: Productivity. Everyone wants to be productive, but this soft skill can feel confusing and subjective. One person on TikTok hit the nail on the head by commenting, “If the meetings were actually productive, I wouldn’t mind. No one is prepared. We end up scheduling three extra meetings. And I’m the one taking notes!”
I instantly related to the commenter. When I began negotiating deals, I viewed meetings as a necessary evil. But one day that mindset crumbled in spectacular fashion.
Our team rolled into the negotiation with a contract draft riddled with changes. I anticipated a tough call, but the conversation seemed casual and relaxed. That was until Party X blew past several key sections.
“Just a second—does that mean you approve everything we skipped over?” I said hopefully.
The Lead Negotiator’s voice turned icy. “Oh, not by a long shot. We’re just moving to the next big issue. If we get through our stack rank list, we’ll backtrack.”
I cringed, realizing we were completely outmatched. Suddenly, our mistakes were in plain sight: We didn’t show up with a clear strategy and sharp tactics to back it up. That left us scrambling in real-time rather than at our clear-thinking, productive best. My mantra suddenly shifted from a laid-back “it’s all good” to a desperate, “Jesus, take the wheel!”
That fateful day I learned that anyone could schedule a meeting. Anyone can set up a call. And anyone can start a tedious conversation, grinding through one point after another. But scheduling meetings doesn’t mean you’re productive. To be effective, you need a How to your What, and that’s where soft skills come in.
A secret people forget to mention early in your career is that “Done” isn’t the goal—”accomplished” is.
Here’s why: Many people get projects done, but the results are lackluster. You’re constantly chasing them to meet deadlines. Or they act outside the group, either isolating or steamrolling others to get to the finish line. Those actions are all forgettable.
So, switch your thinking about productivity and highlight what you accomplish. People will rave about your productivity expertise if you accomplish three essentials:
These elements may make sense in theory, but do you ever get tongue-tied trying to describe your How?
For instance, imagine someone asking, “Do you have any secret sauce to outstanding meetings?” Instead of describing scheduling or task management tools, talk about your people skills. Describe soft skill How tactics such as being adaptable, creative, or tuning into your instincts.
Here are three short and sweet examples to use or jumpstart your thinking:
Understanding how to accomplish first-rate deliverables is always in demand. So, don’t just aspire to be productive. Use soft skills to be unforgettable.