How important are soft skills in the business world today?
In the book cha ching it clearly discusses the vast importance of soft skills in the business world. We are usually and most commonly not taught these critical skills and how they will help us advance our careers. Throughout school we have always been taught hard skills and there has been little to no focus on soft skills. There are seven essential skills which are important for us to develop. These skills consist of conflict management, team building, problem solving, influencing, sales, negotiating, and marketing. Conflict management is important because there are always going to be instances where we do not agree with coworkers, clients, and even our bosses. We need to know how to control the situation and resolve it. The number one rule for conflict management is treat people with respect. Team building is an essential skill to develop because we are always going to be working with people. We need to mow how to function within a team with diverse situations. Team building also has sub-skills which are affiliated with it such as listening, learn to let go, make deals, and accepting your team. Problem solving is the next skill with is important to learn life is full of challenges and we need to be educated on how to solve them. "successful people take problems head on and do not run away from difficulties of life."(Grinbaum) Even the most pressing issues in life are going to have some type of positive aspect to them. You need to be able to think outside of the box and remember that every successful person has overcome tremendous obstacles. No matter how difficult a problem maybe look at it as a learning experience and an opportunity to grow. Influencing, sales, and negotiation are probably the three most important skills. Everything in life is sales and we need to remember that. Whether it is selling ourselves in an interview, selling yourself to your coworkers, or even a potential partner. We have to have the skills to negotiate with different types of people in different situations. You need to have a strong influence and sales pitch to get peoples attention. Once you are able to master these skills you will be unstoppable. Having these seven essential soft skills are greatly important in being most successful in life and the business world. In the case I choose an individual went off to a conevention over his thanksgiving break and found that most companies there focused on soft skills.” While you may be juggling the end of fall recruiting and studying for final exams, you’re probably looking ahead, at the same time, to next term’s classes in your MBA program. If you’re like many MBA students, you’ll likely try to take as much finance, marketing, strategy, operations, and other classes in hopes that the knowledge gained will help you secure the right summer internship and, eventually, a full-time position.Taking these “hard skills” classes is important, especially if you’re a career changer. In addition to taking these foundational classes, however, you should also start thinking about what you need to know for the future for a particular job function or industry. If you plan ahead now, you’ll be more likely to succeed later and move through the ranks more quickly once you land in your career after graduation.Thanksgiving week, I had the opportunity to travel with some of our students to Los Angeles to meet with companies in the media and entertainment industry. I spent an interesting couple of days talking with representatives from seven organizations and hearing their thoughts on the most important skills needed on the job. The biggest surprise to many students was the emphasis on soft skills. But to succeed longer term in any of the organizations we visited, having strong team skills and knowing how to build and manage relationships were seen as just as important.”(Hori) As we progress in our careers, we will move beyond doing the nitty-gritty work most MBAs are focused on in the first few years of their career. “Leadership roles, the key skills that will determine your success will be around your ability to interact with others in a highly effective fashion.”(Hori)” Soft skills are an essential tool to progressing in the business world and advancing your career.
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