An Essential List of Soft Skills for Business

In my most recent blog post, I addressed the definition of soft skills and explained why they are so important in the modern business landscape. To recap, soft skills are essentially the interpersonal talents that people use on the job to communicate, interact and empathize with others. Unlike the so-called hard skills that refer to a person's ability to perform his or her job requirements, these skills are not taught or nurtured very easily. They are also quite difficult to describe, which is why I've compiled this list of soft skills. As an experienced professional, you have probably been able to recognize and nurture these skills within yourself and the organizations where you've worked. This list will help you understand how you can use your mastery of these skills to help other organizations as a consultant.

#1 – Communication Skills

This is probably the most important entry on this list of soft skills. It doesn't matter if a worker satisfies his or her occupational requirements adequately if communication skills are lacking. Communication is essential to any relationship, and it is the basis for organizations that perform at a high level. As a consultant, there's little doubt that this is an area that you will focus on intensely, regardless of the organizations you've been hired to assist.

#2 – Conflict-Management Skills

Good people don't always agree and they shouldn't have to; however, conflicts need to be resolved in a focused, civil manner within the workplace. Those who possess this type of skill soothe conflicts while finding the best solutions, often through encouraging compromise and empathy between the conflicting parties and their respective views.

#3 – Team-Building Skills

Most workplaces are comprised of teams of employees that need to work together in order to accomplish certain objectives. When teams fail to work together, though, they can drain the energy from an organization quickly. Leaders who possess team-building skills are in high demand for their ability to bond people together. As a consultant, this is one of the key areas where you can offer help.

#4 – Coaching Skills

Most leaders have no trouble telling people what to do, but the best leaders know how to coach their people effectively. Coaching is all about providing goals, but it also encompasses the motivation to reach assigned goals. When employees are coached well, they perform in a way that shows true dedication to their jobs and their organizations. Management consultants need to be able to help leaders understand the importance of coaching versus simply telling people what to do.

#5 – Mentoring Skills

Some business leaders just don't think about the importance of the future of their organizations, but those who want to leave their endeavors in good hands understand the importance of mentoring. Mentoring is not about providing instruction; it's about developing a relationship that helps the less-experienced party grow and become more confident. Since so many businesses have concerns about the future leadership of their companies, consultants are able to offer tremendous peace of mind by helping to implement strong mentoring programs.

#6 – Delegation Skills

Although it can be impressive to witness a highly paid executive doing the “dirty work” at his or her organization, more often than not it's a sign of trouble. Effective leaders understand the importance of delegating key tasks, and they have the ability to ask the right people to do them at the right times. Consultants can provide a perspective that allows leaders to see where they should be applying their talents, and where they should be encouraging others to apply theirs.

#7 – Strategic Thinking Skills

Being able to think several moves ahead of your current position is important in the game of chess, but it's also crucial to business success. Unfortunately, many leaders are unable to see around the next corner and strategize for the future. Strategic thinking does not come naturally for people, which is why leaders should seek every opportunity to improve their competence in this category. Working as a consultant gives you the opportunity to teach others how to see around the next corner and strategize effectively.

#8 – Collaboration Skills

While there are certainly self-made men and women in this world, most people become successful because they know how to collaborate with others. When leaders are able to recognize their strengths as well as their weaknesses, they can seek out others who can fill in the gaps and work together toward a common goal. Collaboration can make or break an organization, which is why it is included on this list of soft skills.

These aren't the only soft skills that are important in today's business world, but they're some of the most important. If, after reading this list of soft skills, you feel like you can help businesses and their leaders implement them, I encourage you to contact us here at Ex3 Matters. We understand the importance of soft skills, and we have the tools to help you turn your skills, knowledge and experience into a career as an independent consultant.

If you're interested in learning more about soft skills and how they can help companies succeed, we encourage you to dive deeper into Ex3Matters.com. You can also learn more about what a consulting career can do for you by downloading your free copy of Buddy Hobart's eBook, “Experience Matters.”