We may all aspire to excel in our careers and take up various professional courses such s Medicine, Engineering, Civil Services, etc., but acquiring knowledge and certification in these said professional courses is not enough to succeed in your career. The changing trend demands more from the job aspirants. Apart from the academics, greater emphasis is laid on the soft skills. This is so because; a large proportion of successful careers depend upon communication and interpersonal relations. Soft Skills are built on the following aspects-1. Attitude we cultivate, 2. Is polished by etiquettes we follow and 3. Are manifested by the way we communicate.                                                                                                           

What are Soft Skills

Soft Skills are those personal attributes that defines an individual’s ability to interact with others. These are also known as ‘People’s Skill’. It is often said that academic / technical skills will fetch you a job but it is the ‘Soft Skills’ helps you retain and sustain your job.

Here is a list of some of the common Soft skills

Communication Skill: This is the most vital of all the soft skills, because if you are able to actively listen to others and articulate your ideas in writing and verbally conversing in an efficient way then the message you intended to put across is effectively conveyed.

E-mail Etiquettes: Formal etiquettes should be adhered to when communicating through emails.

•          * Addressing the receiver of the mail properly
•          * Clear and concise information
•          * Write Valediction / complementary close phrases appropriately
•          * Double check before hitting the ‘Send’ button

Telephone Etiquettes: This is an integral part of any communication. A few tips to communicate effectively through telephonic conversations.

•          * Use formal greetings at the beginning of the conversation and proper complimentary close phrase at the end of the conversation.
•          * Listen attentively and understand what the person at the other end is trying to speak.
•          * Speak clearly with proper tone and volume
•          * Before putting the caller on hold, ask if you can do so.
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Negotiation Skill: “Is an art of making the people on the other side, tread on your path.” The basic steps involved in mastering this skill:

•          * Prepare thoroughly, understand the other side properly before you start the negotiation process.
•          * Communicate clearly
•          * Persuade the other person, proving your point convincingly.
•          * Reach to an agreement.

Team Building Skills:Being able to co-ordinate and work with anyone in the team, with different skill sets, personalities, work styles, or motivation level without any ego and trying to achieve a better team result are what defines Team Building Skills.

Time Management: Time Management ™ is managing time effectively, in order to save time, to function effectively, and TM also helps in allocating the right amount of time to the right activity.

Conflict Resolution & Problem Solving Skill:There are a wide range of useful skills for solving problems & handling conflicts. But possibly the most important one is being assertive. You need to be able to express your views clearly and firmly, but without aggression and practice active listening, to ensure that you fully understand the position of those involved in the conflict.
Business Etiquettes: Etiquette is not about rules or telling people what to do, or not to do, it is all about making people feel good.

Some of the tips include:

•          * A warm handshake is the formal standard
•          * Know the names of your business associates
•          * Use the words ‘Please’ & ‘Thank You’ liberally
•          * Don’t interrupt while the other is talking 

Presentation Skills:Presenting information clearly and effectively is a key skill to get your message or opinion across.  Few presentation tips include:

•          * Introduce yourself
•          * Use appropriate visual
•          * Slow down when you are speaking.
•          * Make eye contact with the audience.
•          * Ask for questions from the audience at the conclusion of the presentation.

Interpersonal Skills: Interpersonal skills are the life skills that we use every day to communicate and interact with other people, both individually and in groups. The list of interpersonal skills includes:

•          * Verbal and Non-verbal skills
•          * Listening Skills
•          * Decision Making
•          * Assertive Skills 

You can add many such personal traits to the list and all these focuses on the core aspects of communication, building strong relationships and basic mannerisms which one should posses.

What is SSD?

It is can be best described as a process of development of the human personality and make an individual socially acceptable. These skills are called ‘Soft’ skills because they more flexible to adapt, individualistic and personality related.

It is a widely accepted fact that ‘Soft Skills’ cannot be produced instantly, but should be cultivated with great patience.

Conclusion:

The basic purpose of ‘Soft Skill’ development is to develop human personality entirely. This not only makes you successful in your professional career, but also builds in you a right attitude for life and work as well.