7 ESSENTIAL SOFT SKILLS NEEDED TO SUCCEED IN YOUR BUSINESS OR CAREER

In today's fast paced and ever changing work environment, hard skills are no longer enough to guarantee success. Businesses and employers are now placing equal importance on soft skills, those potential attributes and traits that enhance an individual's ability to interact and work well with others. Developing these soft skills can make all the difference in your career or growing a thriving business.

• Emotional Intelligence(EQ): EQ is the ability to recognise and manage your emotions, as well as empathise with others. It leads to stronger relationships, proper conflict resolution, and promotes informed decision making. Being Emotionally Intelligent makes us self aware and helps to boost our social skills.
• Adaptability and Flexibility: The ability to pivot in response to changing circumstances is vital in today's dynamic work environment.The only constant in life is change so you have to develop a growth mindset, be open to new ideas and be willing to embrace and learn from failure.
• Time Management and Productivity: Learn how to efficiently prioritize tasks, set realistic goals, and minimize distractions to achieve more in less time. Develop a schedule, avoid multitasking and leverage tools and softwares to streamline your workflow.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Foster a supportive and inclusive team culture by being approachable, respectful and proactive. Encourage diverse perspectives, offer constructive feedback and celebrate collective success.
• Effective Communication: Communicating in a clear and concise manner is crucial in any profession. It helps build trust by preventing misunderstanding and ensures seamless collaboration. Try to adopt communication styles that will suit diverse audiences in different situations.
• Active Listening: Pay attention to others, focus on the message and ask useful questions for clarity to ensure thorough understanding. Active listening helps to build trust and foster meaningful relationships.
• Risilience: Inculcate the attitude of maintaining a positive attitude in the face of challenges. Do not easily give up when the going gets tough. Being resilient helps you to navigate difficult times, adapt to change and quickly bounce back from setbacks 

LEARNING AND PRACTICING SOFT SKILLS 

• Take online courses or attend workshops to develop specific soft skills
• Expand your knowledge by reading books or articles on how to develop soft skills
• Join professional networks or communities to learn from others
• Incorporate soft skills into your daily routine just like you do with hard skills
• Seek feedback from mentors, colleagues or managers.

By embracing these essential soft skills, you'll become a  well-rounded  professional, poised to succeed in your business or career. Do not forget that, soft skills are not innate—they have to be learned and refined over time with practice, patience and dedication.