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To put it lucidly, soft skills is something you can start
working on right now irrespective of whether you are a student, employee or a
leader. Several fortune 500 companies across the globe have recognized the
importance of soft skills training in achieving optimum productivity and
profitability. Let’s look at 5 emerging trends in soft skills training:-
1. Soft skills will be valued
higher than hard skills-The top management expect their teams to communicate
effectively, collaborate effectually and work productively. Mere technical
qualification may not help in achieving this. According to Lisa Bodell, founder
and CEO of futurethink, an
internationally recognized innovation research and training company in the
United States “soft skills such as listening, creativity, agility and
problem-solving, are becoming as important as expertise and technical
competency.” It’s the application of soft skills that distinguishes an average
performer from a great performer. Today, soft skills are just as important as
hard skills, if not more. In Singapore, a survey found employers are hiring
candidates based on soft skills, rather than academic results.
2. Short and interactive session
is the way to go -
A week long training session is a big no-no for the millennials. If you want to
motivate the Gen Y, then your soft skills training programs should be a half a
day or a day long one and don’t forget to interlude it with a feedback
session.Though the young employees expect immediate results from such a
program, experts believe that habits can take some time to change. After all,
soft skills are habits as well as skills. It’s the real situations in their
professional and personal lives which will enable individuals to develop and
hone soft skills.
3. Investing in soft skills
training will yield great results-A study conducted by
Development Dimensions International found that for every $1,100 invested in
soft skills training, employers earned an average return of $4,000. Employee
miscommunications cost businesses US $37 billion every year in the US and UK.
Little wonder then that Singapore government is urging students to develop
soft skills, particularly abilities to work cross culturally and in teams. For
an organization’s bright future, it’s prudent to invest in soft skills training
instead of merely focusing on technical skills. In India, the realization
has already set in that lack of soft skills can bring down the bottom line. In
the future, we are more likely to see companies investing a substantial amount
on soft skills training.
4. Growing need for 'certified'
soft skill trainers- It’s not just working professionals, but school children
and college students too are comprehending the importance of soft skills. There
is a growing need for certified soft skill trainers who as Atkinson says have to deliver fun and action-oriented
trainings. “Millennials are the fastest growing generation in the workplace and
organizations that implement an engaging training program aligned with both
business and personal goals of Gen Y will receive incredibly high return on
investment”, Atkinson says.
5. Instructor led online training
will become popular- With the growing popularity of online virtual classrooms,
conventional training(read classroom based) or webinars may cease to exist. The
uniqueness of virtual classrooms lies in its flexibility, cost effectiveness
and scalability. App based or mobile training is also a much sought after
option which will top the popularity charts in the coming months.
To conclude, a single learning session or a training
environment is not sufficient enough to absorb soft skills. Guided and repeated
skill practice in real situations will help people achieve the desired results
in their professional, social and personal lives.
