What Are Some Examples of Soft Skills? Here are some of the most important types of soft skills and some of the individual skills that fall under each category. This list isn’t exhaustive, but you can use it to start thinking about which soft skills you have and which you’d like to develop further. Communication Skills “Every job involves some types of communication,” Dea says. Having the ability to communicate effectively is vital for any role and can affect a number of experiences in the workplace—from how well you convey your expectations and how well you understand others’ expectations to whether or not you land that big account.
- Active Listening
- Giving Clear Feedback
- Negotiation
- Nonverbal Communication/Reading Body Language
- Persuasion
- Presenting
- Public Speaking
- Verbal Communication
- Written Communication
Leadership Skills Don’t skip this section just because you aren’t a manager or senior-level employee. “You don’t need to be a leader to demonstrate leadership!” Dea says. Employees at any level can still demonstrate their leadership skills on projects and within their teams.
- Conflict Management/Resolution
- Decision-Making
- Delegation
- Empathy
- Flexibility
- Giving and Accepting Feedback
- Influencing
- Management
- Motivating Others
- Project Management
- Relationship Building
- Talent Management
Problem-Solving Skills A big part of any job is solving problems, and not every problem has a clear-cut answer, Dea says. The ability to figure out how to approach new or particularly difficult problems is a key soft skill.
- Analytical Thinking
- Critical Thinking
- Decision-Making
- Open-Mindedness
- Innovativeness
- Proactivity
- Research
- Resourcefulness
- Risk Management
- Troubleshooting
Collaboration and Teamwork Skills You need to know how to work with others toward a shared goal or objective. This can be as small as making sure a presentation gets done for a team meeting or as big as helping your company hit its goals for the quarter or year. These skills speak to your ability to effectively work as part of a team.
- Collaboration
- Dependability
- Emotional Intelligence
- Empathy
- Disability Awareness
- Diversity Awareness
- Intercultural Competence
- Motivating Others
- Patience
- Respect for Differences
- Self-Awareness
- Tact
- Trust and Trustworthiness
Work Ethic/Work Style These soft skills relate to your particular approach to work. You’ll see that some of these traits and abilities are opposites of each other. That’s because there’s no one correct work style, and some work habits and personal qualities are better suited to different companies and work environments.
- Ability to Work Well Under Pressure
- Adaptability
- Agility
- Attention to Detail
- Awareness of the Big Picture
- Conscientiousness
- Creative Thinking
- Curiosity
- Enthusiasm
- Fast Learner
- Hard Worker
- Independence
- Integrity
- Management of Multiple Deadlines/Projects
- Meeting Tight Deadlines
- Multitasking
- Optimism
- Organization
- Team Player
- Perseverance
- Proactivity
- Process-Oriented
- Reliability
- Results-Oriented
- Self-Motivation
- Time Management
In the third and final series of Your Questions about Soft Skills and Work – Answered, we will review how to showcase your soft skills in the resume, cover letter, and through the interview. In the meantime, if you would like help with your career plans or have questions, your career team is here for you and you can contact us at CPD@mercy.edu to set up an appointment with a coach. You may also take a look at the resources and many upcoming events on our website at Career.Mercy.edu to stay informed and get involved. Article Credit:
