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Corporate Learning World

Nine Essential Soft Skills Personal Attributes and Interpersonal Abilities that enhance an individual’s interactions, job performance and career prospects

What's important to realize is that companies are aware that a person's soft skills is an important part of their individual contribution to the success of an organization.

Corporate Learning World Calgary, AB, CANADA

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http://CorpLW.footprintsherpa.net

CorpLW@gmail.com

Corporate Trainer / Facilitator & EntrepreneurEsperanza Montalvo

My intention is to bring out the potentiality of our clients - whether they are in a company or working for themselves, which in turn impacts their personal effectiveness.

Presenter

http://CorpLW-web.footprintsherpa.net

CorpLW@gmail.com

Strategist, Entrepreneur and InnovatorGustavo Munévar

My primary focus is creating learning experiences that build upon existing knowledge and skills; solve fundamental challenges and needs in learning; and tracking training impacts in financial terms.

Editor

Corporate Learning World

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Nine Essential Soft Skills The rules for succeeding in business are changing daily - talented, knowledgeable people plus innovative products is what contributes to success

Why this e-Book?

This free e-Book shows you the 9 Essential Soft Skills and gives you some Tips for each of them. You can also find out, on a Survey, your level of awareness regarding Soft Skills.

Note: All of us need to continuously work on our Soft Skills since “continuous learning” is perhaps one of the most important ones.

In this e-book, we will discuss some of the recommended strategies to enhance your People’s Skills, key pitfalls to avoid, and tips to consistently improve your Inter-relations and Results.

Keep this e-book as a quick reminder and reference.

Give to others and encourage them to visit our Blog & Website.

You can browse this book however you choose.

Go from page to page or jump to wherever you desire!

http://CorpLW.footprintsherpa.net

http://CorpLW-web.footprintsherpa.net

Experience the Nine Essential Soft Skills

required to succeed!

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Content

Why this e-book? …………………………………………………… 3

Introduction ……………………………………………………………6

Nine Essential Skills Categorized as People Skills ……………… 7

Communication Skills …………………………………………………………. 9

Local Language Skills ……………………………………………………….. 10

Presentation Skills ………………………………………………………….... 11

Small Talk ……………………………………………………………………… 12

Leadership and Initiative ………………………………………………………13

Conflict Resolution and Negotiation ………………………………………... 14

Accepting Constructive Criticism ……………………………………………. 15

Flexibility ……………………………………………………………………….. 16

Business Etiquette …………………………………………………………….. 17

Bonus Skill – One of the most important Skills ………………… 18

Questions & Answers ……………………………………………… 19

Your Soft Skills Survey …………………………………………….. 23

CLW – SOFT SKILLS Solutions, Services, and Products ……… 24

“There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth … not going all the way, and not starting.”

-- Hindu Prince Gautama Siddartha, The founder of Buddhism, 563-483 a.c.

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Introduction The Corporate Learning World has been developing training experiences on Soft Skills for your benefit. What's Soft Skills Got To Do With You?

Enhancing your Soft Skills at critical times can make the difference between a failed

promotion and a successful one. It is often a significant success factor in

capturing your potential versus wasting it, and can mean the difference between a career turnaround or termination. How Can People Skills Be More Impactful? We will discuss:

• Nine types of skills categorized as People Skills • Impactful implications when lacking these skills • In-the-moment soft skills techniques • Specific recommendations for each of the skills • Practical application of an essential skill - Conscious Feedback • You and your Soft Skills competence

Who Needs Soft Skills and Why?

• Everyone from all levels of the organization • Companies Don’t succeed. People Do!

Why Companies benefit from Consultants’ Expertise?

• Although senior leaders and managers see the value in gaining soft skills for their employees, they are inconsistent because they feel they don't have the time

• Some leaders lack soft skills themselves • Soft Skills expertise is different than managerial or leadership expertise • Consultants are relatively neutral, confidential and focused on the leaders /

managers developmental success, not their performance evaluation/ranking • They are not constrained by internal work deadlines and crisis and can provide

the needed structure and time for incorporating / expanding soft skills in pursuing professional and business objectives

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Nine Essential Skills Categorized as People Skills

Join CLW Webinar Series on Soft Skills

Thrive in your job and receive the promotions and recognition you deserve.

Establish the connections required to create Performance & Results in any area of your life.

From showing empathy while giving feedback, and optimism when dealing with obstacles, to self-awareness so as to know what’s going on around you and others - these and other competencies are now becoming an integral part of progressive organizations.

Benefit from the programs on Soft Skills we have developed at Corporate Learning World. Visit http://CorpLW-web.footprintsherpa.net

You can browse this book however you choose.

Go from page to page or jump to wherever you desire!

The first step in finding your way somewhere is to discover where you are, to begin with.

-- Polly Berends, 1990

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Nine Essential Soft Skills

by

Esperanza Montalvo

Corporate Learning World

Join us Twitter using #CorpLW

AgendaReflecting on people skills

New Economy = New Reality

The 9 Soft Skills known as People Skills

Food for thought!

Questions & Answers

Companies Don’t Succeed. People Do!

Tom Peters, Management & Leadership Consultant

Did you know?

What’s the message?New Economy …

The 9 Soft Skills

Soft Skills = People Skills

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1. Communication Skills

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

-- Martin Luther King

How do I communicate?

1. Communication Skills

Tips for persuasive communication

Focus on the people receiving your message

Use persuasive words, especially ‘you’

Eliminate barriers to persuasive communication, like spelling mistakes

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2. Local Language Skills

What are you saying?

2. Local Language Skills

In a corporate environment, your language skills have to evolve to understand local phrases andbusiness jargon

FYI, ASAP and ROI

Tips on local language skills

Gatekeeper [n] - A person within an organization that controls the flow of information to and from managers. Can often be valuable friends.

Hand-holding [v.] Helping someone perform a task that, because of inexperience or incompetence, they cannot complete on their own.

Time-poor [adj.] Possessing little free time.

True North [n.] The business direction that leads to success. "We've brought insome consultants to help steer us to True North."

Sacred cow [n.] A program or product that can be unprofitable but cannot be questioned.

Unpack [v.] To explore and examine on detail.

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3. Presentation Skills

Here I am …

3. Presentation Skills

This could mean a formal presentation to clients or;

a more casual way of presenting yourself in meetings and with colleagues

Tips for presentation skills

Focus on the audience – We become nervous when we focus on ourselves

Remember People’s Names

Connect with the Audience through Eye Contact and Pauses

Do you know about Toastmasters?

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4. Small Talk

What Should I say …

4. Small Talk

Water cooler chitchat is part of corporate life

recognize which topics are “taboo” in Canada or/and in your Company

Tips for small talk

Stay away from religion / strong political beliefs

Find common interests

Listen & Ask Questions

“The best conversationalist is not the best speaker but the best listener!”

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5. Leadership and Initiative

Where is my place?

5. Leadership and Initiative

Staying invisible is why many professionals are overlooked when it comes to promotions

Take initiative, share ideas, ask questions, and encourage others to collaborate

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6. Conflict Resolution and Negotiation

How could I deal with this?

6. Conflict Resolution and NegotiationLearn how to disagree with a co-worker or even your boss without getting emotional

when things go to far, learn to apologize

Tips for conflict resolution

Focus on the best solution, not ‘my’ solution

Always take responsibility when a conflict arises – ‘It takes two to tango’

Let go of desire to win. Work towards toResolve.

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7. Accepting Constructive Criticism

What about feedback?

7.

Tips for receiving criticism

Take suggestions irrespective of who suggest them – look at the suggestion and not who is doing it

Don’t take it personal

Take your time to Reply – First start with what you agree then what you disagree with

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8. Flexibility

Changing again?

8.

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9. Business Etiquette

What do I need to do?

9. Business EtiquetteWorkplace customs and practices may be different in Canada

Tips for business protocol

Communicate more with spoken word than body language

Keep personal distance

Prefer details and backup evidence such as examples

Expect others to speak in a straight forward manner

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Bonus Skill Bonus Skill - One of the most important Skills “““CCCooonnntttiiinnnuuuooouuusss LLLeeeaaarrrnnniiinnnggg””” If we don’t grow, we shrink! There is ‘no’ staying the same. We either grow or shrink. As we learn each day, our mind and perspective towards life and work expand, leading us towards the direction we desire.

Food for Thought!

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Questions & Answers By Esperanza Montalvo

How can I make a difference between chitchat and gossiping? Chitchat is talking about trivial information and it is done as an icebreaker or simply filling time. Gossiping, on the other hand, it’s a harmful conversation that only produces an environment of resentment and discord. • Avoid gossiping by walking away from it, or • Changing the subject.

Become known for being someone who detests gossiping.

When a conflict has started, what do I need to do? You have two choices: Feed into the conflict; or Stop the conflict and create a Dialogue (instead)

• Often it’s our desire to “be right” what feeds a conflict. • Ask inwardly: what did I do or said to cause this. • As soon as we begin “listening” to the other point of view, and

understand that “the other has the right to his opinion”, we began a dialogue where both parties are listened to respectfully.

• It takes an attitude of respect for the opinions of others to create Dialogue and stop a conflict.

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What do I need to do to improve my presentation skills? • Practice, practice, practice. • Ask your team leader to give you the opportunity to present as much

as possible. • Create opportunities for yourself at a community centre, a church, a

club. • Join Toastmasters International (Google). • Choose one Tip (on slides) and practice it until you master it, then

choose the next one. Is there a method or technique to quickly learn a specific industry jargon? • Go to the library. You will find books on every industry’s jargon. • Easier yet, Google it. You will find jargon for engineers, lawyers,

business, accountants, you name it. • Pay attention to your colleagues. When you don’t understand an

expression, ask confidently what it means. • Ask, Ask, Ask.

What do you recommend us to improve our communication skills? • “Decide” that you want to improve your communication • Use words of affirmations: “I am an effective communicator”. “I am

connecting with others as I communicate”, etc. • Listen with the intention “to understand and connect” – not to win, be

right, or better than others. • Be willing to learn from others so pay attention to what they say. • Communication is more “an attitude” than anything else. As we

change our attitude, the way we communicate changes.

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What do I do when I have a conflict with a colleague? • Always make yourself 50% responsible and have the attitude of

“solving a problem where you are also the cause”. • Clarify the problem and invite the other to resolve “our problem” not

his or hers. • Listen actively without interrupting. • Always thank the other person for wanting to work on solving the

conflict.

What is the best way to get feedback about work that has been done? Usually here they don’t tell you anything and I have to assume. If feedback is not given to you, your job is to ask for it. Some managers believe that only when things are not working, should feedback be given (this is the old style of leadership). Take initiative and ask for it. Be willing to hear about areas for improvement, and welcome all suggestions (if provided).

What would you do when you are dealing with a ‘manipulative’ person, whom you need to keep a long term relationship with, for instance, your boss, your best customer, etc. First of all, look at your perception – a manipulative person. When we learn that others only treat us as we allow them to, we are ready to solve the problem.

Step #1 - Look within yourself.

I could say, be assertive and confident, ask for what you want and so on. Yes. This is one way. I also know that we need to keep our jobs and relationships. We call 'manipulative' people those who can trigger our sensitivity and get us to do what 'they' desire. So, your job is to become aware of where and when this person plays with your weaknesses. Pay attention. You need to "Know Yourself" to respond not from a place of Fear but from a place of Awareness.

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Step #2

When you feel manipulated, ask yourself: what is he or she doing that makes me feel this way? Pay attention and begin discovering the reason you feel such way.

For now, you asked the question so you are on your way to solve the situation. You are now aware that something needs to change.

Step #3

Begin changing within yourself what needs to be changed. Perhaps you are uncomfortable with conflict. Perhaps you are uncomfortable expressing your opinions, etc. You need to discover what your fears are and work on them.

When we look within, we Awaken!

Corporate Learning World

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Your Soft Skills Survey Here’s an opportunity for you to figure out whether you have or lack Soft Skills. Beside each question, write the number that most closely represents how you’d react, most of the time. For the best results, go with your first reaction.

3. Most of the time 2. Sometimes 1. Mostly No

_____ Can you be optimist when others aren’t? _____ Do you speak well of your employer? _____ Do you follow instructions willingly? _____ Do you keep promises? _____ Do you know your weaknesses and work to

improve them? _____ Do you respect other people’s opinions? _____ Can you adapt easily to new and unexpected

situations? _____ Do you tend to be enthusiastic about whatever

you do? _____ Are you a good listener _____ Can you disagree without being disagreeable? _____ Do you usually speak well of others? _____ Do you generally look for opportunities and the

bright side of things? _____ Are you enthusiastic about other people’s

interests? _____ Are you comfortable asking questions? _____ Do you understand that your success is about

your Personal Development

_____ Do you tolerate other people’s beliefs? _____ Can you work with someone you dislike? _____ Do you admit your mistakes? _____ Do you avoid gossiping and complaining? _____ Do you ask questions and take initiative? _____ Do you involve others on a day to day

conversations? _____ Are you familiar with taboo topics in your

organization? _____ Are you willing to give presentations when

asked? _____ Do you connect with people easily? _____ Do you learn people’s names easily? _____ Do you ask questions out of your interest to

others? _____ Can you take and give feedback understanding

its value? _____ Do you follow Business etiquette in your

interactions? _____ Are you familiar with cultural differences? _____ Are you a continuous learner? _____ Total (Maximum score: 90 )

Total your score and rate yourself according to the following scale: 80 – 90 Your Soft Skills are terrific! 59 – 79 Your Soft Skills are definitely admirable! 38 – 58 Your Soft Skills need work in certain areas Below 37 Your Soft Skills need a lot of work. Take a close look at them and do

something about it.

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You can rely on our expertiseLet us help you expand your Soft Skills

Online Conscious Feedback CourseDiscover the world of people's motivation and

build your knowledge upon a variety of situations.

Conscious CoachingCommunication with Impact

Emotional IntelligenceInterpersonal Skills

Leadership

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