Introduction: The Quest for a Reliable Soft Skills Partner
If you’re searching for a dependable partner to assist your organization in soft skills development, it’s crucial to understand why you might not see the expected returns—either in business outcomes or tangible learning achievements. With over a decade of experience in this field, working with top-tier organizations like ABN Amro, Google, TeamBlue, Deloitte, and Cognizant, I offer insights to help you make informed decisions.
Understanding Skill Needs at Different Career Stages
Most people grasp that different soft skills are necessary at various career stages. Take a compliance manager as an example: initially, ‘risk management’ might be the focal skill. However, as he climbs the corporate ladder, ‘stakeholder management’ may take precedence. Yet, underlying these are “real power skills” like ownership and persistence. These are the skills that add business value.
The Influence of Behavioral Patterns
However, it’s common for individuals to find these deeper soft skills elusive due to ingrained behavioral patterns—what can be considered their Achilles heel. These patterns consume substantial time and energy, often overshadowing the development of essential “power skills” like ownership or perseverance.
Breaking Patterns Through Self-Direction
To illustrate, a person prone to overthinking will struggle to develop skills like ownership or self-direction unless they can break this habit. Similarly, an empathic individual may find it difficult to be assertive until they gain control over their own will. These behavioral patterns aren’t easily broken. Yet, mastering self-direction can serve as a keystone for overcoming these barriers and fully developing other crucial skills. Another crucial element is the process of attaining mastery of a skills, the learning-to-learn. Giving employees structure.
The Organizational Payoff
Organizations that recognize this dynamic stand to benefit significantly. They not only enable their employees to better direct their work and personal lives, but also make their workplaces more attractive to potential talent. This is due in part to a foundational belief: every skill can be honed and developed if the limiting behaviors are adequately addressed.
Personal Transformation and the Power of ‘Gevura’
This transformation taps into the mystical power of ‘gevura’—an idea I’ve not only studied but also personally lived. Once unclear about my own goals, I’ve navigated through personal barriers, from asserting boundaries to confronting intimidating situations. Having empathy as one of my strengths, I can vouch for the discipline it takes to develop these skills.
Master of Talent Development
The field of soft skills training is ripe for transformation. Our program, the Master of Talent Development, aims to redefine soft skills mastery by turning talents into mastered skills, much like accomplished athletes and performers do. Are you in the process of choosing a soft skills development partner? Choose wisely.