Soft skills that matter.

The challenges that young people face in their first workplace are numerous. This situation can be likened to the common elements of a hero’s journey in a video game. There are several elements that any employee must master before facing the final challenge on their first day of work:

A) First, they need to be fully aware of their virtues as potential heroes who can save the day.

B) Second, they must quickly learn to use the existing tools for the challenges ahead.

C) Lastly, they need to use their soft skills to handle the tools, which occurs when they use their earned virtues as a compass during the challenges

By analogy, we can find a strong association between a hero’s powerful tools in a video game and the technology tools we use in the workplace.
So what, then, are these skills and virtues today in a typical workplace? These are hard and soft skills. Hard skills refer to teachable abilities given at any educational institution as designing, building, and maintaining the tools or devices, that help us to achieve more incredible things at work.

In contrast, soft skills are intangible virtues related to cooperative and functional performance with others.
Here are the top six soft skills most employers are looking for today:

1. Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Employees must know how to communicate effectively with their peers, leaders, and clients. Most employers appreciate a positive attitude paired with straightforward communication. Nonverbal communication is also essential. Good posture, a smile, and attentive body language tell others you are engaged and open.
2. Strategic Thinking Employers want to hire self-motivated problem-solvers. Most great leaders rely on their staff to use creative and strategic thinking to devise effective ways to do the job and solve issues. Most employers don’t have the time to give employees step-by-step instructions, so it’s ideal when they can rest assured that you can be on your own.
3. Feedback and Criticism Most people don’t like to be critiqued. Still, employees who’ve mastered accepting difficult feedback tend to be more successful in the workplace than those who do not. Employees must refrain from taking input and criticism personally and instead welcome the opportunity to improve their abilities continuously.
4. Leadership Many workplaces strive to create leaders within their teams. Employers tend to take note of the ability to lead their peers without being bossy or controlling. Bosses tend to lean on team leaders who can work independently and motivate and positively influence their peers. 
5. Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence refers to a person’s ability to effectively handle their emotions without letting them get out of hand. In the workplace, it’s the ability to leave personal drama at the door and to interact with peers, clients, and others without letting emotions get the best of you.
6. Relationships Successful relationships are a crucial part of being prosperous on the job. The ability to connect with your boss, peers, and clients goes a long way. In contrast, the inability to get along with others can be toxic in the workplace.