Soft skills are a person’s character traits, attributes and abilities that allow them to progress in their career. These skills may be difficult to quantify but they allow an individual to deliver and run projects more smoothly, communicate with boss and colleagues and achieve better performance overall. Some soft skills may come naturally while others have to be learned and developed. So what soft skills do you need to develop to improve your career?

Communication
Wherever you go, no matter which company you work for or no matter what role you play, your ability to effectively communicate is crucial in getting your job done well. Both verbal and written communication are important in a workplace. It helps you build good working relationships with your colleagues and it also helps set the tone for how you are perceived by the people around you. By being able to clearly express the who, what, why and how of your responsibilities, tasks and projects, you’ll be more effective in what you do.

Collaboration and teamwork
The success of a company or organization is rarely the product of an individual’s hardwork. It’s usually the result of several people, a team who is working towards a common goal. And this is why employers look for employees who know how to work with a team, someone who knows how to collaborate.

If you want to improve your career and take it to the next level, it’s imperative that you exhibit teamwork and collaboration. Be a team player by showing willingness to put in whatever you can contribute for the benefit of the team. Help a team member in need or cover for someone in their absence.

Adaptability
The old adage “the only constant thing in this world is change” holds true in every aspect of life, including career and professional life. To be successful, one must be able to embrace change and embracing change means being adaptable. It means having an open mind and being able to accept things as they are. Things do not always go as planned and successful individuals are those who remain flexible even when problems arise.

Empathy
Whether or not you’re holding a leadership position in your company, it’s crucial to exhibit compassion and empathy. Exercise emotional intelligence by making it a point to understand where your colleagues are coming from, whether it’s your boss or other team members. This is one of the key ingredients to building and nurturing trust among the team which helps in creating a healthy and collaborative workplace.

It isn’t hard to understand why soft skills are critical in a workplace and why you need them in your own job. If you want to get ahead in your workplace and improve your career, be sure to start developing these soft skills to stand out in the job market.