Every parent aims to raise ambitious, successful, and happy individuals. But how do you ensure your children are future-ready in today's fast-paced world? How can we guarantee their holistic development without defining them by the norms and fitting them into boxes?
We often encounter adolescents we perceive as ill-mannered; contrary to popular perception, they aren't hostile; they lack soft skills, aka people's skills.
While focusing on getting their kid the finest education and technical training, most parents undermine the importance of soft skills and their role in their success and social life.
What Are Soft Skills?
Soft skills can be defined as people's skills or non-cognitive skills. They are an amalgamation of social skills, communication skills, character, and personality traits that aid a person in navigating their environment, working well with their peers, performing better, and achieving goals.
Importance of Soft Skills
Unlike hard skills like science, math, etc., soft skills focus on communication, self-discipline, and adapting to the environment. Children learn these skills outside the classroom from their peers and families.
Thus, we need to look beyond classroom education and prepare our children for the future. Soft skills ensure our kid's holistic development and fulfillment. Encouraging kids to focus on their strengths and complementing their hard skills can help set them apart.
Some Must-Have Soft Skills
Communication
Knowing how to communicate ideas and feelings properly is the most crucial and hard-to-acquire skill. Nothing can hinder them from achieving extraordinary things once they learn how to express their thoughts effectively. Encouraging them to speak with conviction and respect is imperative. Also, teach them to talk to people of all ages and stature. A great example is Mr. Who; he used practical communication skills to share his thoughts and ideas with his teachers and peers. He was able to get his message across clearly and effectively.
Leadership
Leadership skills significantly impact professional life. A good leader is able to keep their team together and motivated. They are able to make critical decisions in difficult situations and steer their team towards success.
Leadership skills can easily be taught at home. Children imitate their elders, especially parents and siblings. They learn how to allot chores, manage day-to-day tasks, etc.
Leadership can help a child effectively steer through uncomfortable situations like Mr. Who. During the football match, he used his leadership skills to get his team back on track and exuded the importance of teamwork.
Critical Thinking
Let your kid ask a hundred "whys" instead of shutting them off; this promotes critical thinking. A person who thinks critically is able to voice their opinion confidently. It is crucial that our kids have their own opinions to prevent herd mentality. Just like Mr. Who's parents encouraged his curiosity and tried their best to find answers to his questions.
Critical thinking fosters intelligence and benefits personal, professional, and social life. Mr. Who was able to solve many challenges that came his way due to his critical thinking skills, like finding a way out when his family got lost in the middle of nowhere. He relied on his observation and deduction skills to help them reach their destination.
These are just a handful of examples of how soft skills can improve your personal and professional life. Whether it be time management, teamwork, self-confidence, or adaptability, each can help you progress and achieve your goals. Lev Mikulitski has reflected on the importance and need for soft skills in his book Mr.Who's Remarkable Expeditions, where he teaches soft skills through an inspiring character, Mr. Who. Get your copy from Amazon today.
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