Instructor: Sandy ChernoffSoft Skills for Success

OutlineWhat is training?What does Corporate Training

entail?What is Soft Skills Training?Summary

Types of TrainingStudent Training:

Didactic EducationPhysical EducationBehavioural Codes &

Ethics

Individual Training:

Behaviour & EthicsPhysicalRelationship/Social

Corporate TrainingTechnical (hard

skills)Continuing

Education (profession appropriate)

Soft Skills

Corporate Training.........Technical

(Computer)Microsoft OfficeExcel PowerPointPeopleSoft, etc.In-house applications

Continuing Education Courses

Offered by professional organizations

Offered by teaching institutions

Offered in-house

Soft Skills Definition:

Intrapersonal and interpersonal behaviours that develop and maximize human performance.

Soft Skills: Effective Communication

Effective Meetings

Effective Leadership

Conflict Resolution

Problem Solving Strategies

Dealing w/Difficult People

Stress Management

Time Management & Organizational Skills

Presentation Skills

High Performance Team Building and Managing

Transition & Change

Soft Skills Example:

Conflict Management

LeadershipManaging

your Manager

Teamwork

Problem Solving

EFFECTIVE LISTENING

Why Soft Skills?

Efficiency

Healthy EnvironmentEmployee Retention

Confidence

Productivity

RewardsCustomer Awareness

Happiness

“Clint Mahlman, VP of HR and Distribution for London Drugs said: ‘ most of all the employee has to have an ability to communicate and to have outstanding listening skills so he or she knows what the customer wants. In other words, soft skills.’” -- Yvonne Zacharias, The Vancouver Sun, March 11, 2004

Who Benefits from Soft Skills?ExecutivesMiddle ManagementSupervisors/Team

LeadersConsultants/AnalystsProfessionalsEmployees

How do Soft Skills Work?Strategy:

Specific Goal

Measurable Goal

Achievable Goal

Reward the Goal

Time Limited Goal

Reaction Reaction to a training seminar

Rating instructorRating Facilities

Learning Increased knowledge & skills

Written test &/orHands on assessment

Behaviour Change in specific behaviour

Survey workers: on the job observations

Results Final results New businessImproved work environment & relations

Benefits Cost vs. Benefits Employee certification, retention & happiness

Mastering one soft skill helps with mastering other soft skillsEvery employee can benefitEnsure goals are SMARTSoft skills are priceless to an organization

Motivation: The driving force behind all the actions of an individual.