By Ousman Seckan
Like elsewhere around the world, employers in the Gambia are seemingly engaged in competition for top talents to keep their services and businesses thriving. As such, technical and professional capabilities aren’t enough to excel professionally and sustain a job. Recruiters are increasingly concerned about soft skills because they have come to realize that these skills drive performance. Although hard skills help to open the door of an organization, soft skills can earn you retention. Unfortunately, these significant skills aren’t taught in schools to prepare prospective job seekers for the corporate world. In this article, I have outlined six soft skills which can help you to excel in your career.
1. Adaptability
Adaptability is essential for teamwork and achieving desired results of an organization or business establishment. Without a doubt, hiring managers today prefer employees who can easily adapt their new jobs, responsibilities and assignments to avert disruption of services and businesses. Although adaptability is a skill that comes naturally to some, it is also something that can be learned to a certain degree. In a nutshell, it boils down to an employee being willing to accept situations as they present themselves and focusing on a solution-orientated approach to get things done. As a job seeker, it’s necessary you recognize the importance recruiters attach to adaptability, so that you can do what it takes to adapt as it will help you to excel at your workplace and retain your job.
2. Creativity and innovation
In today’s corporate world, employees are expected to be driving forces in the success of their organizations, and the most creative are the ones promoted through the ranks swiftly. Gone are the days in most organizations and business entities to get to the top without being creative and innovative. Businesses and organizations want to grow, so their promotion is merit based, but not lip and eye services. Therefore, it’s high time job seekers and employees in the Gambia knew this, so as to horn their skills to meet the demands of the job environment. You need to sharpen your creative thinking skills as an employee or job seeker to enhance your productivity and efficiency at workplace.
3. Problem solving skills
Problems are inevitable at workplace given that they are integral part of life and human association. Thus, having the ability to deal with problems amicably will undoubtedly endear you to recruiters as problem solving is a coveted leadership trait, which most people lack. There are circumstances employees will unable to handle problems tactically due to lack of a problem solving skill. So, it’s important to learn the skill of problem management; the ability to navigate difficulties, and find creative solutions to problems, which are key to success in any role at any level. While this skill may be an inborn intuition to some, it can also be learned to identify the root causes of problems, and assess the alternatives for the problem.
4. Result oriented
What you can accomplish in 24 hours, depends on your own motivation, energy, skills, abilities and resources. Since there is always demand on your time, it may be helpful to think about what do with your time, and to consider some strategies to managing your time effectively. Time management is not a way to make you work harder and longer, but a means to help you work smarter to accomplish your work easily and rapidly. As an employee, being a good time manager and getting positive results within a given timeframe will make your employer to build more confidence in you and eventually elevate your status.
5. Work ethics
An individual’s personality refers to her/her appearance, characteristics, attitude and mindset. Professionalism encompasses a worker’s behavior, appearance, and internalizing workplace ethics. In order for you to be perceived ethical, you need to exhibit high sense of credibility and reliability. This will certainly create an atmosphere of trust in your work environment and beyond.
6. Effective communication
To execute your role efficiently and excel as an employee, you should able to communicate effectively. Communication skills are more than just speaking and listening! The skills include effectively conversing with others, collaboration and active listening. Good communication skills are needed in any workplace. As an employee, it’s paramount that you master and demonstrate good behaviors regarding communication, including nonverbal communication, body language, listening and understanding.
About the author
Ousman Seckan is a freelance journalist and blogger. He holds an Advanced Diploma in Journalism and Communication.
You can follow him on https://www.facebook.com/ousman.seckan.9678 or https://www.linkedin.com/in/ousman-seckan-a0122319a/ or send an email to ousman.seckan@gamjobs.com