In school, we learn various skills, from math to programming to foreign languages. Those are hard skills—specific, acquired abilities that can be measured or tested. Hard skills are important because they are knowledge and abilities necessary for performing specific jobs.
On the other hand, soft skills are equally important yet often underrated. They are personal attributes and interpersonal skills that help you get along with others and facilitate self-growth. Soft skills include creativity, critical thinking, communication, leadership, emotional intelligence, and more. Contrary to the specificity of hard skills, soft skills are more universal and can be applied to many areas of our life.
Soft skills are usually not taught in classes or being evaluated in school tests, but they need to be developed at a young age. Those skills not only allow teens to be more productive in their academic work, but also help them build a solid foundation for their future career and social life.
Here are some examples of how soft skills help teens be more successful:
Communication (verbal and written)
From group projects to writing emails to teachers, from participating in class discussions to presenting a research project, students need a wide range of communication skills for conveying ideas and building relationships. Effective communication involves active listening, showing empathy, giving feedback, public speaking, etc. Practicing communication skills increases confidence and cultivates greater understanding.
Creativity
Creativity allows students to think out-of-the-box and broaden their perspectives. It is crucial for problem-solving with original, innovative ideas. We live in a world where creative ideas and insights are highly valued. Learning how to be creative will enable teens to be better equipped with the capabilities required in their future careers.
Leadership
Even at school, teens have been assuming leadership roles in many areas, such as community service, school clubs, and sports teams. Strong leadership allows teen leaders to coordinate tasks, build team spirit, and achieve productive results.
From those listed examples, we can see that soft skills are not only beneficial in the classroom, but also valuable in teens’ daily life. Soft skill development in teens is vital for their personal development in the short and long run.
Soft skills aren’t things you can immediately grasp by reading an instruction manual or watching a tutorial video. Like hard skills, they require time, practice, and determination. And that’s why we are here to help you get started. Welcome to Simply Soft Skills.