With teachers focusing on so many skills which will be evaluated by standardized tests, there are many things that teachers don’t have time to teach your teen in school. Due to time constraints, it is impossible to cover everything. Some of these skills, known as soft skills, however, are indispensable for the workplace.
Here are a few skills which your teen will need in life:
- Personal accountability- Does your teen blame the teachers or others for his lack of success?
- Conflict Resolution- Does your teen have difficulty knowing what to do or say when he or she disagrees with another child or adult?
- Adaptability and flexibility- If a situation changes, does your teen have the skills to adapt to the new situation and come up with new strategies to deal with a problem?
- Collaboration- Does your teen know how to make others feel valued and part of a team?
- Communication- Does your teen communicate in a positive, appropriate, and clear manner?
- Creative Thinking- Does your teen know how to think “outside of the box”?
- Professional Business Etiquette- Does your teen know who to conduct himself during an interview or business event?
It doesn’t occur to parents to teach their teens soft skills, thinking that they will pick them up along the way. Soft skills come naturally to some teens, while others need a little coaching or mentoring. I was impressed with this article “11 Things that Smart People Never Say” from Entrepreneur Magazine, https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/249898. I am quite sure from working with young people most of my professional life that some of them would not be aware that some things that they might blurt out could actually hurt their careers.
If you have any doubt of the importance of soft skills in today’s workplace, check out the research in this article: http://homepages.se.edu/cvonbergen/files/2013/01/Executive-Perceptions-of-the-Top-10-Soft-Skills-Needed-in-Todays-Workplace.pdf
Until our educational system catches up with our “digitized youth”, soft skills coaching will be a much needed addition to preparation for the workplace. Teens need to not only be aware of soft skills but feel comfortable practicing them. This competence can be accomplished by role-playing a variety of situations in a controlled setting.
Original content by Kathleen A. Matchunis, B.A., M.S., Certified Academic & Skills for Success Coach
For more information, call her at 954 294 9708 or check out her website: www.connectinginc.net
