Vicki Tillman Coaching

Find Meaning in Your Life.

Skills for success

10 Fundamental Soft Skills for Relationship and Career Success

by 2 Comments

Here are 10 fundamental soft skills for relationship and career success.

10 Fundamental Soft Skills for Relationship and Career Success VickiTillmanCoaching.com

10 Fundamental Soft Skills for Relationship and Career Success

No matter what career you choose, you will need to develop hard skills specific to that career. Counselors need to have great therapy skills. Engineers need great skills in mathematics and problem solving. Doctors need great anatomy and systems knowledge skills. Hard skills specific your career on a great resume are the keys to earn you an interview.

No matter what relationship you choose, you will need some hard skills, too: How to wash dishes, pay bills, take care of laundry.

JUST AS IMPORTANT as hard skills, are SOFT SKILLS. No matter what career you choose or relationship you choose, to be successful you will develop these 10 fundamental soft skills:

  1. Self-motivated- You have a good work ethic. You will get a job done. You pull your weight in work or relationship.
  2. Personal Style- You aware of yourself. You know your personality, your strengths and your weaknesses. You are comfortable with who you are. (Sign up for my newsletter and I’ll send you my list of personality test links.)
  3. Respectfully Aware of Others- You are aware of others. Whether others include colleagues, supervisors, spouses or children, you are polite and agreeable. You are also as assertive as you need to be.Confidence-Building Skills for Meeting New People VickiTillmanCoaching.com
  4. Presence/Active Listening- You listen to what colleagues, supervisors or loved ones say. You listen not only so that you have a savvy answer, but truly listening for their content. You can repeat back what they said if the situation arises. You never interrupt.
  5. Verbal Communication- Your words are positive. When you need to be persuasive, you do so without intimidation or anger. You have an appropriate sense of humor.
  6. Non-verbal Communication- You smile freely and try to avoid the *resting bitch face*. You use the magic non-verbals to set people at ease while showing confidence. (Download this freebie.)
  7. Team Work- You are able to take leadership and/or followership on a team. You are able to allow credit to go where credit is due. You help people feel good about themselves because of the encouragement they received while working with you!
  8. Creative Thinking- You are able to brainstorm. You use your thoughts and words creatively when necessary. You appreciate beautiful things and ideas.
  9. Problem Solving- You are willing to work on a problem until it has a solution. You talk things out looking for solutions, not vindication.
  10. Trustworthy- You are able to say, “I’m wrong”. You will do what is asked and more. You honestly handle time and resources.

Are you ready for some expert coaching to help you hone your soft skills? Contact me!

10 Fundamental Soft Skills for Relationship and Career Success

5 You-Can-Do-It Networking Skills for Millennial Introverts

by Leave a Comment

There’s no escaping the need to network, so here are 5 You-Can-Do-It networking skills for millennial introverts.

5 You-Can-Do-It Skills for Millennial introverts VickiTillmanCoaching.com

5 You-Can-Do-It Networking Skills for Millennial Introverts

Networking happens. It happens all the time. Even if you’re an introvert, shy or just-don’t-like-to-network: if you’re going to be successful you must network.

Some of my favorite coachees are millennials who are introverts. I love watching their confidence grow as they learn some networking skills that ANYONE can do. So here are 5 You-Can-Do-It networking skills for millennial introverts.

At networking events, socials, parties, etc:

*Play a role. When you are at an event, you are not there to be “authentic”. Rather, you are branding your professional self. Imagine that the event is the stage of a play and you are one of the actors. Spend a little time creating a role for yourself:

  • I’m a quiet but intelligent biologist…
  • I’m a compassionate and helpful social worker…
  • I’m a wise and thoughtful English major…

*Get your power non-verbals on. Before you enter the networking event, try these tricks:

  • Before you go to the event, prop your feet up on a desk and place your arms behind your head (arms akimbo) for 2 minutes. This lowers your stress hormone- cortisol, and increases your confidence boosting hormone- testosterone.
  • When you arrive, enter the room with your shoulders back, chin up and a slight smile. This is an invitational non-verbal, folks will want to talk to you.
  • If you can keep something in your left hand such as business cards or a drink, you might feel more confident.

*Give yourself a job. Your job is to make someone else feel comfortable.

  • When you arrive, scout the room. Find someone on the fringes who looks shy and alone.
  • Introduce yourself and ask that person a question. In helping them feel welcome, you will have gained an ally and created some goodwill.
  • Be sure to shake hands (practice your handshake so that it is gentle but firm).
  • Introduce that person to someone else, if there is the opportunity.

*In day-to-day life, be a helper:

  • Volunteer to help with special projects or events. This shows you are invested in the culture and can earn you good favor (and make you feel good, too).

*In day-to-day life, show genuine interest in people around you:

  • Be a listener and encourager. Practice listening skills and saying uplifting things (no complaining or negativity).
  • Talk well to yourself, “You can do it!” is a powerful phrase! Confidence-Building Skills for Meeting New People VickiTillmanCoaching.com

For more tips, download this freebie: Confidence-Building Skills for Meeting New People.

When you’re ready for the adventure of increasing your confidence for networking and relationship success, contact me.

5 You-Can-Do-It Networking Skills for Millennial Introverts