Tag Archives: performance

You say hard, I say soft – Combined Skills Best for Success

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In my consulting business I’ve faced much resistance from clients when I focus on the so-called ‘soft skills’, so I’m delighted when I see that even ‘big names’ like Forbes and McKinsey include them in their lists of essential skills for success. I also feel somewhat vindicated that at last companies are taking cognizance and making the move to including soft skills like critical thinking, emotional intelligence, communication, problem solving and innovation into the ‘hard skills’ mix.

Keep learning, combining skill types for better performance

I believe that the ‘hard’ skills of structuring, strategising, leadership, decision-making and information technology can only be successful if driven by the company’s values and culture. It’s not only about what the company says and does, it’s about how it’s done. And that’s where the ‘soft’ skills come in.

All company actions must be in keeping with the company’s values and its specific culture. This applies to even the smallest of companies deemed unaware of or unaffected by corporate governance issues. They too can benefit from developing the ‘soft’ skills in business.

According to McKinsey’s 7-S [Skills] framework for success, the company’s ‘hard’ action elements, those processes used to run the company – their Strategy, Structure, Systems – must reflect the company’s stated goals, values and culture. In addition, the company must utilise the ‘soft skills’ – Shared values, Skills, Styles and Staff – to complement and enhance the ‘hard skills’ effectively to achieve success.

For example, if management’s strategy aims to be a successful, forward-thinking, progressive company, it can’t have a top-down management structure and system in place. Managers must include elements of interactive communication (Skill) between themselves and their team (Staff). Their approach and/or Style must encourage communication, information-Sharing, critical thinking and problem solving, leading to innovation, performance and ultimately to success.

Skills for success

A well thought out and synergistic combination of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ skills is what companies need to achieve success. Thus both soft and hard skill types are essential.

REAL joins forces with 2 other experts on new business training workshop

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COLLABORATIVE ENDEAVOUR TO ADD VALUE TO WORKSHOP
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Three Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business members – Shân Cade, Desiray Viney and Nicky Grieshaber – are pooling their skills and are leveraging their PCB networking opportunities when they host a combined workshop on August 23 at the Howick Falls Hotel. Cade, well-known for her CLIP System, Viney of REAL Communication Consulting and Grieshaber from Simply Clearer will combine their diverse skills into a single training product, a three-way interactive workshop that covers several aspects, including managing administration risk, and understanding that PR is not just marketing, and understanding language differences in the workplace. Aimed at frontline personnel and supervisors, the workshop plans to offer valuable tools for improving their productivity and performance – no matter what their job is. The trio brings complementary skills to the workshop – Cade will get participants to develop a holistic view to sustainable business and embrace a check list methodology as a control tool within the work environment.

This in turn manages risk, cost, continuity of service, consistency and ultimately customer service excellence, making each participant a valuable thinker in the workplace. Viney is a communication and media specialist and having recently moved from the academic to the business world, she now consults with companies and individuals on anything relating to corporate communication, public relations and the media as well as values-driven leadership. She has presented papers on several topics, including developing responsible leaders through the media, and corporate and government communication regarding social issues. Grieshaber, a professional language practitioner and workshop presenter, has plenty of practical experience to match a sound academic background. He has an easy manner and the ability to make complicated theoretical matters easy to understand. One of his special interests is the communication barriers experienced by both speakers and hearers when second or third languages are used. The workshop is organised by Cade who can be contacted on 078 801 0896 or shan@shancade.co.za .