Throughout our professional careers, each of us has probably had to deal with this type of person. To caricature a little for fans of TV series, imagine having to collaborate with the brilliant Dr. House, ready to do anything to solve the most mysterious medical cases and save lives, but totally irreverent. Well, in the context of our post, we can say that Dr. House lacks soft skills. As opposed to "hard skills", soft skills refer to behavioral or human competencies, most often acquired outside the school or university sphere. In the professional and entrepreneurial world of Cameroon and Africa, it has often been observed that the purely technical aspect has long prevailed over the human qualities and values of individuals. And yet, these two skills are essential to increase one's chances of success in entrepreneurship! And here's why.
In 1960, the US Army realized that technical skills alone were no longer enough to lead its troops, and that social and human skills were needed to lead, motivate soldiers and win battles. It therefore invested significant resources in developing training procedures. A series of studies followed, leading to what are now commonly referred to as "soft skills". Sometimes called "soft skills", according to the Harvard Business School, soft skills reflect our ability to establish relationships with others, making use of human qualities such as empathy, compassion and authenticity.
People with strong interpersonal skills develop stronger bonds with others. The International Labour Organization observes that today, strong communication skills, building positive relationships with stakeholders and demonstrating leadership qualities, among others, are becoming essential skills for workers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics sectors.
While it's true that employees must possess role-specific knowledge and skills in order to fulfill their professional responsibilities, those who generally excel rely on additional qualities, such as the ability to communicate clearly, work skilfully with others and manage time effectively. Soft skills, on the other hand, are seen more as general competencies that help employees thrive in the workplace. They are often referred to as transferable or interpersonal skills.
Today's companies, through their human resources departments, are increasingly aware that soft skills are essential, both for staff profitability and for maintaining a healthy, harmonious atmosphere within work teams. Today, they are investing more and more in team-building activities, such as birthday celebrations and after-work events, which help to develop these soft skills organically among their staff. Soft skills also foster the creation and maintenance of good relations with the company's various stakeholders: customers, prospects, partners and donors.
The entrepreneurial environment in Cameroon is quite complex. It can take a great deal of patience, determination and interpersonal skills to get the job done. Unfortunately, the current education system and the training courses available today are generally limited to technical skills.
This is without teaching these young people how to communicate effectively, how to convince, how to listen, or how to control their stress. And yet, in a competitive environment, having a good project is not enough. Human qualities are therefore an essential tool for standing out and succeeding. Here are just a few of them:
Knowing how to communicate means first and foremost knowing how to listen, how to pay attention to the other person, and how to understand what they're saying and how they think. It also means knowing how to intervene at the right moment, letting the person express themselves without interrupting.
In everyday French, we speak of "problem-solving" or "being results-oriented". If you're motivated by results, you'll be better able to meet your partners' expectations.
A good leader isn't a boss, it's a manager. Your teams won't expect you to be a commander, as in the military, but rather a guide. A good leader will get to know his team so as to evolve with them. He will communicate a vision, encourage group thinking and teamwork - another essential soft skill. He or she will know how to develop the skills of his or her teams, after analyzing their respective skills, qualities and needs.
Good decision-making skills involve gathering the information essential to a decision, evaluating the alternatives and the risks and benefits of each before making a final choice. All with the aim of making the best possible decision. This quality is particularly sought after in managerial positions.
The better you know how to manage stress, the better you'll be able to handle conflict situations within your teams or with your business partners. An inability to manage stress levels is often a source of conflict within teams. And that's bound to spoil the mood.
Although creativity is considered an innate talent in some people, in others it may not be. However, it's a skill you can develop with curiosity, practice and open-mindedness.
One of the biggest difficulties creative people have is that they find it hard to accept criticism. So don't be one of those people who see the slightest criticism as a desire to harm you. Perfection is out of this world, so listen, note and evolve.
When it comes to developing soft-skills in the professional or entrepreneurial environment, companies or individuals can call on trainers, coaches or specialized agencies to provide tailored support and follow-up.
Daniel E.
