What are the soft skills that 21st Century employers desire? And here’s how to develop them in your child.
Psst. Yes, you, parents. Oh, heck yes, you too, teachers.
We are going to let you in on a secret. Schools and school districts and state departments of education and councils for curriculum development have been getting it wrong for, well, forever.
If the goal is to make students college and career ready when they leave high school, then all these entities are failing. Because they place the focus on the three Rs: reading, writing, and arithmetic. Skills that can allegedly be organized, sequenced, and ultimately tested. Left brain stuff!
But those skills are ultimately NOT what today’s employers are looking for. According to the Department of Labor, companies have identified a list of competencies that they are searching for in a 21st century worker. Included among them are the ability to collaborate and problem solve, and the possession of a strong work ethic.
Don’t trust a government website? Then ask business leaders themselves! An Edutopia article quotes several company executives, and they agree that they do not hire someone for what they know. Rather, they look for an employee who can learn new material rapidly and problem solve, because in the tech industry – along with many other industries – what is currently being used in the marketplace will be outdated in six months.
So, what are these elusive soft skills, and more importantly, how can they be developed if schools are not teaching them? Great question! Read on to acquaint yourself with these sought-after skills and some ways to cultivate them in your child.
The Soft Skills
Communication
The ability to communicate is critical in today’s business world. Whether face to face, through email or even via a text, it is important to know how to clearly communicate a message. Face to face communication has really taken a backseat during the pandemic, but that does not mean the basics ought to be forgotten. Look the speaker in the eye; wait your turn; acknowledge you are understanding the message by saying, “Yes” or “I understand.” And with the increased presence of social media, one must be competent at and familiar with LinkedIn, Instagram, and the other popular platforms. And do not forget the telephone! Sometimes an actual phone is required, so extending basic etiquette to phone calls is important too.
Problem Solving
In the most basic sense, problem solving is figuring something out without being told how to do it. Extending current knowledge to an unfamiliar situation, generating a possible solution, and evaluating the outcome is critical in 21st century professional environments. How do you develop this? By challenging your child to think through a complex problem and NOT offering the solution. Perhaps Google or YouTube have some hints on how to solve whatever the problem is, but make your child figure it out themselves.
Teamwork
At the heart of teamwork is the ability of a group of people to work towards a common goal. To that end one must be willing to delegate authority and/or be willing to accept being delegated an assignment. The vast majority of 21st century jobs are not performed in a vacuum. Even a sole proprietorship accountant must work nicely with others if he or she is to run a successful business. Students can practice team skills when they are part of a sports team, part of a cast performing a play, or functioning well as part of a group project in school.
Flexibility/Adaptability
Flexible thinking is a critical Executive Functions skill. Most students do well when their daily schedule is rolling along exactly as they expected. However, if an unexpected incident occurs, can they respond with grace and ease to the new situation? One way to help prepare your child to be more flexible is through rehearsal. Discuss a possible situation that could occur at school. For example, a student thinks his math test is on Friday but when your child walks in the classroom on Thursday the teacher is handing out the test. Help your child brainstorm possible solutions. Possibilities are to ask the teacher for an extension; take the test and perhaps be surprised by how much you actually know; ask to go to the nurse if you are truly not feeling well. Rehearsal will provide your child opportunities to practice dealing with unexpected events.
Attitude
One aspect of our personality that everyone can control is our attitude. The Department of Labor says: “Many employers would rather provide job skills training to an enthusiastic but inexperienced worker than hire someone with perfect qualifications but a less than-positive attitude.” Clearly teaching your child to be aware of their attitude and asking them to present a positive attitude can pay dividends. Nobody likes being around a perpetual sourpuss!
Concluding Thoughts
Think of the soft skills as the glue that holds the hard skills together. While schools generally do not teach them, the soft skills can be taught. Nobody doubts that reading, writing, and math are important. But being proficient in the hard skills is not enough. According to business leaders, 21st century workers must be able to think, problem solve, and communicate.
If you would like to discuss ways to further develop soft skills in your child, please contact Jennifer Disch at Engage the Brain.