Spring 19 - The Value of Soft Skills - Library Confidential - Research Guides at Pennsylvania College of Technology

FEATURED READS FROM THE LIBRARY CATALOG

Working with Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
Call Number: Madigan Library StacksHD38.2 .G647 1998
ISBN: 0553104624
Publication Date: 1998-10-06
Daniel Goleman's best selling Emotional Intelligence revolutionized the way we think about personal excellence. Now he brings his insight into the workplace, in a book sure to change the shape of business for decades to come. In Working with Emotional Intelligence, Goleman reveals the skills that distinguish star performers in every field, from entry-level jobs to top executive positions. He shows that the single most important factor is not IQ, advanced degrees, or technical expertise, but the quality Goleman calls emotional intelligence. Self-awareness, self-confidence, and self-control; commitment and integrity; the ability to communicate and influence, to initiate and accept change; these competencies are at a premium in today's job market. The higher up the leadership ladder you go, the more vital these skills become, often influencing who is hired or fired, passed over or promoted. As Goleman shows, we all possess the potential to improve our emotional intelligence at any stage in our career.
Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers by Anthony C. Mersino; Anthony Mersino
Call Number: Madigan Library StacksHD69 .P75 M475 2007
ISBN: 9780814474167
Publication Date: 2007-08-01
In order to run projects successfully, project managers need to master more than the requisite technical knowledge. The more complex the project, the more significant their interpersonal skills become to achieving a successful outcome. Without the people skills necessary to lead effectively, even the most carefully orchestrated project can quickly fall apart. Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers introduces readers to the basic concepts of emotional intelligence and shows how to apply them to their project goals. Readers will learn how to: * set the tone and direction for the project * communicate more effectively * improve listening skills * create a positive work environment * motivate, coach, and mentor team members * productively handle stress, criticism, and blame * and more.
The Power of Mindful Learning by Lawrence Merloyd (Editor); Ellen J. Langer
Call Number: Madigan Library StacksLB1060 .L35 1997
ISBN: 0201488396
Publication Date: 1997-03-05
This Original and Important New Book, in the words of psychologist Jerome Bruner, "could radically change our concept of learning". Our learning is hobbled according to Dr. Langer, by seven pernicious myths, such as the necessity of delaying gratification or of "getting the basics down pat". Replacing these with her concept of mindful or conditional learning, she shows more effective approaches to skills.
The Leader's Guide to Managing People: How to Use Soft Skills to Get Hard Results by Mike Brent; Fiona Dent
Call Number: HD57.7 .B74824 2014
Publication Date: 2014
Toolkit for managing yourself, facilitating team performance and surviving and thriving in times of change.

TRAINING AND EDUCATION - THE VALUE OF CRITICAL SOFT SKILLS

Soft skills, more aptly named power skills, are those transferable skills demonstrating potential to succeed and progress in a career and life. Power skills include abilities of critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and emotional intelligence. In a competitive workforce these aptitudes discern the distinction between a highly regarded, sought-after candidate and one who simply possesses the technical skills needed to satisfy the base requirements of the position. These competencies are not necessarily taught in the classroom, albeit they should, to provide a competitive edge of an education, not basic training or job-specific skills alone.

FEATURED ARTICLES

Soft Skills: A Case for Higher Education and Workplace Training
Two education and training experts weigh in on the importance of soft skills proficiency for today's workforce.
Ronnie Ellen Kramer, president of educational training and consulting firm Communication Dynamics Inc., and Tim Hill, president of professional education at Blackboard Inc., urge learning professionals to get serious about soft skills training.
The New Power Skills
Once dismissed by serious businesspeople as mushy nice-to-haves, so-called “soft skills”—critical thinking, problem solving, communication, leadership, adaptability and emotional intelligence—are in high demand and short supply.
Soft Skills: The Primary Predictor of Success in Academics, Career and Life
For years, educators reported that upwards of 80% of their graduates were ready for work. Unfortunately, employers reported that less than 20% of graduates were ready for work. It turns out that the skills gap was not lack of knowledge or technical skills (Basic Knowledge). Instead, the gap was that graduates had soft skills deficits (Applied Skills).
Bringing Soft Skills to the Forefront: How Higher Ed (and Continuing Ed) Must Adapt
The demand for soft skills in the workplace is growing, and to this point postsecondary institutions have been slow in helping students and graduates develop these competencies—but CE divisions could be the catalyst for change in labor market preparedness.
Colleges Can Help Bridge the Soft Skills Gap
Employers say college graduates lack soft skills as they enter the workforce. One university is making a conscious effort to better equip graduates with these types of skills.
How to Bridge the Soft Skills Gap
Today’s newest young people in the workplace have so much to offer — new technical skills, new ideas, new perspective and new energy. Yet too many are held back, and driving the grown-ups crazy, because of their weakness in old-fashioned soft skills. These soft skills, in contrast with hard or technical skills, encompass a variety of things such as self-awareness, people skills, problem-solving and teamwork.
Mixed Signals: Do College Graduates Have the Soft Skills That Employers Want?
Many employers consider job candidates' soft skills as critical for professional success as traditional hard skills, especially in today's global marketplace. College graduates are increasingly confident of their soft skills, believing these interpersonal, non-technical competencies enhance their value as prospective employees. Recent studies, however, show a widening gap between employer expectations and college graduate abilities. This paper reviews desired soft skills, along with college students ' self-ratings of these same competencies; explores how employers and job candidates 'signal' the need for and/or presence of these skills; and proposes further research to discern the true cause of this seeming "soft skill gap."
Recent Graduates Lack Soft Skills, New Study Reports
A recent study revealed that four in 10 corporations and almost half of academic institutions believe that recent graduates lack certain so-called “soft skills” needed in the workforce to be successful, including emotional intelligence, complex reasoning and negotiation and persuasion.
Overconfident Students, Dubious Employers
A new study identifies the gaps between graduates' views of their skills and the views of those who hire them.

What Are Soft Skills?

Soft Skills
While hard skills are job-specific, most employers are looking for similar soft skills in their job candidates.
Soft Skills: Definitions and Examples
Soft skills are personality traits and behaviors. Unlike technical or “hard” skills, soft skills are not about the knowledge you possess but rather behaviors you display in different situations.
Soft Skills - Skills You Need
A wide range of skills fall under the heading of ‘soft skills’. They are also often known as ‘transferable skills’. They include interpersonal skills, sometimes called ‘people skills’ or ‘social skills’, but go far beyond this area.