The Importance of Soft Skills for your School Leavers

Hey Parents and Teachers 👋

As we guide our young people through their educational journeys and into the workforce, it's natural to focus on the hard skills they need—coding, engineering, and other STEM knowledge, and in a moment of self awareness... I know we do this a lot at miFuture.

These skills are undeniably important in our increasingly digital world. But in our desire to inform the next gen of the digital skills they need and the exciting opportunities available we mustn't overlook soft skills.

A popular analogy likens hard skills to tools in your toolbox; soft skills are what you need to pick up those tools and use them.

Why Soft Skills Matter

Soft skills encompass a range of abilities that are vital in the workplace. These include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.

Employers across all industries value these skills because they enable employees to effectively navigate the complexities of the modern work environment, and contribute well to the teams and culture already established.

Imagine a young software developer who is technically brilliant but struggles to communicate their ideas clearly. Without strong communication skills, their innovative solutions might never be fully understood or implemented.

On the other hand, a developer with solid communication skills can share their vision, collaborate with colleagues, and contribute to a productive and harmonious workplace.

I don't use this scenario lightly, here. It's something I hear frequently throughout conversations with Welsh employers.

Building Soft Skills: Tips for Parents and Teachers

I know it can be overwhelming, I used to be a teacher myself, and encouraging young learners to built more than the curriculum requires seems like a task too far in your already mammoth workload.

The same for parents, I know, it's a challenge to support your teens when life after school looks so vastly different from when you were in their shoes.

In an attempt to lessen the burden, let me offer 6 ways you could support young adults with building soft skills ready for the workplace:

🤝 Encourage Teamwork and Collaboration:

Whether it's through group projects, clubs, sports, esports or extracurricular activities, encouraging opportunities for young people to work in teams helps them develop important interpersonal skills.

👂🏼 Promote Active Listening and Communication:

Encourage open discussions at home and in the classroom. Teach young people to listen actively, express their thoughts clearly, and consider different perspectives.

 🤔Foster Problem-Solving Abilities:

Present challenges that require critical thinking and creative solutions. This can be through puzzles, gaming, or real-world scenarios where they need to devise strategies and solutions.

🫡 Emphasise Adaptability:

In today’s fast-paced world, the ability to adapt to change is crucial. Encourage flexibility by exposing young people to new experiences and teaching them how to handle unexpected situations calmly and effectively.

🤖 Cultivate Emotional Intelligence:

Help young people understand and manage their emotions, as well as empathise with others. Discuss feelings openly and share strategies for self-regulation and conflict resolution.

🪞 Model Soft Skills:

Children and young adults often learn by example. Demonstrate effective communication, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence in your interactions with them and others.

🎬 Take Action! Integrating Soft Skills with Digital Literacy

Balancing the development of soft skills with digital literacy is key to preparing young people for the future of work and the nature of next generation careers; soft and digital skills, is the package for success.

Here are some ways to integrate both:

1. Project-Based Learning: Combine technical projects with teamwork, requiring young people to collaborate, communicate, and solve problems together.

2. Volunteer and Work Experience: Real-world experiences help young people apply their digital skills in professional settings, where soft skills are crucial.

3. Mentorship Programs: Pairing young people with mentors can provide guidance on both technical and interpersonal skill development.

4. Workshops and Training: Offer workshops focused on soft skills, such as communication, leadership, and adaptability, alongside technical training sessions.

(I've gone into much more detail on the above, in a previous blog, here: 🗞️ Adapting Work Experience for the Digital Age: A New Approach)

Get Career Curious

Here’s our hot picks for building future skills and exploring digital and soft skills.

Share these with your young adults, at home or in class 👇

☝️Don’t miss out. We share opportunities like this every day on @miFutureHQ

By fostering an environment that values and nurtures both digital skills and soft skills, we can help our young people become well-rounded, capable, and highly sought-after employees.

In the absence of a curriculum that could keep pace with technology and digital ways of working, one way to get ahead is to support our youth in building a strong blend of skills.

Let's ensure they not only have the right tools in their toolbox but also the ability to use them effectively.

You've got this 😎✌️

Gem Hallett,

miFuture Founder