Technical, clinical, and operational skills play an important role in professional life. Expertise in one’s field has traditionally been a source of pride as well as the fuel that accelerates success – but what about soft skills?
What are soft skills?
They are the sometimes-difficult-to-measure characteristics that make us considerate, thoughtful, cooperative coworkers and colleagues. Soft skills help us communicate with clarity and respect, manage conflict, and work well on teams. Well-developed soft skills foster positive interpersonal interactions while building the trust needed to support collaboration. Active listening, nonverbal communication (body language), empathy, and teamwork are just a few examples of the soft skills now being viewed as essential qualities in many professional environments.
How can DiSC help?
DiSC styles can help us predict behavior in ourselves and others. This knowledge is a powerful tool we can use to adjust our own style and adapt to others when working together. Using DiSC can help us manage conversations, be better at collaborating, and handle potential conflicts with a more positive, prepared and even strategic approach. In short, it helps us to be better, well-rounded, multi-dimensional teammates.
How does using DiSC to help manage soft skills affect interactions and productivity?
For example, an S-style may like to avoid conflict, but being aware of their own style tendencies can help them come to the table prepared to communicate and resolve problems. A D-style may be abrupt under stress, but knowing this can allow them to practice responding vs. reacting to potential triggers, thus reducing conflict. I-styles may be very excitable, but being informed can help them read the room and curtail their natural enthusiasm and act more appropriately for more formal situations. C-styles may seem harsh when vetting a project, but awareness allows them to plan and soften any critique.
The ability to communicate effectively, resolve conflicts and work together is an essential ingredient to organizational success. As professionals, our technical, clinical, and operational skills will always be valuable, and we will be more personally successful, viable and valuable to our team if we develop them in conjunction with our soft skills. Teamwork, collaboration, conflict resolution and the ability to communicate with respect and kindness are all elements of work life that are here to stay. DiSC is one way to unlock your positive communication potential.