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What is your most valuable soft skill?

Entrepreneurs, what is your most valuable soft skill?

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Gary’s Answer

Your question is excellent. Soft skills, frequently undervalued, are crucial for career advancement. Robert's response above is spot on - communication is key. To refine this point, I'd say that proficient writing skills are extremely beneficial, whether for emails, chats, reports, and so forth. This skill becomes even more significant in current work-from-home or remote settings, where your virtual team may be dispersed across various locations. Additionally, I believe that common sense, often underestimated, is a highly valuable soft skill.
Thank you comment icon Thank you, that is a really good one! I try to work writing as much as possible, and I think it is important when having conversations online. And I agree, common sense seems to not be as common as it might have used to. Thanks again! Cassius
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Elise’s Answer

The most valuable soft skill I continuously work to utilize and learn about is Emotional Intelligence, also known as EQ.

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, relate to others, overcome challenges, and soothe conflict. EQ is divided into 5 segments to study: empathy, social skills, self-awareness, self-regulation, and motivation. Understanding EQ, and the behaviors associated will aid in communication, mindset, thought processes, likability, and critical thinking. Plus, it is fascinating reading once you dive in.

You are asking a good question, Cassius, and the responses received to date are spot on (I’m a Toastmaster too) as there are many paths to take related to soft skills. It might be wise to explore a few of them and see what spikes your interest. Keep up the great work, and curiosity.
Thank you comment icon This was super helpful, thank you! Cassius
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Robert’s Answer

Besides the usual soft skills (critical thinking, time and conflict management, etc.), I find that an entrepreneur needs communication skills most of all. This includes the ability to effectively—and comfortably—speak to anyone, from the fellow sweeping the floors, to large groups of people, to people at the top of organizations. One of my most successful business friends was not only great at “shooting the breeze” with my fishing pals, but actually chatted casually with President George H. W. Bush when they happened to be on the same plane together in the Pacific region. This ability is somewhat innate, but can be helped with classes in public speaking and leadership training.
Thank you comment icon Thank you! I am pretty good at talking to people, I think my only weakness in the communication area is with talking to large groups of people at once. Do you have any tips for this? Cassius
Thank you comment icon When I started out, I went for training at Toastmasters. I believe there's one near your town. But also try local schools or colleges. In-person public speaking classes are best, rather than online. Talking to groups gets easier with practice. All the best to you, Cassius! Robert Epstein
Thank you comment icon Thank you, I’ll be sure to look into it! I appreciate the responses Cassius
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Jamie’s Answer

Hello Cassius,
Personally I think that an Entrepreneur’s soft skills and how we apply them are the very things that make us each so different and successful in a multitude of sectors or endeavors. As an Entrepreneur you learn to play to your strengths, lead with them and capitalize on the opportunities they create.
Being an Entrepreneur is a fast lesson in what you are capable of and what works best for you as an individual.
If you are looking for your own soft skills, it may be helpful to conduct some Personality Tests like; GallUp, 16 Personalities etc. These will give you insights into your own soft skills. Those that you should build and others that you need to circumvent with the talents of others.
The thing about soft skills is that we each have the ability to cultivate them on some level, but knowing when, where and how to use them is circumstantial. Only trial, error and practice will reveal your best application.
Not matter what yours are, important soft skills to best apply you strengths are; decisiveness, confidence, knowing your motivation, being able to listen without forming a response and to be agile in all situations.
Wishing you success in discovering what best serves your future.
Be brilliant, Jamie
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Carmina’s Answer

We are a multicultural team, so I would say Emotional Intelligence and negotiation skills.
Thank you comment icon You rock! This advice is very helpful. Cassius
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Abigail’s Answer

Mastering negotiation skills and being a great team player are super important. Much of what you'll do in life involves teaming up with others, working together to reach your goals. It's all about cooperation and teamwork!
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Katherine’s Answer

Some of the most valuable soft skills are:

Continuing to learn about running a business to keep yourself in line and be reminded of how you could be doing (using books like Dave Ramsey's EntreLeadership, Ken Coleman's From Paycheck to Purpose, or this workbook [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/ldsorg/topics/self-reliance/2017/14678_sgmb_book_eng.pdf?lang=eng])

Knowing how to take downtime so you don't burn out

Working on being around people who are great people no matter what their professional or personal activities, as your success is the average of the five people you spend the most time around
Thank you comment icon Please note that the workbook provided in this answer represents a religious perspective on the subject matter. Sharyn Grose, Admin
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Kim’s Answer

Definitely these two: Adaptability and Problem Solving.
Thank you comment icon Thank you for your response! Both of these are something that I am naturally good at and I’m glad to hear that they are valuable. Cassius
Thank you comment icon You're so welcome, Cassius, and it's astounding to hear that you already know you possess these! I have started many different businesses and worked in several different fields, and for me those two skills have proved to be profoundly useful! Every entrepreneurial adventure involves challenges highly specific challenges. If you get out of the starting gate with these in hand, you're going to do very well, and actually enjoy your work! Kim Schiavone
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Steven’s Answer

For me, empathy is the most important soft skill. It's a component of emotional intelligence, and having empathy impacts your performance in the workplace in many ways.

* It helps you be a good team player in a group setting.
* Empathy informs us on what our manager is expecting from us. If you're interested in advancement within an organization, performing above and beyond your manager's expectations is a good way to get noticed and considered for other roles.
* Any type of customer engagement is enhanced by empathy. Whether it's soothing an upset customer or making a sales pitch to a room full of potential investors, empathy helps you connect with others.

Empathy is understanding how someone else feels about a situation. The phrase "Put yourself in someone else's shoes" is a good reference point.

Empathy helps you engage with others and see things from their perspective. This skill translates into any situation where you're working with other people.
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david’s Answer

Listening and Timing

Wisdom isn’t knowing what to say the skill is when to say it

david recommends the following next steps:

A course in providing feedback
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Paul’s Answer

Embrace the possibility of not succeeding.
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Paul’s Answer

It is my communications skills. I have a certification in technical writing and I have been able to use it in many different areas, including grant writing, editing, reviews, proofreading, book publishing, and other general occupational areas.
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