Page 14 - Effective Communication Soft Skills Strategies For Success by Nitin Bhatnagar, Mamta Bhatnagar

Project Name: Manual for Soft Skills
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are of two kinds namely, soft skills and hard skills. Although both the skills
are deemed equally essential, soft skills should be the part and parcel of any
course curriculum in view of its importance. Soft skills are essential not
only for students, but also for teachers and other academic consultants.
Students seek employment at some point in life to advance into profes-
sional phase and to earn their bread and butter. It will not only be desirable
but also essential for them to learn the aspects of soft skills. We know that
teachers generally teach us how to solve a specific or complicated mathe-
matical problem. They explain complex concepts in a manner that is easy to
understand. However, it is witnessed that many teachers or academicians fail
to teach us how to communicate, how to get along well in an interpersonal
situation, how to make a career choice, and many such related problems.
All these aspects fall under the domain of soft skills. On the other hand,
some teachers are extremely good at teaching the prescribed material. They
confine themselves only to teaching. However, they lack interpersonal skills
like greeting students, communicating empathy, showing care and concern,
helping students to grow, and to develop proactive and other related skills,
counseling skills from a cluster of soft skills. It is imperative to examine
what exactly soft skills are, how they differ from hard skills and why they are
important to students. Primarily, however, let us look at the different aspects
of hard skills.

HARD SKILLS

Hard skills are the technical competencies that an individual possesses.
These are skills which are gained through educational learning and practi-
cal hands-on applications. Hard skills are quantitative in nature and can be
measured. For example, Ravi, a 10th standard student can do any complicated
mathematical problem within no time. Sita, a 10th standard student has a very
good grasp over the concepts of science. Even she can solve complex problems
very easily. Ravi’s and Sita’s skills in mathematics and science drive them to
choose careers in engineering and medicine, respectively. Both their skills in
engineering medicine can be termed as hard skills, which they have acquired
through learning over a period of time. In other words, hard skills are essen-
tially the technical abilities required to do a particular job or to perform a
specialized task. A degree, diploma or certificate confirms that the relevant
abilities necessary to perform a particular job have been sufficiently mastered.
Hard skills are vital to get employed. However, hard skills alone might not be
sufficient in order to survive successfully. Soft skills are important in addition
to hard skills. While the term ‘hard skills’ or ‘technical skills’ is a relatively
straightforward concept, soft skills are somewhat more difficult to pin down,

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