Practical Implications of Soft Skills for the SLP — BLOG POST

In our college studies and in our CEU development, we acquire technical knowledge.

In life, through family interactions, personal pursuits, individual study, peer connections and in progressive work experiences, we acquire, develop and grow in “soft skills.”

The following is a list of soft skills, and why they are important to the life of a provider of services, employees and in all relationships, no matter our role.

Today’s challenge: read this list and find three areas that you could use some growth. We all can find areas to improve upon; even if you can only receive 5- 10% growth in an area that you have identified, that will help you in the “soft skills” department. Routinely come back to this list, reassess and address.

Action-task assignment:

• “Ask people who know you well in your work and personal communication environments for helpful feedback in the areas in which you could use some growth.”
• “After you have identified your particularly areas for improvement  — research, read, ponder and journal about “baby-step” tasks to improve this “soft-skill” area. Seek out formal courses if needed, and implement with use of a mentor or friend.”

“Soft-Skill” Areas, a comprehensive list:

Useful information relay for connections (in other words, what we do: “communication”)

As speech-language pathologists, we are are instructors of effective communication with patients and students who demonstrate deficits in these areas, be it from various different etiologies. However, all of us have opportunity for growth within the area of dispersment of content.

Important aspects of communication, in general, include:

• • • • listening and observing without interrupting,
      • recognizing the benefit of approaching conversations without judgment,
      • speaking with a positive and validating tone,
      • being mindful of expressive body language,
      • planning communications prior to expression, having considered various approaches, options and perspectives,
      • verbally direct a thought, idea or concern succinctly, and:
      • increasing familiarity and follow-through of expected mannerisms and etiquette in verbal, non-verbal and written communications.

Application to our SLP roles:  Our therapeutic impact is not only in our scheduled session tasks. It is also in how we model and communicate with peers, supervisors and “internal customers,” such as co-workers, related fields, etc. We can find a benefit to patients in the opportunities of our day-to-day communication world.

Promoting goals in relationship (in other words: “persuasion” and “negotiation”)

It is important to be able to employ the attribute of persuasiveness, when needed, in an employment context.

This involves:

• • • • being able to observe the environment and communications with the aim of being able to identify what others care about/what they want,
      • knowing your worth, skill-set and role,
      • creating interactions to relay that you identify their concerns, and relay content on topics that resonate, and:
      • conveying information relating to their concerns with brevity and a “right-fit” emotional delivery, connecting it with solutions related to your objectives (while proposing solutions that benefit different perspectives).

Application to our SLP roles: In our employment environment, it is necessary to be able to persuade others and negotiate all aspects of the chess pieces that we play in order to have patient needs met, and our own needs to be met. Asking ourselves how to more effectively do do benefits all involved.

Affiliation framework evoluation (in other words: “relationship-building”)

Having willingness to help others unconditionally is paramount in building relationships. Also the following is helpful:

• • • • seeking/establishing common interests,
      • adding value to the relationships before asking something in return,
      • using effective and validating language when asking for help, and:
      • communicating on other topics besodes just asking for assistance or offering recommendations.

Application to our SLP roles: Rapport-building is an important part of the evaluation and treatment process in the relationships we establish; also, it is important in our peer relationships, in advocating for instrumentals, in finding new resources for our patients and ourselves, etc. In fact, when initiating employment at a new location, investing in relationships is one of the most the foundational tasks necessary in order to achieve other soft skills. Healthy and effective relationships are paramount in order to establishing communication systems, offering solutions to problems and being a team-player, where the outcome for everyone is a “win-win.”

Relationship insight, recognition and rapport (in other words: “empathy”)

Establishing genuine interest in others is the bedrock of developing empathy. In addition, the following is important:

• • • • demonstrating an openness to be non-judgmental;
      • utilizing and communicating the ability to look at the situation from the others’ points of view,
      • validating and providing support,
      • showing generosity with time, focus and energy, and:
      • offering an “open-door” policy for a “listening ear.”

Application to our SLP roles: Empathizing with another’s struggle or challenge is necessary for “buy-in” in order to open the door to brain-storming solutions, not only on the “providing services” side but also as co-workers. It is necessary to make “investments” into the relationships bank in others so that when “withdrawals” need to be made in asking for input or for asking for understanding of your own situation, there is plenty to draw from.

Venturing forth with hope (in other words, a “positive attitude”)

It is helpful in work environments to maintain an attitude that is focused on keeping the mood in interactions collaborative, including:

• • • • taking care to not gossip,
      • making a decision to relay challenges in manner that is interpreted as solution-finding,
      • utilizing a “compliment sandwich” rather than directly critiquing (such as: stating a positive attitude, stating the concern, then stating another positive attribute), and:
      • building others up, and appreciating it when others do the same to you.

Application to our SLP roles: It is said that “life is 10% what happens to us and 90% what we do with it.” Room for listening is important; if you are on a mood journey where you are benefitting from a positive mindset , it is helpful to realize that not everyone else is in the same place. and accept people where they are. Demonstrating a “Pollyanna” attitude 100% of the time may be experienced as “toxic” to some people if they are needing a listening ear as the form of support. However, finding the balance between “acceptance and change” may mean that you could benefit from course-correcting your filter, — your perspective in how you focus your mind and how you approach your day. Yes, it is important to validate the challenging, and also — setting out your day in a manner that helps you achieve your commitments may mean working on facilitating more positivity into situations, even just a little shift. It is the little shifts that can make a big impact, if consistent over time.

Teamwork and conflict resolution

Working well with others can involve the following sub-sets:

• • • • celebrating other people’s wins intentionally,
      • asking for others’ input, especially in their area of expertise (intentionally performing networking),
      • Recognizing others in various ways,
      • focusing on solutions rather than problems,
      • avoiding accepting all of the credit in successful projects,
      • incorporating others’ insights into decisions,
      • communication mechanisms and systems being in place for making recommendations, with justifications,
      • avoiding arguments/accusations, and:
      • communicating responsibility when it is your fault, including: apologizing sincerely, and not repeating the same action again.

Application to our SLP roles: Acknowledging when other do well can oftentimes be contagious. When we celebrate others, it help others exponentially, as well as ourselves. Taking every moment we can to celebrate allows for others to see what you do to exceed expiations, as well. It is also validating to recognize others’ concerns and potential solutions when there are conflicts. Remaining in the mindset of “all involved” assists in teamwork, and will pay off in dividends. Also recognizing when we slip up and stating that even ourselves are growing gives place for people to be vulnerable and learning to take place for all.

Temperament discernment/abilities (also known as “emotional intelligence”)

There is a lot of discussion these days about emotional intelligence, and there are many aspects to it:

• • • • recognizing when you are experiencing intense or undesirable feelings,
      • avoiding acting impulsively, and therefore taking a step back (avoid responding when you are upset),
      • growing in awareness of the value of others’ perspectives, experiences and feelings, even if they are different from your own,
      • having “go to” coping mechanisms that are healthy,
      • recognizing the balance of your decisions/actions and those of others on the impact of a situation — including fully taking responsibility for your role,
      • having willingness and initiating avenurs to seek out mentorship and counsel when indicated,
      • when proceeding with communications, doing so mindfully,
      • patience, humility and resilience,
      • appreciating the “lemonade” in the “lemons,” and:
      • facilitating gratitude, even in the more challenging times.

Application to our SLP roles: We can demonstrate to others that we are each growing in our own way by utilizing emotional intelligence skills. It helps us and others in our work, personal and advocacy roles when we show to others that we are all feeling beings, on our journeys to achieving our commitments. Some people may lean more on the “logical” sidle and others may lean more on the “emotional’ side of feeling states of being. When we merge the two, we find the most balance and this can assist us achieving outcomes with patients, relating more to co-workers and to achieve our employment objectives. Also, emotional intelligence sometimes is about not making a situation worse or more challenging. If we can avoid a problem in our employment situation, such as avoiding a conflict or misunderstanding — that is a crisis or set of hurt feelings that do not have to be “solved” or addressed.

Time management and efficiency

Having the ability to effectively plan and direct some of our most valuable resources — time and effort — is very important, including:

• • • • listing/brainstorming all factors (“big picture” details),
      • asking for others’ input into the critical thinking process,
      • prioritizing,
      • delegating,
      • organizing,
      • creating a time plan in a system that works for you,
      • adjusting the plan as real-world factors influence the environment, and:
      • learning how to say “no” to tasks that are not priorities, so that you can say “yes” to your commitments.

Some people perform tasks more on the rushed side, and need to combat this by slowing down and being more deliberate, enjoying the moment. By doing this, this is the potential to reduce time performing tasks globally — because there are less mistakes and this avoids sttuggles that have to be addressed later on.

In addition, some people could improve productivity and speed up performance by reducing distractions by being more focused and mindful as an approach. 

Aspects of efficiency include:

• • • • processing speed, which is slowed down with an increase in distractions in the environment,
      • the presence or absence of planning prior to the day or task,
      • systems or routines being in place or not in place to aid in repetitious patterns, to facilitates productivity;
      • utilizing or not utilizing technology or other short-cuts to cut down on time required to complete tasks;
      • organizing and contextualizing,
      • if this is a new role, and if time and practice is needed to improve effectiveness (give yourself and others grace), and:
      • considering if judgement, anxiety or other emotional factors play-in that impact complete mindfulness to the tasks at hand.

Application to our SLP roles: As we face productivity standards, if it is in the perform of a percent or number of visits to achieve per day if we are paid her visit — there tends to be opportunities for improvement, so we have more personal time out of work or for making strides toward projects or programs. Asking for input from other SLPs on how to best manage time and resources can be helpful, as well as seeking out systems in order to lead us to more opportunities to pursue other projects or pursuits we care deeply about. You may find that the most helpful suggestion may come from the least known source.

Endeavor integrity (what we also call: “work ethic”)

Having a good work ethic is more than just about avoiding distractions; it is about using consistency as your superpower, including:

• • • • taking responsibility for your work and role, in the positive and negative results,
      • showing up and delivering the intended outcome, on-time and in a dependable manner,
      • keeping commitments, and if unable to — relay this in a timely capacity, in advance, and:
      • motivating yourself through whatever means necessary, including setting reminders of your “why.”

Application to our SLP roles: As we face productivity standards, if it is in the form of a percent or number of visits to achieve per day if we are paid-per-visit — there tends to be opportunities for improvement, so we have more personal time out of work or for making strides toward additional, innovative projects. Asking other SLPs how to best manage time and resources can be helpful, as well as seeking out systems in order to lead us to more opportunities to pursue other things we care about. You may find that a very helpful suggestion may come from the least known source.

Flexibility

While some people have difficulties with change, it is important to grow the skill of flexibility interpersonally and in the workplace, because it is a challenge for others to work with someone who is rigid in their thinking, practices or filter. We like it when others are flexible, right? Some people have a natural temperament for openness to change, and other do so.

Flexibility involves:

• • • • being able to recognize that you and your teammates benefit from being malleable when new factors are introduced,
      • reminding yourself that you can adjust by allowing extra time in your schedule for “white noise” (free time for extra tasks, as you see fit) so to allow for hiccups that come your  way), and:
      • Reminding yourself of the benefits of flexibility can motivate your to be open to more of it, including:
        • • • improved innovation skills and being able to “think quick on your feet” can be a direct result of improving in and flexibility departmet, and:
            • improved confidence is a result of achieving improvements in flexibility, which will help in a lot of other areas.

Application to our SLP roles: It is important to use the standard of “effectiveness” as we figure out ways to manage situations. Asking ourselves, will get me what I desire/what I want? Oftentimes, focusing on flexibility, and still having the guidelines that give you structure is incredibly important. And, we may not always have the outcome colored in the manner that we had originally hoped for. As well, with the flexibility needed in the face of changing circumstances, with adjustments needing to made for course corrections, we may end up with something even more beautiful as a solution than originally planned.

 

For many, the totality of these soft skills may come naturally. If this is the case for you, you are very fortunate. Most people require some sort of avenue to grow these traits so that they can be utilized in the workplace. People have not have had opportunity to have experienced models of expertise in these areas, or there may have been other challenges that surfaced along the way in development that was a barrier to learning them as others do. Some people have not have had the support in order to safely explore these areas. Whatever the factor, you have the ability to explore these areas and grow.

We may have attended college and CEU courses for a variety of reasons, to acquire technical skills, or to pursue a certain career.

Once we are on the path of focusing upon “learning how to learn,” helpful areas to develop are the “soft skills,” such as communication, persuasion, negotiation, relationship-building, empathy, a positive attitude, teamwork, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, time management and efficiency, work ethic, and flexibility.

And the “learning how to learn” process never ends; hopefully this list of details will aide you on your “soft skill” development walk on your path to achieving your commitments, wherever you are in your journey.

 

Wilson Nice, SLP, is the owner of Nice Speech Lady, a medical SLP platform for functional, practical and evidence-based SLP clinical resources.

Nice has been publishing complimentary tools for SLPs since February of 2018. Nice works as a medical SLP in New Mexico, as a contractor in SNFs and is a tele-practice/private practice outpatient clinic owner – serving adults and children, in Socorro, New Mexico — on a part-time basis.

 

 

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