Skills for the Workplace

Skills for the Workplace

Tech ConnectWeldingTech ConnectWelding

Skills Required for SuccessSkills Required for Success

•Technical SkillsTechnical Skills

•Academic SkillsAcademic Skills

•Soft SkillsSoft SkillsLeadershipLeadershipPersonal ResponsibilityPersonal ResponsibilityCooperationCooperationWork performanceWork performanceWorking independentlyWorking independentlyTeamworkTeamworkSelf-management/initiativeSelf-management/initiativeDecision makingDecision makingGood ethicsGood ethics

Personal Qualities that Promote Good Human Relations

Personal Qualities that Promote Good Human Relations

•Good listening skillsGood listening skills

•Good rapport with othersGood rapport with others

•Sensitivity to others feelings, needs, cultureSensitivity to others feelings, needs, culture

•Ability to express feeling without too much Ability to express feeling without too much emotionemotion

•Ability to motivate others/leadershipAbility to motivate others/leadership

Personal Qualities that Promote Good Human Relations (continued)

Personal Qualities that Promote Good Human Relations (continued)

•DelegationDelegation

•Sharing creditSharing credit

•CooperationCooperation

•Assertiveness, not aggressionAssertiveness, not aggression

•Providing support and encouragementProviding support and encouragement

Skills Needed to Work as a Team Member

Skills Needed to Work as a Team Member

•CooperationCooperation

•InitiativeInitiative

•HonestyHonesty

•Willingness to learnWillingness to learn

•Ability to follow directionsAbility to follow directions

•Neat appearance; good groomingNeat appearance; good grooming

•PleasantnessPleasantness

•Professional communicationProfessional communication

Skills Needed to Work as a Team Member (continued)

Skills Needed to Work as a Team Member (continued)

•PolitenessPoliteness

•PatiencePatience

•PunctualityPunctuality

•Good attendanceGood attendance

•DependabilityDependability

•EnthusiasmEnthusiasm

•Accepting criticism wellAccepting criticism well

Purposes of CommunicationPurposes of Communication

•Being socialBeing social

•Building relationshipsBuilding relationships

•Exchanging informationExchanging information

•Providing knowledgeProviding knowledge

•Making wants and needs knownMaking wants and needs known

•Persuading someone to do or believe somethingPersuading someone to do or believe something

•Solving problemsSolving problems

Methods of CommunicationMethods of Communication

•BrailleBraille

•Cellular phoneCellular phone

•E-mailE-mail

•FaxFax

•Sign languageSign language

•TelephoneTelephone

•Video phoneVideo phone

•Voice mailVoice mail

•Written letterWritten letter

Factors Affecting Communication

Factors Affecting Communication

•Culture and customsCulture and customs

•GenderGender

•Group membershipGroup membership

•Social circumstancesSocial circumstances

Barriers to Good CommunicationBarriers to Good Communication

•Failing to see a person as an individual/lack of Failing to see a person as an individual/lack of understanding of other culturesunderstanding of other cultures

•Failing to listenFailing to listen

•Allowing emotions to affect communicationAllowing emotions to affect communication

•Having a “closed” mindHaving a “closed” mind

•Using clichés, automatic responses and colloquialismsUsing clichés, automatic responses and colloquialisms

•Allowing interruptionsAllowing interruptions

•Using a specific and limited vocabularyUsing a specific and limited vocabulary

•Assuming knowledgeAssuming knowledge

Barriers to Good Communication (continued)

Barriers to Good Communication (continued)

•Being prejudicedBeing prejudiced

•Having low self-esteem and confidence in Having low self-esteem and confidence in communicatingcommunicating

•Teachings from childhoodTeachings from childhood

•Not hearing the message clearlyNot hearing the message clearly

•Sending mixed messagesSending mixed messages

Forms of Communication Used in Business Situations

Forms of Communication Used in Business Situations

•Verbal communicationVerbal communicationListeningListeningReadingReadingSpeakingSpeakingWritingWriting

•Nonverbal communicationNonverbal communicationAppearanceAppearanceBody languageBody languageSilenceSilence

Guidelines for Oral Presentations

Guidelines for Oral Presentations

•Know your audience.Know your audience.

•Choose an idea that is interesting to the audience.Choose an idea that is interesting to the audience.

•Choose an idea that is striking, different, or unusual.Choose an idea that is striking, different, or unusual.

•Choose information that is current and timely.Choose information that is current and timely.

•Make the presentation clear to yourself.Make the presentation clear to yourself.

•Think about logical order.Think about logical order.

•Phrase the presentation clearly for your audience.Phrase the presentation clearly for your audience.

•Explain any new ideas or terms related to the topic.Explain any new ideas or terms related to the topic.

•Practice giving your presentation.Practice giving your presentation.

Guidelines for Oral Presentations (continued)

Guidelines for Oral Presentations (continued)

•Maintain eye contact.Maintain eye contact.

•Use gestures to emphasize specific thoughts, convey Use gestures to emphasize specific thoughts, convey attitudes or moods, and express thoughts and feelings.attitudes or moods, and express thoughts and feelings.

•Be yourself, but do not overact.Be yourself, but do not overact.

•Maintain good posture.Maintain good posture.

•Use voice control – speak clearly, slowly, and in a Use voice control – speak clearly, slowly, and in a pleasant tone.pleasant tone.

•Use visuals if they are appropriate.Use visuals if they are appropriate.

•Be neatly groomed and appropriately dressed.Be neatly groomed and appropriately dressed.

Guidelines for Oral Presentations (continued)

Guidelines for Oral Presentations (continued)

•Be prepared.Be prepared.

•Recognize that some fear is normal; do not get too upset.Recognize that some fear is normal; do not get too upset.

•Be enthusiastic and confident.Be enthusiastic and confident.

•Practice ways, such as relaxation and visual exercises, to Practice ways, such as relaxation and visual exercises, to reduce nervousness.reduce nervousness.

•Control your breathing.Control your breathing.

Steps in the Decision-Making Process

Steps in the Decision-Making Process

1.1. Identify the problem.Identify the problem.

2.2. Analyze the problem.Analyze the problem.

3.3. Identify solutions.Identify solutions.

4.4. Select a solution to implement.Select a solution to implement.

5.5. Implement your solution.Implement your solution.

6.6. Evaluate the situation.Evaluate the situation.

7.7. Was the problem solved?Was the problem solved?

• If not, what happened?If not, what happened?

• Can another solution be tried?Can another solution be tried?

Group Decision MakingGroup Decision Making

•AdvantagesAdvantages

Group members feel they have input.Group members feel they have input.

Discussions can lead to new ideas or decisions.Discussions can lead to new ideas or decisions.

•DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Can take a great deal of time to reach consensus.Can take a great deal of time to reach consensus.

May not reach consensus.May not reach consensus.

Decision may have to be made by team Decision may have to be made by team leader/manager if consensus cannot be reached.leader/manager if consensus cannot be reached.

© 2008

Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology

Education