SOFT SKILLS (ATTITUDE, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, INTERPERSONAL SKILLS etc.,)

 SOFTSKILLS

SWOC ANALYSIS

What is SWOC Analysis?

SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges and is a structured planning method that evaluates those four elements of an individual, organization, project or business venture. A SWOT analysis is a simple, but powerful, framework for leveraging the organization’s strengths, improving weaknesses, minimizing threats, and taking the greatest possible advantage of opportunities.

2.Discuss the importance of SWOT/SWOC analysis for individuals.

SWOC is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats and is a structured planning method that evaluates those four elements of an individual, organization, project or business venture. A SWOC analysis is a simple, but powerful, framework for leveraging the organization’s strengths, improving weaknesses, minimizing threats, and taking the greatest possible advantage of opportunities.

Personal development is an essential step for making yourself more appealing to others. It also helps boost your self-image. People apply many different tactics to stand apart in the society. . Individuals often conduct the SWOC analysis. Application of SWOC analysis is an essential exercise for anyone who wants to have hassle free journey to success.

A SWOC analysis focuses on the 4 elements included in its acronym. Knowing about these positive and negative factors can help you make changes more effectively. Typically, a SWOC analysis is done by creating a table, divided into 4 columns ..

The strengths and weaknesses do not match the opportunities and threats listed. SWOT/SWOC analysis shows why people are unable to reach their goals.

It available helps to and understand the Ways to reach goals. It is beneficial to be aware of the opportunities available and challenges to face.

By realizing weakness, one can overcome threats.

Knowing Your weakness beforehand can help plan a course of action to avoid the impending losses.

STRENGTHS

• What benefits do you have which others do not have? This could include skills, education, or Connections.

• What are you better at than anyone else?

• What personal resources do you have access to?

• What do other people see as your strengths?

• Which achievements are you most proud of?

• What values do you believe in that others fail to show?

• Are you part of a network no one else is involved in?

• What connections do you have with powerful people?

WEAKNESSES

• What work do you usually avoid because of lack of confidence?

• What do people think you weaknesses are?

• Are you happy with your education and skills training?

• Do you have any negative habits?

• Which of your personality traits hold you back?

OPPORTUNITIES

• What new technology can assist you?

• Can you take advantage of the market in its present state?

• Do you have a network of strategic contacts to offer good advice or help you?

• Is any of your competitors failing to do something important? Can you take advantage of it?

• Is there a need in your company which no one is filling?

• Could you create an opportunity by offering solutions to problems?

CHALLENGES

• What hindrances do you currently face?

• Is any of your co-workers competing with you?

• Is your job changing?

• Could any of your weaknesses lead to threat?

 ATTITUDE

What is an attitude ?

Attitude is the manner disposition, feeling and position about a person or thing, tendency of orientation, especially in mind.

According to Frank Treeman ? An Attitude is a dispositional readiness to respond to certain institutions persons or objects in a consistent manner which has been learned and has become one’s typical mode of response”.

Gordon Allport, An Attitude is a mental and neutral state of readiness, organized through experience, everting a directive or dynamic influence upon the individual’s response to all objects and situations with which it is related.

1. Explain different types of attitudes.

Attitude comprises basically of mindset, viewpoint, beliefs, etc. These basic elements add to the person you are. Your skill is facing the challenges of life and moving is often shaped by the attitude you hold.

The types of attitude in psychology that is often stated are 1. Cognitive, 2. Behavioural, 3. Emotional. The first component is based on the knowledge we acquire and feel confident about the fact that we are educated on that subject and can present someone with the relevant information. This make us confident. The emotional component deals with the giving out of emotional stimuli, such as over reacting at simple things.

2. What is positive thinking? What are the advantages of positive thinking?

Positive thinking, or an optimistic attitude, is the practice of focusing on the good in any given situation. It can have a big impact on your physical and mental health. That doesn’t mean you ignore reality or make light of problems. It simply means you approach the good and the bad in life with the expectation that things will go well. It is all about changing your ideas, perceptions and interpretations about the things around you. Positive thinking is the capacity to focus on what is right and neglecting what is wrong or unpleasant.

Advantages of positive thinking

 Physical:

• Longer life span

• Lower chance of having a heart attack

• Better physical health

• Greater resistance to illness such as the common cold

• Lower blood pressure Better pain tolerance

Mental :

• Better stress management

• More creativity

• Greater problem-solving skill

• Clearer thinking

• Flexibility in situations

• Better coping skills

• Less depression

3. How to develop positive thinking?

We can develop positive thinking by doing the following things in our day to day

• Focus on the good things: Challenging situations and obstacles are a part of life. When you’re faced with one, focus on the good things no matter how small or seemingly insignificant they seem.

• Spend time with positive people: Negativity and positivity have been shown to be contagious. Consider the people with whom you’re spending time. Surround yourself with people who will lift you up and help you see the bright side ..

• Start every day on a positive note: Create a ritual in which you start off each day with something uplifting and positive. Here are a few ideas:

• Tell yourself that it’s going to be a great day or any other positive affirmation.

• Listen to a happy and positive song or playlist.

• Share some positivity by giving a compliment or doing something nice for someone.

• Respect yourself and others too: Comparison is death of joy. Do not compare yourself with anyone in this world. Believe in yourself. If you fail think ‘May be this is not one of my strength.

• Set Positive goals: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. One who is clear about his goal will surely succeed.

• Do not believe in Failure: Fear of failure will lead one to negative thinking. We cannot succeed without failing.

• Have a strong and persistent desire: Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.

4. What are the characteristics of positive thinking people?

Positive thinking, or an optimistic attitude, is the practice of focusing on the good in any given situation. It can have a big impact on your physical and mental health. That doesn’t mean you ignore reality or make light of problems. It simply means you approach the good and the bad in life with the expectation that things will go well. Positive thinkers generally exhibit the following characteristics:

• Positive thinkers look at self first: If we know the truth about our self nobody can fool us.

• Positive thinkers overcome Hurdles: When we start informing what is in our heart we might face opposition

• Positive thinkers celebrate past victories: It is important for us to remember how we have reached a particular position.

• Positive thinking is contagious: Being a positive thinker not only benefits us but also shows great impact on the people around us.

• Positive thinkers do not fear anything : If we really believe in our strength, we do not run away from a problem, But towards it.

• Positive thinking is a continuous process : There is no end to it.

• Positive thinkers generate simple and creative solutions: When we start looking at things positively, it will give us scope to have a clear view of the situation or problem.

• Positive thinkers stand special in negative world: Good and bad things happen to all people in all positions and walks of life. However, Positive attitude allows you to see things which others do not see and allows you to preserve where others stop trying.

5. Why are people negative and how to avoid negative thinking?

People tend to think negatively because,

1. They lack confidence, they get anger, doubt and frustration.

2. They Fear failure,

3. They look at the problems in a magnifying glass

4. They listen to others and get carried away with their views.

5. They suspect everyone and everything.

6. They forget about their past victories and do not have hope in future.

One can avoid negative thinking by;

1. Looking for a good even in a negative situation.

2. Understanding that people don’t care much about what you say and what you do.

3. Question the negative thought. Is it really serious to think about it?

4. Replacing the negativity in the surroundings.

5. Stopping a small negative thought from becoming a big monster in our mind. Confronts it early.

6. We have to talk about it openly to others, so that it won’t build up in our mind.

7. Avoid fearing the situation and outcome.

8. Start every day, every work positively

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Have you ever known people who always seem to keep them cool, who are able to handle even the most awkward social situations with grace, and who always seem to make others feel at ease ? Chances are pretty high that those individuals process what psychologists refer to as emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence involves the ability to understand and manage emotions. Experts agree that this type of intelligence plays an important role is success, and some have suggested that emotional intelligence, or EQ might even be more important then IQ. In any case, research has suggested that possessing emotional intelligence skills is linked to everything from decision making to academic achievement.

What is intelligence?

Intelligence is using brain than feelings. Intelligence is thinking and using the faculty of reason to take decisions based on the practicality of cause and effect in real life situations. It is the ability to learn from experience and to adapt to, shape, and select environments.

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence (otherwise known as emotional quotient or EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict. According to Oxford Dictionary of psychology,” emotional intelligence is the ability to monitor one’s own and others people’s emotions. It helps to discriminate between different emotions and label them appropriately and to use the emotional information in thinking and behavior.

What is the importance of Emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence allows you to understand and manage your emotions in order to self motivate and to create positive social interactions; it’s the first step in realizing your true potential. The value and benefits of EI are vast in terms of personal, academic, and professional success.

The following are the advantages of emotional intelligence.

• The widest range of acceptance by people.

• Better performance in employment

• Healthy and effective inter personal relations

• Error rate in day to day life

• Easy and flexible life

• Physical and mental health

• Self Motivated and result oriented Life

Finally, a high EI helps individuals to communicate better, reduce their anxiety and stress, defuse conflicts, improve relationships, empathize with others, and effectively overcome life’s challenges.

Our emotional intelligence affects the quality of our lives because it influences our behavior and relationships.

How to enhance Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence continues to be an increasingly popular skill to have in the professional world. It is a dynamic skill. It is capable of changing. One can enhance his/her emotional intelligence by doing the following.

Utilize an assertive style of communicating: Assertive communication goes a long way toward earning respect without coming across as too aggressive or too passive. Emotionally intelligent people know how to communicate their opinions and needs in a direct way while still respecting others.

Practice self-awareness: Emotionally intelligent people are self-aware and intuitive. They are aware of their own emotions and how they can affect those around them.

Empathize with others: Emotionally intelligent people know how to empathize. They understand that empathy is a trait that shows emotional strength, not weakness. Empathy helps them to relate to others on a basic human level.

Respond instead of reacting to conflict: During instances of conflict, emotional outbursts and feelings of anger are common. The emotionally intelligent person knows how to stay calm during stressful situations. They don’t make impulsive decisions that can lead to even bigger problems.

Utilize active listening skills: In conversations, emotionally intelligent people listen for clarity instead of just waiting for their turn to speak. They make sure they understand what is being said before responding.

Be motivated: Emotionally intelligent people are self-motivated and their attitude motivates others. They set goals and are resilient in the face of challenges.

Physical exercises and outdoor play: Sound body is sound mind. The functionaries of all the body have psychometric impact.

Recreation and Hobbies: Mind is creative and re-creative .It needs to be fed with positive stuff.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

1. What are interpersonal skills?

Interpersonal skills are the skills that a person uses to interact with other people. Interpersonal skills are sometimes also referred to as people skills or communication skills, involve such as active listening, tone of voice, delegation and leadership. These skills show how people relate to others.

For instance, to interrupt someone who is currently preoccupied with the task of obtaining information needed immediately? It is recommended to use the phrases, "Excuse me, are you busy? I have an urgent matter to discuss with you if you have time at the moment."

The usage of above phrases allows the receiver of the message to judge independently and leads to a higher quality interaction.

The five types of interpersonal skills that every person needs to succeed are,

1. Communication skills 2. Leadership & team management skills 3. Management skills 4. Negotiation skills 5. Listening skills

1. Communication skills: It is one of the most important types of interpersonal skills. Effective communication both verbal and non verbal helps us better understanding of a person .

2. Leadership & Team Management Skills: Effective leadership is an essential requirement in order to achieve organizational goals. A leader is responsible to provide inspiration, motivation and clear direction toothier team.

3. Management Skills: The ability to foster interpersonal relationships, establish clearly are crucial skills for an effective leader. When managers have poor interpersonal communication skills they can expect to irritate and confuse employees.

4. Negotiation skills: Effective negotiation helps us to resolve situations. The aim of win-win negotiation is to find a solution that is acceptable to both parties, and leaves both parties feeling that they have won.

5. Listening skills: Active listening is pretty self-explanatory. It's all about actively listening to what someone else has to say rather than passively hearing their message. Approach each conversation like you have something to learn - because, in reality, you likely will find yourself doing just that.

Team work : The ability to work together as a team is extremely valuable in every work place. Team work involves many other inter personal skills like communication, active listening, flexibility and responsibility. Those who are good team players are often given important tasks in the work place and may seen as good candidates for promotion.

The above are some of the important skills that form interpersonal skills which help to develop and foster longer relationships.

2. Why are interpersonal skills important?

Interpersonal skills are important for communicating and working with groups and individuals in your personal and professional life. People with strong interpersonal skills tend to build good relationships and can work well with others. They understand family, friends, coworkers a .d clients well. People often enjoy working with colleagues who have good interpersonal skills.

Other benefits of interpersonal skills include the ability to solve problems and make good decisions. You can use interpersonal communication skills and the ability to understand others to come to the best solution or make the best decision for everyone involved. People with interpersonal skills also tend to make good leaders because of their ability to communicate with and motivate those around them.

3. How can one develop interpersonal skills?

Interpersonal skills form an integral part of your professional toolbox. Strong interpersonal skills will help you gain allies and simultaneously demonstrate to your supervisor that you’re capable of bringing out the best in others. Below are nine strategies to improve interpersonal skills:

Cultivate a positive outlook. Teach yourself to be positive by reminding yourself every day of the good things about your life and your job.

Control your emotions. Work isn’t the place to be overly emotional. Whether you’re extremely irritated, severely depressed or ecstatically happy, take a deep breath and tone your emotions down. Always express yourself in a calm, patient manner.

Acknowledge others’ expertise. One of the best ways to build trust is to let your others know that you appreciate their expertise

Show a real interest in your colleagues. You work side-by-side with your colleagues for eight hours every day; it’s only logical that you’ll learn something about their lives. Make a point of getting to know what’s important to your co-workers. It will help solidify your relationships with them.

Find one good trait in every co-worker. If a person’s personality clashes completely with your own, the best way to handle the situation is by finding at least one good trait in that personpreferably something professional.

Practice active listening .. You can do this by maintaining eye contact with the speaker, nodding your head, and repeating what he or she says in your own words. The speaker will feel respected and you’re likely to be able to recall the conversation more easily afterwards.

Be assertive: it’s important to be assertive. Be confident in your ability and opinions, and don’t be afraid to express your needs, as well as your limits.

Practice empathy. Gain a well-rounded view of things by putting yourself in other people’s shoes. This will help you develop empathy for others, which in turn goes a long way in finding solutions that work for all involved.

Maintain your relationships. Connect with college friends and former colleagues on social media or through email; try to set up face-to-face meetings now and then. This shows your connections that you still value the relationship.