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This term “Soft Skills” has been slowly gaining momentum in India and is on the cusp of a massive breakthrough. With major to mid-level corporates, educational institutions (MBA schools and degree colleges) already inculcating professional development programs on soft skills related topics, it’s only a matter of time before every school in the country goes on to do the same!
So what is this term “Soft Skills”? Soft Skills refers to various behavioural traits that’s enable individuals to form human connections, gain visibility, and create more opportunities for advancement. These traits then need to be developed and cultivated so as to enable personal and professional success.
The intent of the Facebook live session was to help teachers/ educators understand why soft skills is the need of the hour, for teachers as well as students.
From ages ago to today, we’re all aware that a teacher’s responsibility is not just to deliver the content of the curriculum, but their responsibility also extends to a level where they need to ensure the holistic development of students in social, intellectual, and emotional capacities.
It doesn’t just stop there. Soft skills are also of prime importance when working with parents, administration and support staff and as well as with other teachers. Such skills will help improve overall “teacher effectiveness”.
To ensure “teacher effectiveness”, continuous development programs must be conducted for teachers/ educators. Here are a few ways in which you can use soft skills to better your relationships with students, parents, colleagues and your support staff:
- Communicating effectively with students ➢ By using non-judgemental communication; ➢ By being clear and brief; ➢ By repeating yourself as some students might have to hear the message a
couple of times before they understand it; and ➢ By using humour to spark interest and engage with your students.
- Communicating effectively with parents ➢ By sharing your extensive knowledge and experience to help parents
understand their child’s situation; ➢ By being discrete thus letting parents know they can trust you – avoid discussing students with other parents or engaging in any negative faculty talk; ➢ By thinking before you speak; and ➢ By sharing positives about their child’s learning helping the parents make
decisions.
- Listening actively ➢ By nodding in agreement, asking open ended questions, avoiding
assumptions;
➢ By validating what your students have said by confirming that they have
been heard; and ➢ By not let your own agenda or your need to get your point across interfere with your ability to appreciate what you students are attempting to tell you
- By valuing, respecting, tolerating, understanding and caring for your students, co-workers and parents!
- Empathizing with their students (by placing yourself in their shoes and trying to feel the emotion their going through)
“A teacher affects eternity and one can never tell when their influence stops, because you as a teacher have the ability to take a hand, open a mind and touch a heart!”
So Let’s transform lives – of both teachers and students to develop better leaders for tomorrow!
