This TRIPLE III TIME message has been a long time coming.  No… not that I haven’t had ongoing thoughts about discussing this topic.  But instead, I have struggled with how to explain and appropriately share my position on a very special skill-set area traditionally referred to as “Soft Skills”.

I believe everyone has their own definition and specific list of what “Soft Skills” are.  But before we even start down that road… how about a new label like: BLENDED LIFE/WORK/RELATIONSHIP/PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS GENERATING Skills. Does this label of appropriate, necessary, survival skills in any way sound “Soft”?  And isn’t it true that most believe that this grouping of skills is something you historically learned at home? And finally, when was the last time you saw an advertisement that was offering: PREMIUM SOFT SKILLS TRAINING (FOR 99.99?)

OK… enough of the non-positive attitude!  It is time to modernize the “Soft Skills” challenge.  And maybe we simply start with a TOP 10 LIST OF BLENDED LIFE/WORK/RELATIONSHIP/PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS GENERATING Skills:

1. Communicate with class
2. Respect people and their opinions
3. Show appreciation
4. Don’t assume… just ask
5. Be timely
6. Apologize when you are wrong
7. Offer quality suggestions
8. Be a great team-member
9. Accept responsibility
10. Listen with full attention

Now I will agree that my recommended new label is a lot harder to memorize than “Soft Skills” … but the TOP 10 that define the BLENDED LIFE/WORK/RELATIONSHIP/PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS GENERATING Skills is much easier to place in your personnel policy handbook?!