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Whether you’re looking to land a new digital role, hoping to progress to the next level in your existing role or simply wanting to improve your team culture, soft skills are vitally important. Your soft skills can help you stand out from the crowd or shine within your existing organisation.

 

What are soft skills

 

Let’s start with what hard skills are. Hard skills are specific competencies that can be learned through study or experience on the job, such as writing a press release, designing a graphic, or editing a video.

 

Soft skills are more intrinsic or have been learned through years of experience. They are skills such as time management, team-working, working well under pressure. and being adaptable.

 

Soft skills that are important in the charity sector

 

The charity sector requires certain soft skills that may not necessarily be needed in other sectors, such as those noted below.

 

 

Dedication to the cause

 

Notice the use of ‘dedication’ rather than passion. This is because not everyone is able to land a job for a cause they are passionate about. You don’t need to be passionate, but you do need to be dedicated to the cause and its mission, and committed to helping the organisation achieve its goals.

 

 

Emotional intelligence

 

A key skill for those working in the charity sector is emotional intelligence. This is about being aware of your emotions and how they may affect your or others around you. It’s also about being aware of how your colleagues are feeling, having empathy for them, and using those abilities to support them. Having emotional intelligence can lead to better team relationships as well as an organisational culture that values wellbeing.

 

 

How to improve your digital soft skills

 

There are a number of ways in which to develop and improve your digital soft skills. Most are free, however some may have a cost attached.

 

 

Develop a ‘user manual for me’

 

People like to work in different ways. Some people are extraverts and some are introverts. Some people thrive in buzzy environments, while others prefer quiet.

 

One of the best things you can do for yourself and your team is to create a ‘user manual for me’. It lays out the ways in which you like to work, such as conditions and times but also how you like to communicate, receive feedback, things that you need to perform at your best and things that you struggle with. 

 

Creating this document helps your colleagues to understand how you like to work and how best they can support you – and vice-versa. Things that may take them months or years to learn, they can now know in a few minutes. It can help your team work together more meaningfully, respectfully and efficiently.

 

 

Proactively seek opportunities to develop

 

Don’t wait for opportunities to present themselves. Proactively seek opportunities to develop. These may be internal opportunities, such as an in-house training programme, or they may be external opportunities, such as attending an event where there are networking opportunities afterwards.

 

 

Have a learning mindset

 

Digital moves at pace. Not only do you need to learn new skills but also new ways of working. Sign up to relevant newsletters, seek out conferences, webinars, and training opportunities to continually develop your skills.

 

 

Develop leadership skills

 

Leadership skills are not just for leaders. Leadership skills are about understanding your own strengths and weaknesses and where you may need to improve and develop. Goal-setting and planning are key leadership skills, as is being decisive. It’s also about motivating and inspiring others. All of these skills are important, whether you are in a leadership role or not.

 

 

Improve time management

 

Time management is crucial to every role. There are lots of digital tools available to help manage your time effectively. Using Trello or Asana, for example, can help keep you, and your team, on track to meet your deadlines.

 

 

Build time for creativity

 

Creativity is often cited as an in-demand soft skill. In the charity sector, creativity is key to getting cut-through in a competitive market. Build in time with your team, or wider teams, for creativity sessions. Gather examples, across different sectors, to share and discuss.

 

Invite external speakers to talk about an innovative campaign they worked on. Incorporate creativity exercises into planning meetings to get the creative juices flowing.

 

Adopt a ‘fail fast, learn fast’ mentality

 

The best learning comes from when we fail. You won’t grow if you keep doing the same things. So try new things, take risks and learn from what doesn’t work and what does. It’s only by stretching ourselves and our capabilities that we will achieve greater things.