Top 10 Soft Skills For Women To Master In The Workplace In 2022

As women, we’re expected to know it all. When we’re young, older women teach us how to put on mascara and cook an egg. As we get older, our mothers teach us how to drive a car and write thank-you notes. Things become more complicated as we enter the workforce. We’re expected to know how to dress for the office, deal with harassment and make a living—all without being too assertive or emotional. In other words, we have a lot on our plates. So when it comes to professional development, it’s no surprise that many women feel overwhelmed. We can’t possibly know everything, but some things are crucial in today’s workplace that even the most experienced woman may not know yet. These skills are inevitably the skills of the future workplace.

When you enter the professional world, there is a steep learning curve. You’ve got to learn to navigate a new office, communicate with new people and master new skills. The business world is constantly changing, which means that the skills you need to succeed in the workplace are always evolving. But if you want to stay ahead of the pack, as a woman, you need to continually commit to learning and improving your skills.

Here Are 10 Of The Most Important Skills That Women In The Workplace Should Learn In 2022

For any woman looking to advance her career, it’s important to recognize and hone the skills that will help her get where she wants to go. So what traits are essential for women in the workplace? Here are some of the top skills you should be paying attention to:

1. Confidence

Confidence is one of the most important skills a woman can have in the workplace. Without it, you’re likely to fall short of your goals as you won’t be able to see your worth and potential or stand up for yourself when necessary.

2. Communication

Whether it’s listening or speaking, your communication skills are critical and can make or break deals, relationships, and your career. Learn how to communicate effectively with everyone you come across—and don’t forget about non-verbal communication! Being able to communicate is another skill that many employers look for when hiring new employees.

3. Negotiation

Negotiating is just part of business, and those who are good at it are more likely to get what they want in the end. Don’t shy away from negotiations, embrace them! Negotiating a salary or asking for a raise can be intimidating, but honing these skills will give you an edge when it comes time to ask for.

4. Humility

A woman with humility knows she doesn’t have all the answers (and doesn’t pretend that she does), has no problem admitting her mistakes, and understands that being kind is more important than being right.

5. Creativity

Being creative lets you approach problems from a different angle.

6. Networking is Important

Building relationships is key for any job seeker today, as companies increasingly rely on referrals for open positions. So don’t be afraid to meet new people. Networking is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your career. It gives you access to great advice and mentorship and allows you to meet potential employers or business partners. What’s more, networking can be fun! Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to people at conferences or events—you never know when you’ll hit it off with someone and find that you share common interests or experiences.

7. Empathy

How is empathy helpful in the workplace? First of all, it helps you get along with your colleagues. When you can put yourself in their shoes, you’re better able to deal with the inevitable friction that comes from working with people. For example, if you find yourself at odds with a coworker over an opinion or behavior, having empathy for her will allow you to see her side of things and come up with a compromise that suits both parties.

The ability to see things from every angle is an invaluable tool when navigating your day-to-day interactions with people—especially those who are different from you. Empathy also makes you a better communicator; when you take into consideration how others feel and think, your approach to difficult conversations is more measured and thoughtful. This can help when it comes to work-related relationships, as people often get defensive when they think they’re being criticized or attacked. In addition, your coworkers will appreciate not feeling judged by you for their opinions and behaviors.

Empathy is one of the most essential emotional skills for women in the workplace, and the research backs this up: a recent study found that those who can put themselves in other people’s shoes are more likely to be promoted. Empathy is also a great way to build rapport and friendships with your coworkers and even your boss, which can lead to greater opportunities for development. For example, you could ask for feedback about your person —they will appreciate your self-awareness and your active desire to improve.

8. Leadership and Management

If you’re a woman in the workplace and want to climb the corporate ladder, you’ll need to build your leadership and management skills. One way is to get a mentor who can help guide you to success. Another is to take the initiative and learn all you can by reading books and articles on leadership, listening to podcasts, watching videos, and taking training courses. You can also gain valuable experience by leading or managing a project at work or even volunteering for a local charity. As you master these skills and become an effective leader, you’ll gain confidence in your abilities as well as trust from others. This will open up doors and opportunities that may have been closed to you before. To stay on top of your game, make sure you keep learning new leadership techniques throughout your career—there’s always something more to learn!

9. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is what helps us understand and manage our emotions, along with the feelings of those around us. It’s an essential skill for every woman in a leadership position, and also for those looking to get there. Not only do you need to be able to make decisions based on your knowledge and experience, but you also have to think about the impact of your decisions on all the people you work with—and that means being able to read their feelings.

10. Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is an important quality for women to develop if they want to achieve success in the workplace. In addition to being able to apply entrepreneurial thinking to your career trajectory, having an entrepreneurial mindset is also a great asset when you’re assigned a new project or tasked with achieving a given goal. As employees, we’re often asked to operate as sort of mini-businesses within the larger corporation. We need to be able to think about our respective roles and teams as entities with their missions, metrics, and goals—and then we need to be able to execute on those independently. Essentially, we need to know how to run a business within our business, which requires both independence and adaptability.

11. Digital Literacy

Digital literacy is far more than the ability to use a computer and the internet; it’s the ability to communicate and operate on a digital platform. Digital literacy capabilities include social media, email, instant messaging, video conferencing, mobile devices, and even texting. While these skills are useful in many different work environments, they’re especially valuable in an office setting.

In today’s world, it’s not good enough to just show up with a good attitude and your best foot forward. If you want to be taken seriously in the workplace, you need to have your digital literacy on point. This means having a firm grasp of the most popular social media platforms, being able to use the company email system efficiently and effectively, and having an understanding of how to navigate common programs like Microsoft Word and Excel. In today’s age of technological advancement, companies need employees who can keep pace.

Other Things That Every Successful Career Woman Must Learn

1. Learn how to speak up
2. Learn how to say no
3. Learn how to negotiate
4. Learn how to manage your time
5. Learn how to build relationships
6. Learn how to speak in public
7. Learn how to present yourself
8. Learn how to write
9. Learn how to manage conflict
10. Learn how to lead

Conclusion

Employers are looking for people with a combination of soft and hard skills; they want new hires who can use technical skills in creative ways, and who can think outside the box and solve problems efficiently. While you can certainly develop these skills on the job, it’s easier for employers to train you and help you pivot your career, if you master these skills as a lady!

All images are sourced from unsplash