September is International People Skills Month. This brings up a big question “What are we doing to ensure our students are learning essential people skills to succeed in the workforce?”
Businessdirectory.com defines people skills as:
A set of skills enabling a person to get along with others, to communicate ideas effectively, to resolve conflicts, and to achieve personal or business goals.
Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/people-skills.html#ixzz2fG2T4wp0
Seems simple enough – it’s a set of skills that allow you to get along with others through constructive communication and with goals in mind. Shouldn’t we just glean these lessons from everyday life? Yet therein lies the problem; the current generation of students has information at the tips of their fingers at all times. They can get any answer to a question, anytime and anywhere, by simply typing it into a mobile device or computer. They do not have to branch out and ask questions and connect with other humans to learn and gain people skills. This is where educators play an integral role in helping develop these people skills.
Let’s break it down and look at simple ways to add lessons in and around each student’s education to develop these skills.
Get Along with Others
It is my hope that we were all taught at a young age how to get along with those around us! But maybe your students don’t see the importance of this, or how this skill can advance them in the work place. Check out these basic graphics to share with your student. Remember – sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words, and just think of what other things you can teach your students with those extra words! http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Along-with-Others-Well
Communicate Effectively
A recent article from the SouthEast Education Network entitled Teaching Basic Communication Skills explains the essential parts to communicating effectively; they include introducing yourself, being nice, overcoming fear, just to name a few. It’s these basic communication skills, broken down, that you can show your students. By breaking them down into chewable pieces, it shows just how easy communicating can be. Show them that these soft skills can put them ahead of the person interviewing for the same job. http://www.seenmagazine.us/articles/article-detail/articleid/209/teaching-basic-communication-skills.aspx
Resolve Conflicts
Communicating effectively and getting along with others also involves conflict resolution. Listening to and trying to understand those around you, thinking before you speak, and being open to others ideas are all a part of this. Not everyone has a strong sense of conflict resolution and walking students through solving problems could put them a step closer to being a great employee. And let’s not forget the benefit of being able to use that conflict resolution with your students while they are still in your classroom! Just another “win-win” solution from conflict resolution! Check out this great website that has suggestions and lessons on conflict resolution: http://racebridgesforschools.com/wp/?p=3075
Written by Samantha Forehand, Brand Manager for Realityworks, Inc.
