Soft Skills Enhancement

How beautiful You look stunning Is this how you give compliments at the workplace The most underrated workplace etiquette is how to pay genuine compliments ❌Appearance-Focused Comments: Avoid compliments solely focused on physical appearance. Avoid: "You look stunning today." Opt for: "Your presentation was impressive and well-prepared." ❌Personal Life Intrusion: Steer clear of compliments that delve too deeply into personal matters. Avoid: "I heard about your recent breakup; you'll find someone better." Opt for: "You handled that project with resilience and professionalism." ❌Overly Casual Remarks: Be cautious with overly casual or informal compliments in formal settings. Avoid: "Your work is cool, dude!" Opt for: "Your analytical skills in the report were outstanding." ❌Comparisons to Others: Avoid compliments that compare colleagues. Avoid: "You're much better than John at handling clients." Opt for: "Your client relationship skills are excellent." ❌Backhanded Compliments: Refrain from compliments that disguise criticism. Avoid: "You did well considering your limited experience." Opt for: "Your approach to the project showed great creativity." ❌Stereotyping Comments: Avoid compliments that reinforce stereotypes. Avoid: "You're really good with numbers for a woman." Opt for: "Your analytical skills are exceptional." ❌Overly Familiar Language: Be cautious with overly familiar language. Avoid: Using personal nicknames without consent. Opt for: Addressing colleagues by their professional titles or preferred names. ❌Public Criticism Disguised as Praise: Avoid: "Great effort, but you missed some critical points." Opt for: Providing constructive feedback in a private setting. Compliments to Give at Workplace: ✅Acknowledgment of Hard Work: "Your dedication to meeting tight deadlines has significantly contributed to the success of our projects." ✅Team Collaboration: "The seamless collaboration between you and your team members has strengthened our project outcomes." ✅Problem-Solving Skills: "Your ability to analyze complex issues and propose effective solutions is truly commendable." ✅Leadership Qualities: "Your leadership during the challenging phases of the project demonstrated resilience and inspired the team." ✅Effective Communication: "Your clear and concise communication style significantly contributes to the efficiency of our team." ✅Positive Attitude: "Your positive attitude in the face of challenges sets a great example for the entire team." ✅Mentorship and Support: "Your willingness to mentor and support your colleagues has created a positive and collaborative work environmen #communicationskills Dr.Shivani Sharma

Basic Etiquette for Working in Cybersecurity Technical skills matter in cybersecurity, but how you communicate, collaborate, and conduct yourself professionally can make or break your career and reputation. Here are essential etiquette tips to keep in mind: 🔹 Email & Communication Matters. * Use proper spelling and grammar—this isn’t a WhatsApp group. “ur,” “thx,” and “pls advise” don’t belong in professional emails. * Subject lines should be clear (not just "Help!!" or "Urgent!!"). * Write clearly & concisely. Don’t send long, unreadable paragraphs—get to the point and proofread before hitting send. * Reply promptly, even if it’s just to acknowledge receipt. Don’t ghost emails. * Address people professionally with appropriate salutations—start with “Hi [Name]” instead of “Yo” or “Hey.” * Avoid unnecessary jargon—clear, simple language ensures non-technical stakeholders understand your points. 🔹 Respect People's Names, Titles & Pronouns * Write names correctly and capitalize the first letter. It is “Jonathan Ayodele,” not “jonathan ayodele” or “JONATHAN AYOLEDE.” * Use appropriate titles where needed. Some people prefer being addressed as Dr., Prof., or Engr. etc—when in doubt, ask. * If you're unsure, double-check—it’s a sign of respect. 🔹 Be Direct—Don't Ask to Ask 
Instead of: "Who knows AWS IAM here?"
Say: "I need help with setting up AWS IAM role permissions. How do you attach a policy?" 
Being specific saves time and gets you the help you need faster. 🔹 Know When & How to Report Issues * Security alerts? Follow escalation protocols. Don't just slack it away * Phishing email? Report it properly, don’t just forward it without context. * Found a vulnerability? Document it clearly—avoid vague messages like "This is not working". 🔹 Meetings & Slack Etiquette * If you're going to be late, communicate ahead and don’t ask for a recap immediately—check meeting notes or recordings first. * Don’t flood Slack/Teams with “Good morning” messages—go straight to the point. This also applies to LinkedIn. When you DM people, go straight to the point Others; * If you share knowledge from someone else, credit them. Don’t pass off someone’s research or insight as your own. * If a junior colleague makes a mistake, correct them privately—not in front of the whole team. * When receiving feedback, listen first, respond second. Cybersecurity is a fast-paced field. How you communicate and interact professionally can impact your reputation as much as your technical skills. #CybersecurityCareers #WorkplaceEtiquette #CybersecurityCareerGrowth #Cybersecurity

Professional etiquette is not just for Monaco or royalty... - it's valid for everyone, across all businesses - How we conduct our professional relationships does matter. Whether you're in Monaco or sitting on your desk. When we deal with people outside of our organisation, it is even more important. Here my 5 principles for respectful collaborations: 1. '𝗡𝗼' 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱: Ghosting is for Halloween or dating apps, not business.  A simple 'Sorry, we're not interested anymore...' keeps door open and respect intact. 𝟮. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀: We're not just free providers of ideas, data and insights. Skills and experience are valuable assets and deserve recognition  (and remuneration) You're buying strategic ideas that have impact on your brand/company. 𝟯. 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗼: Confront the elephant in the room. It's necessary for efficient collaborations. Knowing the budget saves time and it's pivotal to build the right program. I don't judge you for your budget. I find solutions considering your budget. 𝟰. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲. Identifying who is can streamline the entire process. And it helps in building the proposal and facilitating the outcome. I don't judge you for your business card. 𝟱. 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱. My golden rule, for life. This timeless principle remains at the heart of professional and personal interaction alike. ------------- How we interact with others is not just a reflection of who we are. It's a direct reflection of the brand and company we represent and speak for. Any of them resonating with you? P.S. Ever found yourself not liking a brand anymore because someone in the company didn’t treat you with respect? P.P.S I may have the gift of ubiquity....😊    #ProfessionalEtiquette #MotorSport

Most people don’t realize this: Poor LinkedIn etiquette damages your reputation silently. No one calls it out. You just stop getting replies. You stop getting noticed. And slowly, your credibility fades. Here’s what actually works and what every professional should keep in mind: 1. Keep your posts focused on value → Share industry insights → Offer actionable tips → Celebrate others' wins → Skip the personal drama 2. Master the art of commenting → Read posts thoroughly before responding → Add meaningful insights → Avoid self-promotion in comments → Stay respectful, even in disagreements 3. Handle connection requests properly → Include personalized notes → Don't connect just to sell → Respond to messages within 48 hours → Be selective with who you connect with 4. Message with purpose → No copy-paste outreach → Keep messages concise → Follow up respectfully → Accept "no" gracefully 5. Maintain content standards → Check grammar and spelling → Use professional photos only → Credit others' work → Post consistently, not constantly LinkedIn isn’t just a platform. It’s your digital business card. And every post, comment, and message adds up to your professional brand. Treat it that way. What’s your #1 LinkedIn etiquette rule? Drop it below. #LinkedInTips  #LinkedInEtiquette #Networking #PersonalBranding

Are you resilient? What are you doing to build your resilience? Resilience (bouncebackability) is a critical trait in both personal and professional realms. Life (and work) is full of ups and downs and we have to be able to accept the good with the bad. Most of us will face rejection, unexpected changes and workload pressures. At some point we will be given feedback that is difficult to take or we will run into a conflict with a coworker. We even need resilience to remain motivated and focused day-to-day. Resilience is a bit different to other abilities...we don't improve it just by putting ourselves in challenging situations over and over again. The midst of the challenge is not the best time to work on resilience...we need to build resilience proactively, during times of stability, so that we are strong enough to handle adversity when it arises. How do we do this? (And teach others to do this?) It involves consistently practicing strategies that enhance our mental, emotional, and physical strength. For mental strength, practice: 🔶 Mindfulness and meditation 🔶 Continuous learning 🔶 Positive thinking For emotional strength, practice: 🔶 Emotional awareness and regulation 🔶 Building strong relationships 🔶 Self-compassion For physical strength, practice: 🔶 Regular exercise 🔶 Healthy eating 🔶 Adequate sleep To build resilience, establish daily and weekly routines that incorporate these practices. Consistency is key to building and maintaining strength in all areas. Don't forget to regularly check-in with yourself to understand your growth! If you are a manager, perhaps this helps you to understand why we need a holistic approach to employee development. Great managers support their teams by fostering a positive work environment, providing resources and opportunities for growth, and encouraging health and wellbeing. #resilience #wellbeing #employeedevelopment #emotionalhealth #mentalhealth #physicalhealth #healthyworkplace

DISCIPLINE protects your 3 most precious resources: Your Time, your Energy, and your Attention. You start the day with good intentions. But by noon, your attention gets pulled into ten different directions - and your priorities get buried under notifications, meetings, and mental fatigue. By the end of the day, you feel scattered, behind, and quietly disappointed - not because you didn’t work hard, but because you didn’t work on what matters most. The good news: you can change this. Not with willpower, but with small, repeatable habits and conscious choices. Here are 7 practical ways you can turn discipline into your super-power: ✅ 1. Define Your Why As Nir Eyal says in Indistractable: "If you don’t know what you want, everything becomes a distraction." ✨ Start with this question: What am I actually working toward - and why does it matter? ✅ 2. Timebox What You Value Discipline isn’t about controlling every minute - it’s about aligning your calendar with your values. Block time for your top-most priorities: deep work, relationships, work-outs. ✨ If it’s not on your calendar, it’s not a priority. ✅ 3. Master Internal Triggers Most distractions start with discomfort - stress, boredom, self-doubt. ✨ When an urge hits, pause and ask: “What am I trying to avoid right now?” Then do a 2-minute reset: take a short walk, stretch, breathe deeply. Self-awareness helps dissolve the cycle before it takes over. ✅ 4. Master External Triggers Contain the noise - don’t eliminate joy. ✨ Create a “scroll slot” each day: 15 minutes of guilt-free scrolling with a timer. ✨ Move distracting apps off your home screen to reduce mindless habits. ✅ 5. Protect Your Energy Discipline isn’t just time management - it’s energy hygiene. ✨ Know your peak hours and reserve them for deep, high-value work. ✨ Watch out for energy drainers - back-to-back meetings, constantly checking email/messages, context-switching etc. ✅ 6. Anchor to Identity It’s easier to follow through when your actions align with who you believe you are. ✨ Say: “I’m the kind of person who protects their attention.” Identity makes discipline sustainable. ✅ 7. Celebrate Progress Discipline grows with positive reinforcement. Acknowledge even the smallest win - It trains your brain to enjoy the process. ✨ Every time you do what you said you would, name it: “I kept a promise to myself.” Begin with one small promise today. That's how you build self-trust and the kind of discipline that lasts. What conscious choice will you make today to build discipline? I talk more about conscious choices that guide your attention toward your purpose in my book The Conscious Choice (available for pre-order). 🔁 Repost to help others build the muscle of discipline. 🔔 Follow Bhavna Toor for more on conscious habits.

Do you think we, companies and universities alike, have spent too much time rewarding the appearance of strength? In many situations involving evaluation, whether performance review or grades, we look for constant productivity, fast answers, and polished reports. At the same time, we’re neglecting the development of a skill that makes true growth possible: resilience. In our latest study, 91% of leaders said resilience is a durable soft skill needed for the future. Yet, 35% struggle to recover from setbacks, and 26% fail to reframe failure as a learning opportunity. These are signals of a larger systemic issue: systems that value smooth performance over adaptive learning. We reward students and employees for getting things right the first time, not for iterating. We prioritize composure over curiosity, output over reflection. And in the process, we send an unspoken message: don’t fail, and if you do, don’t talk about it. What can we do differently to foster resilience? 💼 For HR leaders, this means designing roles, reviews, and leadership development with resilience in mind. Make post-mortems about reflection, not blame. Recognize the employee who sought feedback and changed course. Encourage managers to model learning out loud, especially when plans shift or outcomes fall short. 🎓 For universities, it means preparing students for a world that won’t always reward first attempts. That means incorporating iteration into coursework, giving feedback that builds insight, and showcasing alumni whose paths included failure and recovery. It means teaching students to understand how resilience is built. If we want people to thrive through change, we need to start building resilience as a skill, a PRACTICED ACT. 📊 Read the full report: Soft Skills to Future Proof Careers by Skiilify & InsightJam.com : https://lnkd.in/ejUwtFdH #Resilience #FutureOfWork #HigherEdLeadership #TalentDevelopment #LearningAndDevelopment #SoftSkills #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkforceReadines

Hard skills get you interviews. Soft skills get you hired. 92% of hiring teams want soft skills ≥ hard skills (Deloitte) This is more true than ever as AI enters the hiring process: ↳ AI analyzes your video interview ↳ AI interprets your answers to application questions ↳ AI reads your resume But employers know that: 💜 AI can't match human empathy 👋 AI can't match human emotional intelligence 🧠 AI can't match human discernment/critical thinking So it's critical you show what it would be like to work with you through the interview process. Here are soft skills that matter most  ⬇️ (and how to prove you have them in an interview) 1. Strategic Communication ↳ Effective in-person and digital communication ↳ Handles sensitive conversations with grace Proof: ↳Tell a story about a difficult conversation you handled well. 2. Agility ↳ Embraces change (even when it's uncomfortable) ↳ Quick to learn new tools and approaches Proof: ↳Share a time when you managed the unexpected. 3. Emotional Intelligence ↳ Reads the room (virtual or physical) ↳ Navigates workplace dynamics well Proof: ↳Share examples of teamwork in your answers. 4. Critical Thinking ↳ Makes smart judgment calls ↳ Evaluates AI output with discernment Proof: ↳Discuss a difficult decision you made. 5. Integrity ↳ Builds trust through transparency ↳ Does what's right, not what's easy Proof: ↳Talk about a time you did the right thing. 6. Influence ↳ Inspires others to follow your lead ↳ Speaks up and speaks out when needed Proof: ↳Share when you found a mistake and spoke up. 7. Cross-Cultural Fluency ↳ Works effectively across time zones and cultures ↳ Respects diverse perspectives Proof: ↳Show you are comfortable with different opinions & people. 8. Digital Collaboration ↳ Handles hybrid team dynamics ↳ Builds relationships across screens Proof: ↳Have examples of when you worked virtually 9. Time Mastery ↳ Manages asynchronous work ↳ Knows how to prioritize Proof: ↳Talk about your calendar management process. 10. Resilience ↳ Bounces back from setbacks ↳ Stays calm under pressure Proof: ↳Discuss how you keep your cool when faced with a challenge. 11. Networking ↳ Builds authentic relationships ↳ Connects with key stakeholders Proof: ↳Show ability to be at ease with yourself in new situations 💡The good news? These skills can be learned!💡 Which skill do you think is most crucial? Share your thoughts below! 👇 ♻ Repost to help your network learn career-advancing skills! ➕ Follow Sarah Baker Andrus for more like this.

"Just work harder and grind it out." Is it wise to force yourself to grind? Or is glorifying overworking causing stress and burnout? I've forced myself to work harder to solve problems... This forced me to burn out and miss opportunities to discover what was truly broken in my business. I needed to simplify things to increase efficiency, not run at problems head first with blinders on. But it's hard to see that when you're wearing the grinding badge of honor. 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲. 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶. -- Grit is about finding joy in the challenges and purposeful persistence. -- Grit is about working smarter and with passion. -- Grit leads to sustainable success and resilience. • Faced with a challenge? Good.    • Stuck in mundane business tasks? Good.    • Feeling like something is off in your business? Good. Grit is a gift because every challenge is a lesson that will teach you how to adjust. All you have to do is slow down, observe, and find joy in the lesson you're being taught. Then, adjust your approach. Grinding holds you back because you end up "powering through" one challenge to the next, which leads to exhaustion and burnout. I don't know about you, but I'd rather increase resilience and build a business of purpose and freedom through perseverance and joy. [Questions for the comments] What would you add to this post? Have you struggled through burnout in your career? What do you think about "Grit over Grind" as a way of being? ---------- If we haven't met, I'm a Lifestyle Business Coach specializing in helping aspiring and pivoting online entrepreneurs grow a business of purpose and freedom without sacrificing their well-being or quality time with loved ones. Hit follow+ turn on all notifications if any of this resonates. Repost or share with a friend if it was helpful! Thank you 🙏

🤝 Soft skills take you from just another #Data and #Analytics techie, to unicorn status. 🦄 🛠️ Being able to write code, build a model and visualise data will tick the technical skills box, but how do you stand out when you’re exploring new opportunities? Highlighting your soft skills like storytelling, communication and collaboration using my A-I-R framework (Action - Impact - Result ,🔗 https://lnkd.in/gtCcHNN9) provides a structured approach to showcasing your achievements with impact. A good example is… 🟢 Action ��� I built a dashboard for the Leadership team to track sales of a new product. 🟢 Impact – Stakeholders were able to understand which customers were taking, and not taking, the new product. 🟢 Result – I worked with the leaders to adjust their strategy to improve take up, resulting in $X of additional sales. Demonstrate that you’re more valuable than just your technical solution with strong soft skills too. When you’re aiming for a Data and Analytics #Leadership role, share how you’ve developed the soft skills of others and driven outcomes. The A-I-R framework works well here too and proves you understand the business and team member growth you created using a tangible example. Something like… 🟢 Action – I invested time coaching my team to present with impact to the Executive Committee. 🟢 Impact – They understood how to communicate effectively and influence stakeholders. 🟢 Result – The Executives acted on the recommendations which created X for the business while the team grew their confidence and ability to interact with diverse stakeholders. Remember interviewers will quickly forget a fancy dashboard or #AI model, but they’ll remember the story about how you used your solutions and collaborated with your stakeholders to unlock that nugget of gold. That’s the power of soft skills. Be memorable. #LinkedInNewsAustralia #softskills