Soft skills paragraph

The final assignment is your chance to reflect on what you’ve learned in this course. As with the Week 2 assignment, you’re given the prompt for each paragraph. In preparation for writing your essay, review the resources and tips below.

Paragraph 1

Paragraph prompt - Your identity as a learner has a major impact on how you engage in learning. How can awareness of your Learning Patterns, skills, and experiences help you be successful in your degree program and beyond?

This paragraph is asking you to think back to earlier in the class, especially Weeks 2, 3, and 5 when you first explored your Learning Patterns. If you haven’t done so yet, take some time to review your instructor’s feedback in the gradebook as well as questions and comments posed in the discussion forums. Also consider skills you possess, certifications you may hold, and experiences that you’ve had that contribute to who you are. How can all of these things add to your success?

Paragraph 2

Paragraph prompt - Soft skills are not only present in a career setting as discussed in Chapter 5 and the Instructor Guidance, but are also utilized in personal interactions. By developing your soft skills, you are working toward becoming a more intentional learner. Based on your future goals, prioritize the five soft skills in the order you think will be most critical to your future success and describe why.

According to the 2016 National Association of College and Employers Report, the top five attributes – known as soft skills – employers seek in their new hires include: leadership, collaborative teamwork, effective communication, problem solving/critical thinking, and having a strong work ethic. Here are definitions for each of these skills:

Leadership – Defining and communicating a vision and ideas that inspire others to follow with commitment and dedication. Leveraging the strengths of others to achieve common goals. Using interpersonal skills to coach and develop others. Leaders are not always the boss, and can emerge from within a team.

Collaborative Teamwork - Being able to build trust and find common ground with others - even those with different skill sets, personalities, work styles, or motivation level - to achieve better results. Creating collaborative relationships with colleagues and customers and being able to work with diverse teams, negotiate, and manage conflicts.

Effective Communication – Being able to actively listen to others and articulate your ideas in writing and verbally to any audience in a way where you are heard and you achieve the goals you intended with that communication.

Problem Solving/Critical Thinking - The ability to use knowledge, facts, and data to effectively solve problems. Being able to think on your feet, assess problems, and find solutions and having the ability to develop a well thought out solution within a reasonable time frame.