Are your soft skills up to scratch?

Whether you spend most of your time in the workshop or front of house, soft skills are a necessity if you want to help meet customer expectations and keep your business and career successful.

IMI research into different skills profiles shows soft skills are a critical part of anyone’s talents.

In the last batch of data crunched by the IMI, it showed that businesses looking for vehicle technicians want them to have customer service as a core skill. And it’s the same for a number of other roles including: vehicle body builders and repairers, paint technicians, tyre, exhaust and windscreen fitters, and salespeople. But that’s just one soft skill, there are many more.

So, what are the qualities you need to succeed in automotive? Here are five soft skills that will help you get the most out of your career.

1. Listen closely

Effective communication is chief among the soft skills we all need to improve, whether it’s for in-person chats, Zoom meetings or regular phone calls. And one skills stands out above all others in this sphere: listening.

It’s crucial for good communication too. Good listening is about much more than being silent and offering nods and encouraging noises as the other person talks though. Good listening is an active, two-way conversation, not one person sitting silently. That includes asking questions “that gently challenge old assumptions, but in a constructive way” in order to make the other person feel supported and encouraged by the natural flow of feedback.

2. Creativity is key

Yes, creativity is a soft skill too. It doesn’t mean you have to be an artist but it does mean approaching challenges from a different angle. Remember the phrase insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. This is where creativity comes in.

You think about a problem, work at it, research it, discuss it and then do something different. Suddenly it falls into place and a solution presents itself. Automotive can be very process-driven, but by stepping back and using a different skill, you can make progress.

3. Setting standards

Professionalism is part of your reputation, and savvy companies know that a professional culture, both internally and externally, will be crucial for all businesses’
survival. This applies both to how your work behaviour matches up against the company’s ethics and values and how you conduct yourself.

One idea to help you find the right balance is to imagine a Venn diagram where the left circle represents your work persona and the right circle represents your personal character. The overlap represents how integrated (or not) your two personas are. An intersection of approximately 50% might be an appropriate mix.

4. Staying connected

Building rapport with others is another useful tool, especially when it comes to customers, but don’t forget about your peers and colleagues too.

Here are three ways to keep everyone in the loop: 
•    Letting people know the best way to contact you
•    Keeping your team in the loop by providing frequent updates and passing along pertinent information as soon as possible
•    Recognising great work with compliments and praise

5. Keep the focus

Soft skills are not just big-picture, cuddly stuff. Enthusiasm, purpose, vision and big ideas need to be put into practice, and for that to happen, we need to be focused on the details.

In the work environment it can be easy to become lost in the big picture, but for every visionary who has an amazing idea, another loses focus and the concept never comes to fruition. The key is in order to make amazing things happen, be close to the detail, and make sure others are on hand to help if needed.

Check out the IMI’s range of courses that not only offer technical skills but a whole range of others to help boost your career and business.