Evidence across all fields and disciplines has highlighted the use of soft skills for positive youth development.
In the face of growing youth populations around the world, the challenges of unemployment, and the changing nature of work, young people need to develop skills which allow them to easily adapt to the workforce as well as succeed in all areas of life.
Young people need a supportive and enabling environment to make sure they are successful in education, job training, independent living, community participation ultimately in the workplace.
Such soft skills also known as transferable skills or 21st Century skills include; leadership skills, communication skills, time management, creativity, integrity, and organization skills just to mention but a few. They are everyday skills that we exercise on the daily to make sure we succeed in the areas we are best in.
Young people have with time seen the need to run successful businesses that rely on good team work. They have seen the importance of participating in networking that will ensure career growth as well as great support of their career goals. They have yearned to have the ability to use their knowledge and understanding to solve problems in the best way they can.
There are global changes in the use of technology and the nature of work and this highlights the need to educate young people and prepare them for labor market. Youth increasingly need to be a bit more proactive, creative, collaborative, and flexible and should be able to adapt to different changes to perform and achieve success.
Jim Rohn, an entrepreneur shares this powerful advice;
“Take advantage of every opportunity to practice your communication skills so that when important occasions arise, you will have the gift, the style, the sharpness, the clarity, and the emotions to affect other people.”
