Soft skills, hard skills and power skills are concepts that are increasingly valued in the job market. Although it may seem like there are many demands on professionals who are just starting their careers, it is important to know that developing skills and characteristics that will put you in the best positions is not impossible.
To begin with, it is important to understand and know how to differentiate these skills. This way, you will be able to begin a process of self-knowledge and then discover which ones need to be worked on. This can be done through lived experiences, courses, degrees and many other paths.
Want to know more about the subject and better understand what these “power skills” we’re talking about are? Keep reading the post!
What are power skills and what are the differences between them and soft and hard skills?
To understand what power skills are, we first need to remember the concepts of soft and hard skills. This is because the three are directly related, although the term power skills can have different meanings, depending on the source you are looking for. Let’s explain this in more detail.
Hard skills
Hard skills are a professional’s technical skills . They are more tangible and, therefore, we can recognize them more easily, based on the analysis of courses, degrees, participation in workshops with certifications, diplomas, etc. They are practical techniques and knowledge that can be evaluated and measured in tests.
Soft skills
These are more subjective skills, since they are not printed on certificates and diplomas. They are those that we develop based on our experiences, culture, education, etc. Soft skills demonstrate how we deal emotionally with people and situations that arise in our day-to-day corporate life.
Power skills
The market sees and presents power skills in two ways. One is as the sum of soft skills and hard skills , that is, the set of technical and emotional skills that the professional has and the way he or she deals with them and puts them into practice in his or her career . The other, more common, is that which sees power skills as a kind of evolution of soft skills — or even as a synonym.
This is because the word soft, or gentle, in English often gives the impression that these skills would be easier to acquire, which is not always true. By using the term “power”, we have a greater understanding of the importance of these qualities for professional life.
How are these skills characterized?
Given what we have seen so far, it is clear that power skills are the skills that enable people to use the best of their technical capabilities (hard skills) based on the way they deal with emotions, interpersonal relationships and the challenges posed by the job market .
Therefore, power skills are a great differentiator for professionals and become a valuable asset for the companies that hire them. These are skills that add value, as they help to maintain processes in continuous improvement, as well as favor the search for correct solutions, from people who are more capable of acting proactively and with an analytical vision.
What are examples of power skills?
There’s nothing better than knowing examples to understand new concepts, right? So, let’s list some of the power skills, so you can see how they are often directly related to soft and hard skills. Check it out!
Empathy
This is also a concept that is increasingly valued in personal and professional life. Knowing how to listen, understand and put yourself in someone else’s shoes allows for a broader perspective, without judgment, and a willingness to find solutions that take into account realities different from our own. For leaders, empathy is essential, as it is for professionals who deal directly with the public, such as those in people management .
Collaboration
Here, we are talking about the ability to work as a team , in order to contribute solutions and answers that will help promote professional development and the growth of the team and the company. It is not just about getting along with everyone, but also about engaging.
Critical thinking
This power skill has to do with the ability to analyze and delve into issues in order to make informed and correct decisions. It is even better if the person can do this even in complex situations, under pressure, or when caught off guard.
Clarity in communication
Clear, transparent and objective communication is essential in the corporate environment and, therefore, is among the most important power skills for professionals. You need to know how to correctly explain your reasoning, your thoughts and even your doubts. Good communicators are essential in any field of knowledge.
Smart decision making
This includes people who have a holistic view and can predict situations in order to plan actions according to the scenarios they see. This way, they can make appropriate decisions during the process, helping to avoid problems and even manage crises. Agility is also the watchword in this case.
How to develop power skills?
We often think that people are born with power skills, but that’s not quite the case. Even though they are not technical knowledge acquired in college or specialization courses, power skills are closely related to the experiences we have .
Thus, they can be developed over the years. You can speed up this process a little by participating in self-improvement courses, training, lectures and many other ways. It is worth seeking help to learn how to develop these skills and apply them in the areas of relationships with people, communication, emotional intelligence and even innovation. Look for:
- take courses;
- participate in training;
- improve your personal development;
- rely on innovative techniques;
- stimulate reflection.
What are the consequences of not working on power skills in your life?
You may have come across someone who has complete technical knowledge in a certain area of knowledge, but still cannot do well and advance in their career. It turns out that hard skills depend, to a certain extent, on soft skills for the professional to be successful.
Companies are increasingly looking for people who know how to balance technical and emotional skills , which will help the business grow as a whole. Therefore, it is ideal to know how to apply what was learned in the undergraduate course, whether in person or online , combined with your emotional skills, relating well with people, with good communication and analytical intelligence.