88% of workers want to improve soft skills

SkillSoft, a partner of PeopleFirst HR Solutions/a Career Partners International firm, recently conducted a survey of over 200 employees’ attitudes to training and the skills they believe to be most important in today’s economic environment.  The survey found that, while training in technical/business skills –such as IT, project management and communications – were considered important and received employer support in 90% of cases, the need for ‘soft skills’ – people management, leadership and time management – was very strong. A huge majority (88%) of respondents said that they would even be prepared to develop these skills in their own time outside working hours.

Among the soft skills that respondents rated highly were: ‘people management’, with 31% citing this as the most important, ‘time management’, with 23%, and ‘problem solving’, which was the first choice for 18% of the respondents. However, 90% believed that business pressures currently limit the time they have available to develop these skills.
So, considering that there will never be more time in our days and money is tight, one option to consider is e-learning. 

What are the Benefits of e-Learning?
 Convenience and portability
 Courses are accessible on your schedule
 Online learning does not require physical attendance
 Learning is self-paced (not too slow, not too fast)
 You’re unbound by time - courses are available 24/7
 You’re unbound by place - study at home, work, or on the road as long as you have internet access
 Read materials online or download them for reading later
 Travel time and associated costs (parking, fuel, vehicle maintenance) are reduced or eliminated