Inner Self: The Foundation of Soft Skills

Your inner self is ultimately the foundation of your soft skills and professional presence. It shapes your confidence, attitudes and how others perceive you. It includes:

• Your inner voice – your self-talk and mindset
• Your inner image – your beliefs, attitudes and self-esteem

Whether you tend to be positive or negative internally can make a profound difference in your life. By fostering a positive inner image and using positive self-talk, you not only boost your own performance but also enhance your ability to connect with and inspire others. Techniques such as acting “as if” or utilizing a “Mental Emergency Self-Talk Checklist” can help align your inner self with success.

Listening

Being a great listener is one of the most underrated yet powerful soft skills in the workplace. When you actively listen, others feel valued and understood. Effective listeners:

• Stay present and focused.
• Use clarifying questions to encourage further conversation.
• Show engagement with nonverbal cues, such as nodding and maintaining eye contact.

Listening more than speaking can not only improve your relationships but also enhance your professional reputation.

Civility and Empathy

In today’s increasingly polarized world, civility and empathy are crucial. Civility involves treating others with respect, while empathy allows you to understand and connect with others’ emotions. Together, they foster trust and collaboration, creating a foundation for meaningful, respectful interactions.

To practice civility and empathy:

• Model polite behavior and respectful communication.
• Actively listen and seek to understand others’ perspectives.
• Assume the positive and avoid making snap judgments.

Appearance and Body Language

Your physical appearance and body language are two other critical components of soft skills. A polished, professional look, combined with how you present yourself physically, can create a strong first (and second and third!) impression. For example:

• Use color strategically. You can use it to convey authority (dark tones) or approachability (light tones).
• Stop and think when you’re getting dressed. What is an appropriate, professional, “put-together” look for the situation you’ll be in?
• Maintain an open body posture, and use appropriate eye contact and a genuine smile to promote trust and engagement.

Introductions

Introductions are an often-overlooked vital soft skill. Whether introducing yourself or others, a polished introduction can create a confident first impression. For great introductions:

• Address the higher-ranking individual (i.e., by position or title) first.
• Use formal names/titles unless you’re invited to use first names.
• Offer details about yourself or others that facilitate professional conversation.

Digital Presence

A sixth aspect of soft skills in today’s world is your digital presence (i.e., how you present yourself online). Whatever platform you’re using, your online persona is always making an impression on team members, clients, employers and collaborators. To refine your digital presence:

• Monitor! Know where you appear online and how others perceive you. Ensure that all of your profiles align with your professional and personal brand.
• Use a clear, professional headshot for photos, even for social platforms.
• Update your professional profiles frequently with relevant, well-written content that reflects your achievements and goals.

Your digital presence is as much a part of your professional brand as your handshake or attire. Treat it with care.

Organization

Finally, your workspace might not seem like a soft skill, but it says a lot about you and can enhance or diminish your professional image. A well-organized workspace:

• Projects a feeling of reliability and competence.
• Protects security and enhances safety.
• Supports your own and others’ productivity.

Bringing It All Together

Professional soft skills are not an optional add-on to your technical expertise; they’re essential tools for success. Whether it’s cultivating empathy, building your digital presence or mastering body language, soft skills shape how you’re perceived and how effectively you influence others.

At Kelly Duggan Image Consulting, we believe in the power of a Total Image Management Model, which focuses on both inner and outer development. By aligning your inner self, appearance, behavior and communication, you can elevate your professional presence and achieve your career goals.

Are you ready to audit your soft skills and go to the next level? Let’s connect.