Soft skills that get hard results

Co-author of ‘The leader’s guide to influence – How to use soft skills to get hard results’, Fiona Elsa Dent is a leadership expert and on the Associate Faculty at Ashridge Business School. 

The title of the book would appear to be a contradiction in terms - after all, we maybe don't often give 'soft' skills the importance they warrant in the hard-nosed world of business in which weaknesses can be brutally exposed. 

But as Fiona is quick to point out, "It may seem that way but the reality of working life is that people are at the heart of what most of us do on a day to day basis. The more we can learn and use skills that help us to create and build effective relationships the more successful we will be."

The process of influence

So, what do we need to focus on to develop and maintain effective and influential working relationships? Here are Fiona's top tips...

1) Reputation is everything – you lose it at your peril

2) Prepare well – take time and plan the process you will adopt

3) Focus on what’s in it for others and frame your ideas accordingly

4) Be patient – influence is a process not an event

Fiona Elsa Dent has written nine books, including her most recent ‘The Leader’s Guide to Managing People’, which she also co-authored with Mike Brent. 

You can find out more about Fiona and her work/research at ashridge.org.uk or at feddevelopment.co.uk.