Page 21 - july 2022

THOUGHTS FROM THE SIDELINE

Employers Seek Soft Skills

Eldred Brown, DTM, IPDD

A few days ago, I read in OregonLive.com an speaker wants to continue making better

article headlined “Oregon employers say job speeches. This is all one big exercise in critical
seekers lacking in soft skills.” (You can read thinking.
the article by clicking here.) Reading the I also see in this evaluation process the
article further, this statement struck me as work of problem-solving. Every speech

its most important: "Employers are generally presents a “problem” to us—maybe it’s more
happy with the level of education and the positive to call it a challenge. Every speech
basic skills that Oregon workers bring to the presents to us the challenge to identify how
table." the report says. "But they find workers it can be improved and to develop a solution leaders who can use their leadership skills to promote it to job seekers—that’s how he drew

lacking in specific occupational skills related we think will make the speech better. That’s great effect in the workplace. me into Toastmasters.
to their career fields, in advanced skills like problem-solving. Lastly, let’s look at teamwork. Toastmasters’ On the occasional Friday that Cleon
critical thinking and problem-solving, and What about leadership? After all, leadership development is all about exercising couldn’t lead the meeting, he had another
soft skills like leadership and teamwork, Toastmasters brands itself as the place “Where leadership within a team. If you’re serving as experienced Toastmaster, Rodger Cook, lead it.

employers report.” Aren’t such skills as critical Leaders Are Made.” Our educational program a club officer, you are doing so as a member of But Cleon’s Job Finder Support Group doesn’t
thinking and problem-solving, leadership, has been reworked recently to place more your club’s executive team. If you’re an Area have to be our only medium for marketing
and teamwork benefits of participation in emphasis on leadership skills development. Director, you’re probably working with a team Toastmasters to job seekers. Selling our young
Toastmasters? As the old Competent Leader manual realized of two to five other Area Directors. If you’re adults on how our education and training

Let’s start with critical thinking. Dictionary. quite well, every meeting role can be used as an a Division Director, you’re leading that team program can help them get established in
com defines critical thinking as “the objective opportunity to develop leadership skills. You of Area Directors. The goal of Toastmasters their careers is a good way. Sharing with our
analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to have the opportunity to grow as a leader by leadership development is that you will build more seasoned job seekers how Toastmasters
form a judgment.” Is this not what we do in our taking on formal leadership roles within your and lead teams and, thereby, learn to work well has helped our careers is another. My home

speech evaluations? We analyze every speech. club. If you’ve already served as a club officer, as a member of a team. club has even made a focus on job search and
We evaluate the speech to form a judgment you can cultivate more advanced leadership Now, how can we market our program of interview skills the theme of a couple of our
of the speech’s strengths and opportunities skills as an Area or Division Director, or even skills development in critical thinking and open houses. The possibilities are limitless,
for improvement. We synthesize specific a member of the Trio. problem-solving, in leadership and teamwork, so I encourage you to explore how you and

recommendations for how the speech can be Many join Toastmasters to overcome to Oregon’s job seekers? Back in the pre-Covid your clubs can market our ability to foster the
improved and, with that, the speaker’s skills as their fear of public speaking and become days when Cleon Cox ran his weekly Job growth of the soft skills that so many of our
a speaker. We construct the most motivational better communicators, but the strength of Finders Support Group meetings, Cleon was employers want in a job seeker.
way to present our speech evaluation, so the Toastmasters, I believe, is its ability to grow never afraid to talk up Toastmasters and

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