IMPORTANCE OF SOFT SKILLS TO REAP REWARD FROM ONE’S PROFESSION (Pages 21-27) by Dr. Sonal Shukla* and Dr. Zareen Farooq** in THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH SPECIALIST / ISSN: 2350-1499 (Online); 2350-0751 (Print)

In present scenario nobody can deny the importance of soft skills in profession. 85% of your financial success is due to your personality and ability to communicate, negotiate, and lead. Shockingly, only 15% is due to technical knowledge. This quote from Carnegie Institute of Technology very clearly shows the importance of soft skills to succeed in your profession. I won’t say that the calculation is 100% accurate but for one thing I am sure that your knowledge can be fruitful when it is aided by soft skills. Knowledge is used when imparted and shared when you know how to work in a team. Like ancient time, a person, who acquires knowledge but doesn’t share it, takes it away with his existence at the end of his life. Moreover for being a good professional you are supposed to sell your knowledge, if you want to earn out of it. Being smart means using one’s skills tactfully and in a way so that one may receive an advantage and reap financial reward for oneself and somehow it should bring benefits to the society too. But India is having irony that people, even after being aware of the importance of soft skills are totally unaware of the real meaning of the term and don’t know the procedure to develop soft skills in personality. Soft skills means image management, working in a team, taking 100% outcome of your knowledge, stress management, relation with the co workers, dealing with the boss, dealing with the subordinates, knowing corporate communication, knowing cross cultural communication, grooming one’s personality, developing innovative and creative mind set, and undoubtedly interacting effectively. The present paper will deal with a clear meaning of soft skills and elaborate on the ways to develop these skills in one’s personality. Keywords: soft skills; knowledge, profession, benefit