Soft skills are one of the important criteria for a successful public health career along with a degree and hands-on training. Soft skills are mainly a combination of personality traits and social attitudes that allow people to communicate efficiently, collaborate, and successfully resolve conflict. Irrespective of work and position, here are the top 5 soft skills that public health employers seek out-
- Communication Skills: More than just speaking the language, effective communication skills involve active listening, excellent presentation, and professional writing capabilities. In public health, strong communication skills allow us to analyze complex data effectively and information in ways that positively impact the health and wellness of a large group of the population.
2. Leadership Skill: Public health is an interdisciplinary field where no one works alone. Here, leadership skills are required to motivate and enable people from diverse backgrounds to contribute to their community and the organization’s success. A leader requires skills like team building, negotiation, time, and conflict management, etc.
3. Flexibility and Adaptability: The dynamic nature of public health always calls for flexibility. Therefore, it is crucial to keep track of current developments in the field and adapt or change the program accordingly. Flexibility helps to deal with unexpected changes quickly, calmly, and proficiently.
4. Time Management: Time management isn’t just about getting everything done on time but also knowing how to organize tasks, setting up goals, multi-tasking, and meeting assigned deadlines. A public health professional will often be pulled in multiple directions at work, so focusing on priorities will increase productivity.
5. Strong Work Ethic: There are many components of work ethic, including professionalism, punctuality, and the overall attitude towards work. Because this sector often requires hours beyond the standard 9-to-5 job, public health employees must nurture a passion for work. Also, Employees wish to employ responsible and hard-working professionals to achieve the organization’s ultimate goal.
As today’s workplace increasingly automates, soft skills are what make the human contribution so irreplaceably unique. Nurturing these skills can boost work performance, build stronger relationships, and ultimately help to achieve better career progression over time as a public health professional.
Written by-
Dr. Subrina Sultana snigdha
Associate, Women Support Initiative Forum
