Episode: 217

Episode Title: The Top 5 Soft Skills I Hire: Engagement

File Name: the-top-5-soft-skills-i-hire-engagement

Employee engagement is majorly lacking in the workplace today. Why is it so hard for people to cultivate this soft skill? Let’s talk about it, coming up next on The Perna Syndicate.

Ep 217 show:

You are now in The Perna Syndicate—welcome! This week, we’re discussing the top 5 soft (or professional) skills that I look for when hiring someone in my small business.  

Engagement is one of those critical, must-have skills. It can be summarized in my 5-minute method for success: show up five minutes early, leave five minutes late, and care while you’re there. Engagement means joining wholeheartedly in the goals of the company, caring about the outcome and giving it your best every day.  

Anyone can go through the motions, but it takes an engaged worker to bring passion to the role. Sadly, there is an astounding lack of engagement in many candidates today. People are just not connecting to the larger mission of the company. 

This is really sad when you realize how much younger workers, in particular, are looking for purpose and meaning through their jobs. 

If you’re truly not engaged in your work, you might be in the wrong career field. But before you jump ship, ask yourself if the core of the problem is not actually the work itself, but the person doing it—you. 

Successful people engage themselves deeply in what they do, even if it’s not yet their dream career. Bringing your best to where you’re at is how you get to where you want to go.  

Next up on tomorrow’s show, we’re talking about the soft skill that everyone’s resume mentions—yep, teamwork. Thanks for listening! We’ll see you back here tomorrow at the Syndicate.