14 Examples Of Practical Skills For Professionals

Updated 30 September 2022

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Professionals often use a lot of practical skills to complete their duties efficiently and may use them to collaborate with colleagues and assist clients. There are many types of practical skills that employees can use to improve their productivity. If you want to improve your performance at work, reviewing examples of practical skills that may be useful to develop can help you achieve success in your role. In this article, we discuss practical skills by defining them and providing a list of 14 practical skills that professionals often use while working.

14 Examples Of Practical Skills That Professionals Use

Professionals may utilise a wide variety of practical skills on a regular basis to execute their responsibilities. Hard skills, which are concrete qualities you can gain by learning, training and working, and soft skills, which are intangible traits you can develop with time and effort, such as leadership, teamwork and problem-solving, are examples of these skills. Professionals study and develop these abilities to increase their productivity and remain competitive when looking for new positions. Here are 14 examples of practical skills that professionals use frequently to complete their tasks:

1. Teamwork

The sense of togetherness, collaboration and motivation in the workplace highlight the value of teamwork. An effective team works as a unit, leveraging each team member's abilities and talents to support and achieve a shared purpose. Many organisations want employees to work cooperatively to finish projects, therefore teamwork is a vital talent and practical skill to have.

2. Prioritisation

Prioritisation is a skill that may change the way you operate. Knowing your daily priorities may help you relax, focus and be more productive. Prioritisation may also aid in establishing better time-based boundaries, eliminating distractions and improving your work-life balance. Prioritising your most critical tasks allows you to better manage your time and fulfil crucial deadlines.

These abilities can help you efficiently accomplish these tasks in a logical order. For example, a sales assistant may be responsible for assisting clients who require help, while also restocking a store's inventory. Customers may leave the business if they do not obtain assistance promptly in this case, and a sales assistant may want to prioritise helping them.

3. Leadership

The capacity to manage and supervise the productivity and efficiency of a group of experts falls under this category. A leader often has extra obligations since they are responsible for ensuring that their team completes their responsibilities and collaborates efficiently. Even if you do not want to work in management, leadership abilities may show employers that you are a motivated and self-sufficient individual. Requesting alternative or extended tasks in your existing work is one way to build your leadership abilities.

4. Communication

This practical skill allows you to properly communicate with others and aids team members in avoiding misunderstandings. If you work with your team on a regular basis, you can communicate by asking questions, providing instructions or brainstorming new ideas as a group. For clear and effective communication, you may choose to focus on developing articulation and clarity in both written and verbal communication channels. Try practising active listening by clarifying what a speaker says and expressing your opinions clearly to enhance your communication abilities.

5. Writing

These abilities apply to the skill of clearly communicating ideas through written text. Many organisations, for example, rely on email or messaging applications as a primary means of communication. It is typically necessary to strengthen written communication skills if you contact your coworkers numerous times during the day to cooperate on a job. This can save you time by eliminating the requirement to send several emails and may also demonstrate your professionalism. Consider reading your communications aloud to improve your writing abilities and ensure consistent fluency and logic.

6. Interpersonal skills

Employers place high importance on an individual's ability to engage and communicate successfully with coworkers. Candidates with good communication skills are often assets for most companies. This includes the abilities that enable professionals to connect constructively with others and includes the acquisition of additional sub-skills such as communication, active listening and the ability to read nonverbal cues. Active listening, for example, might show that you appreciate and acknowledge what a colleague is saying. Brainstorming sessions with your coworkers or one-on-one meetings with supervisors are other situations where interpersonal skills are useful.

7. Public speaking

Speaking in front of a large number of people or presenting a topic to an audience falls under this category. While you may not frequently speak in front of groups of people, such as at a conference, this ability is still useful for presenting during meetings, proposing an idea or giving a customer a demonstration. Communication skills and the capacity to articulate and convey concepts properly are necessary for public speaking. For instance, you may explain to a client how a product works or how a marketing campaign works to stakeholders.

8. Digital literacy

Technology has also played a crucial role in bringing about changes in the modern workplace. As a result, new work responsibilities, expectations and communication methods are becoming commonplace in every industry. This ability consists of being able to effectively use computers and other technologies. Although digital literacy abilities are not necessary for programmers or technology professionals, having a basic understanding of digital media principles may be advantageous. Consider learning how to use certain email capabilities, social networking sites and other basic tools like a word processor or spreadsheet software.

9. Problem-solving

These abilities enable experts to examine a problem and identify potential solutions. Professionals regularly employ problem-solving abilities on the job, which might include duties like resolving a customer issue, correcting a computer programme's operation or suggesting ways to increase sales. Consider describing a problem and examining possible outcomes to build or enhance your problem-solving abilities. After that, you may utilise your critical thinking abilities to come up with viable answers.

10. Speed reading

This refers to swiftly and efficiently reading documents, which allow professionals to better manage their resources and time. During a typical workday, many professionals read emails, files, reports and other professional papers. Consider skimming or scanning documents that are not absolutely necessary for your productivity. Identifying which papers are critical to accomplishing your duties may assist you in deciding which documents to study more extensively.

11. Research skills

Professionals' research skills relate to how they may use resources such as books, the internet or other data repositories to learn more about a subject. Even if you do not work as a researcher, you can benefit from having this expertise. If you work in sales or marketing, for example, you may look at current consumer or product trends. If you work in product or project management, you could look at the approaches that competitors use with similar goods. When doing research, stick to reliable sources and double-check facts to guarantee that you are examining correct data.

12. Creating application packages

Professionals can use this talent to build their own resumes and cover letters. When applying for employment, it is critical to have this expertise because many employers seek application documents from candidates. A CV may highlight your abilities, experiences and education, while a cover letter can explain why you are the best fit for the job. Try to read and update your professional documents to ensure that they are correct and error-free.

13. Budgeting

This entails examining your personal or business finances and developing a budget based on costs and revenues. Financial advisers and human resources managers, for example, spend a lot of time developing budgets. Other roles, such as those in management, may need you to prepare a budget for certain financial aspects of a company, such as supply management expenses. Consider taking online classes to learn how to establish a budget successfully or your firm may educate you on how to do so during training.

14. Negotiation

These skills refer to discussing the terms of a particular contract or agreement. Many employees who hold sales positions use negotiation skills, but this skill may be helpful in several jobs. For example, you might negotiate your salary or benefits package with your employer. If you work in retail positions, you might negotiate the price of an item with a customer, depending on the industry in which you work. It is important to practice negotiation skills so you can complete an agreement that satisfies all concerned parties.