Practicing Soft Skills

An Approach at VCCJune 25th, SITE BC

Soft Skills from an IEP Perspective

• From a Lionel Laroche lecture sponsored by the Waterloo Regional Immigrant Employment Network (WRIEN)

• What is Lionel’s advice on soft skills versus technical skills?

An Approach at VCC

• Socio-Cultural Competencies

An Approach at VCC

• Socio-Cultural Competencies (SCC’s)– Some examples:• Seeking help or information• Refusing/Making a request• Expressing disagreement• Giving and receiving feedback• Participating in a group or team

(Based on the work of F. Ishu Ishiyama and Marvin J. Westwood)

There is a map for SCC’s

• Socio-Cultural Map– A – Attend/Approach– B - Bridge– C - Comment– D - Develop– E - End

Making a request

• Watch a video of Victor asking Miriam to make some copies for him.

• Was the request effective?• What was the effect on the rapport between

Victor and Miriam?

Making a Request

• What could Victor have done to make his request more effective?

Effective Request

• Watch the video of the effective request identify what Victor did to make his request more effective.

Effective Request

• What did Victor do?

SCC Map

• Socio-Cultural Map– A – Attend/Approach– B - Bridge– C - Comment– D - Develop– E - End

Effective Request

SCC Map for Making a Request

• A – attend / approach

SCC Map for Making a Request

• A – attend / approach

- Small Talk- “Hey Miriam” - (looks up at her,) “Do you have a few

minutes?“

SCC Map for Making a Request

• B – Bridge to Request

SCC Map for Making a Request

• B – Bridge to Request

- “I’m in a rush, and I need 10 copies of these documents”

SCC Map for Making a Request

• C – Comment

SCC Map for Making a Request

• C – Comment

- “Can you help me out? ”

SCC Map for Making a Request

• D – Develop

SCC Map for Making a Request

• D – Develop

- “Ummm (makes a ‘sheepish face’) …actually….. - “ If you wouldn’t mind. I’d really appreciate

it.”

SCC Map for Making a Request

• E – End

SCC Map for Making a Request

• E – End

- “Thanks, Miriam…I owe you one!” (starts to turn)

- “ I’ll be back in a jiffy” (completes turn with smile and hand outstretched)

SCC Map

A – Attend/ApproachB - BridgeC - CommentD - DevelopE - End

Pilot for BC Government (PDEV 1107)

Pilot for BC Government (PDEV 1107)

• Course Goal: To select and apply socio-cultural competencies to successfully interact with co-workers in the Canadian workplace

Pilot for BC Government (PDEV 1107)

• Course Goal: To select and apply socio-cultural competencies to successfully interact with co-workers in the Canadian workplace

• Using Lionel Laroche, Recruiting, Retaining, and Promoting Culturally Different Employees”, as the text book for the class

Pilot for BC Government (PDEV 1107)

• Course Goal: To select and apply socio-cultural competencies to successfully interact with co-workers in the Canadian workplace

• Use Lionel Laroche, Recruiting, Retaining, and Promoting Culturally Different Employees”, as the text book for the class

• A practice based approach with Engineering specific scenarios - coaching by the instructor, role rehearsal, videotaping

Details

• Free• Mid July to the end of October• 2 week on-line orientation• 3 Face to Face Modules (4 weeks each)• 2 – 3 hr classes per week – 6:00pm to 9:00pm• Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday• Go to VCC website or take a handout

Practicing Soft Skills

An Approach at VCCJune 25th, SITE BC