Results of the focus group concerning methodology of „soft skills” development

The focus group was conducted on 25th May at TNOiK premises in

Gdansk.

Leonardo da Vinci Partnership ProjectLabour Market Competenciesno. 2013-1-PL1-LEO04-38784

The trainers working in the focus group reflected on 14 following soft skills:

1. Communication skills2. Teamwork capability3. Project management4. Intercultural awareness5. Courtesy6. Interpersonal relationship7. Conflict management8. Problem solving9. Problem solving10. Self-management11. Time management12. Responsibility13. Self-esteem14. Work ethic

The group of trainers was diverse

They provide training mostly for:• Young people within formal education system – 8• Unemployed adults – 6• Unemployed youth – 5• Students of tertiary education – 5• Employees – 3• Employers – 3

• Most trainers claim that: communication skills, responsibility, work ethic and courtesy are the most important skills for trained people, means for youngsters and/or job seekers.

• Project management and intercultural awareness are definitely considered as less important.

• Most trainers declare that they really take into consideration “soft skills” development.

• The trainers usually include some activities for „soft skills” development in their training programs, especially for: communication skills, interpersonal relationships, problem solving, creativity, self-management, time management and work ethic. They mostly don’t develop intercultural awareness.

• The trainers apply many tools and methods to develop the “soft skills” among their students.

• Some of them are very specific (e.g. - NCV/Nonviolent Communication by M.Rosenberg, Toastmasters Multi Level Marketing,

• They also use some more common tools, like: self-evaluation questionnaires, presentations, case studies, SWOT analysis, group exercides (working on certain problems), interactive lectures, etc.

• The regular and frequent evaluation of soft skill development is not so common. Communication skills and problem solving are the most evaluated skills by our trainers

• All trainers claim that they participate in specific training concerning “soft skills” however, most do it by themselves. It’s not so common to participate in such kind of training frequently and regularly.

• The trainers usually don’t receive feedback from companies frequently or regularly. Mostly they receive information about communication skills, teamwork capability, interpersonal relationships and creativity (rather sometimes). They mostly never have any feedback about intercultural awareness.

• The open question is if Polish employers generally consider “soft skills” as less important?