Skill development report “how soft skills have changed our lives”

FOREIGN TRADE UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 000 SKILL DEVELOPMENT REPORT “HOW SOFT SKILLS HAVE CHANGED OUR LIVES” Instructor Mr Hoang Anh Duy Ms Pham Thi My Dung Course PPHE101 3 GROUP[.]

FOREIGN TRADE UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION -000 - SKILL DEVELOPMENT REPORT “HOW SOFT SKILLS HAVE CHANGED OUR LIVES” Instructor: Mr Hoang Anh Duy Ms Pham Thi My Dung Course : PPHE101.3 GROUP LE NGOC DIEP 2012250022 NGUYEN MINH DIEP 2012250023 HOANG NHAT DUY 2012250027 NGUYEN HAI DANG 2014250202 DO MINH DUC 2013250008 PHAM BAO DUC 2012250025 TRAN ANH DUC 2012250026 BUI LE MINH GIANG 2012250028 NGUYEN HONG HA 2013250234 10 TRAN THANH HA 2012250029 June 1st 2021 FOREIGN TRADE UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION -000 - SKILL DEVELOPMENT REPORT “HOW SOFT SKILLS HAVE CHANGED OUR LIVES” Instructor: Mr Hoang Anh Duy Ms Pham Thi My Dung Course : PPHE101.3 GROUP LE NGOC DIEP 2012250022 NGUYEN MINH DIEP 2012250023 HOANG NHAT DUY 2012250027 NGUYEN HAI DANG 2014250202 DO MINH DUC 2013250008 PHAM BAO DUC 2012250025 TRAN ANH DUC 2012250026 BUI LE MINH GIANG 2012250028 NGUYEN HONG HA 2013250234 10 TRAN THANH HA 2012250029 June 1st 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION LITERATURE REVIEWS I Soft skills Definition Basic soft skills II Important roles of soft skills Analysis Mastering soft skills III Why a soft skill deficit is harmful to business success RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 10 FINDING AND ANALYSIS 11 I Story 11 II Analyse story 18 III Applied skills in making video 18 Communication skill 18 Time management 18 Positive thinking 19 Teamwork skill 19 RECOMMENDATION 20 CONCLUSION 21 REFERENCES 22 APPENDIX 23 ABSTRACT The world is developing at a high pace in every aspects of life Therefore, it is a must for students to equip themselves with enough academic knowledge and skills As a result, soft skills are becoming more and more essential, especially with the wonderful applications of four main skills not only in future work but also in study as well : Teamwork, Time/Task management, Communication and Writing Me and my team feel so lucky to join Foreign Trade University since this University can help us learn and improve our skills We even feel more fortunate to have chances to cultivate those four skills in the Skill Development Class of Mr.Hoang Anh Duy and Ms.Pham Thi My Dung We have been able to gain so much knowledge from them and even had chances to apply those skills through some interesting games and into real-life situations Now, this is the perfect opportunity to show what we have studied by doing a group project: making a video about the topic: “How soft skills have changed your lives” The idea for the video stems from the fact that there are some students who are stuck in their personal problems This is the reason causing depression, anxiety and disorientation among youngsters As a result, their life, work and study are negatively affected Therefore, in our video, we hope to reflect this reality bring positivity to anyone encountering the same problems and show them how we can cope with this similar issues With the journey of our main actor from his depression, sadness to finally achieve happiness, our video will cover three main skills: Teamwork, Time management and Communication In this report, we would like to show how the video has been handled from start to finish The following parts will be about Introduction, Literature Reviews, Research Methodology, Findings and Analysis, Recommendations/Suggestions, Conclusion, References and Appendix INTRODUCTION Soft skills, often called people skills or emotional intelligence, are defined as the ability to interact amicably with others They are personal attributes that can affect relationships, communication, and interaction with others Soft skills are an essential part of improving one’s ablity to work with others and can have a positive influence on furthering your career However,soft skills are sometimes underestimated because they believe those ability are natural and can not be learned That’s why most youngsters seem to care less about this matter and pay attention more to their academic knowledge, but every skills can be accumulated through books and practical applications It is said to be difficult just because some people not know how to develop their skills the right way, which leads to a variery of problems that they may encounter and they have no clues to solve Therefore, our story is based on a real-life story of how soft skills have been applied effectively: The main character is having a personal problem which affects every aspects of his life Through his complicated emotions and the way soft skills has helped him to overcome the issues, we hope to inspire viewers that every problems can be easily solved once you know the correct ways Overall, our goal is to reflect the life of some youngsters nowadays and to gain attention from society, so that nothing unfortunate will happen Furthermore, our video is expected to show the youth how to overcome emotional troubles if they are in a similar situation, therefore they will realize the importance of soft skills and will start sharpen them *Some information about the video  Execution time: From May to June , 2021  Location: Private houses  Implementer: 10 members of group – High quality Foreign Business Administration – PPHE101.3  Video title: EPIPHANY  Language: English  Report: 23 pages  Video length: minutes and 54 seconds LITERATURE REVIEWS I Soft skills Definition A soft skill is a positive personal attribute that supports situational awareness and enhances an individual's ability to get a job done The term “soft skills” is often used as a synonym for people skills or emotional intelligence (Margaret, 2019) According to the UNESCO, the Soft skills (also known as non-cognative skills) are “patterns of thought, feelings and behaviours” (Borghans et al., 2008) Basic soft skills a) Communication skill Communication is a process of transfering messages between senders ad receivers to achieve goals Communication includes: non-verbal communication and verbal communication Communication skills is a broad soft skills category It refers to how you communicate with clients, customers, colleagues, employees, employers, vendors, partners and almost everyone connected to the concerned business  Speaking Skills  Presentation Skills  Negotiation Skills  Nonverbal communication skills  Listening and empathizing  Persuasion  Public Speaking  Storytelling  Written Communication, etc b) Time-management skill “Time management” is the process of organizing and planning how to divide your time between specific activities Good time management enables you to work smarter – not harder – so that you get more done in less time, even when time is tight and pressures are high Failing to manage your time damages your effectiveness and causes stress Key phrases used to convey time management skills are:  Prioritizing  Goal Setting & Management  Planning  Control  Focus  Delegation, etc c) Teamwork skill Teamwork skills are the qualities and abilities that allow you to work well with others during conversations, projects, meetings or other collaborations Having teamwork skills is dependent on your ability to communicate well, actively listen and be responsible and honest Some examples of soft skills falling under the teamwork category are:  Team Player  Collaborative  Empathetic  Influential  Networking Skills  Social Skills  Interpersonal Skills  Knowledge of how to deal with difficult personalities, etc d) Leadership skill Leadership skill set is among the most sought-after skill set by employers Hiring managers look for candidates who have good potential to grow Such candidates are self-reliant, can work with the team seamlessly, and even put efforts to make the team and their efforts better Leadership skills include abilities to lead a team, make decisions and work for the benefit of the company and the team keeping aside the personal viewpoints, biases, and conflicts It stems from the experience of handling projects and teams Leadership is one of the hard-skills employers look for when hiring clevel or other high ranking executives However, it is also a very important soft skill for other positions and includes:      Team Management Conflict Management & Resolution Decision Making Drafting Delegation Strategies Drafting Motivation Strategies, etc 6 e) Work ethics Work ethic is the ability to maintain proper moral values within the workplace It is an attitude that shapes the way an individual performs its job duties with high moral standards It is an inherent attitude that an individual possesses and it allows him to make decisions and perform his duties with positive moral values that include elements like integrity, responsibility, high quality, discipline, humility and teamwork Some examples of soft skills which come under the work ethics category are:        f) Completing tasks on time Punctuality Being Focused & Organized Competitiveness Perseverance Persistence Business Etiquettes, etc Critical thinking Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally about what to or what to believe It includes the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking Key phrases used to convey critical thinking skills are:  Analytical  Problem Solving  Artistic Sense  Critical Observer  Desire to Learn  Innovator  Logical Thinker  Creative Thinker, etc g) Adaptability Adaptability as a skill refers to the ability of a person to change his actions, course or approach to doing things in order to suit a new situation We constantly change our lifestyles because our world is changing always When there is shortage of a commodity in the market, we switch our demand to substitute goods That is an example of adaptability 7 Key phrases used to convey adaptability are:     Calm Optimistic Open Minded Curious, etc Adaptability is not just about changing something or adjusting to a situation It encompasses being able to effect changes in a course of action with smoothness and timeliness, without any major setbacks II Important roles of soft skills Analysis Most interactions with other people require some level of soft skills At a company you might be negotiating to win a new contract, presenting your new idea to colleagues, networking for a new job, and so on We use soft skills everyday at work and developing these soft skills will help you win more business and accelerate your career progression By contrast, a lack of soft skills can limit your potential, or even be the downfall of your business By developing strong leadership, delegation, teamwork, and communication abilities, you can run projects more smoothly, deliver results that please everyone, and even positively influence your personal life by improving how you interact with others Mastering soft skills a) Communication skill ABC:  Accuracy  Brievity  Clarity According to 7Cs, communication needs to be:        Clear Concise Correct Complete Courteous Consistent/Conherent Cautious b) Time management skill The urgent/important matrix: An Urgent Important Matrix is a simple but effective tool for prioritizing your to-do list based on the level of urgency and importance of each task It’s is sometimes referred to as the “Eisenhower Matrix” or “Eisenhower Decision Matrix” and is one of the easiest time management strategies to implement Urgent Important Matrix template Important but Not Urgent – Plans Urgent and Important – Crises These are the activities that help you achieve your long and mid-term goals and objectives Because they aren’t necessarily pressing for attention, we often put them off to deal with “urgent” issues Not Urgent and Not Important – Distractions Important and Urgent activities are either emergencies that you couldn’t predict or those that you’ve left until the last minute and have reached crisis point These activities are neither important for achieving your long-term goals nor urgent They are essentially distracting you from doing things that matter Urgent but Not Important activities are things that sap your time and energy without contributing to longer term benefits They keep you busy but have no real value Urgent but Not Interruptions Important – c) Positive thinking The 3C Modules consists of Commitment – Control and Challenge is another way for to keep a bright look on life Commitment means set a positive commitment to yourself, for education, for work or anything else and it enthusiastically and charm Control – keep your mind focused on the important, be honest with yourself and keep your mind toward positive thinking Always Challenge yourself to be better, change old habits, look at different options d) Teamwork skill  Make teamwork a priority and reward teamwork  Clarify roles, responsibilities and accountabilities  Set clear goals  Communicate with each other  Make decisions together  Build trust and get to know each other better  Celebrate differences/diversity  Examine and improve teamwork processes and practices III Why a soft skill deficit is harmful to business success Conflict When a work environment lacks conflict resolution skills, unnecessary tension among co-workers causes costly delays It becomes challenging for employees to work cohesively together, rivalries waste more energy than output, and the company loses talent as people decide to disassociate themselves from the negativity and find a new job Teaching employees how to approach disagreements and continue to work together professionally will save the company time, money, and headaches Productivity Employers often pour a great deal of money and effort into the technical development of employees to encourage better productivity However, if a soft skill gap exists, poor performance will continue If employees don’t receive adequate training in all the correct areas, they won’t understand how to their jobs or reach certain goals In turn, this leads to low morale in the workplace, higher turnover rates, low production, unsafe work environments, and increased expenses Customer relations A soft skills deficit also makes it difficult for employees to provide satisfactory customer service They must be able to communicate the value of a business when engaging with customers to build brand loyalty and turn interaction into revenue Companies will experience declining profits and missed customer opportunities if employers aren’t dedicated to the development of customer relations skills 10 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Based on the literature reviews about the importance of soft skills in work environment as well as in daily life This case study focuses on contributing to previous studies by giving a clear understanding about the factors impacting on individuals in the society Specifically, we used qualitative research methods which obtained information and knowledge through actions, communications and some conflicts in this study Approaches The way we approach the topic was making a video clip about many difficulties that students had to face in their life and the way they overcame it The story through the video conveyed the meaningful messages or lessons along with brought incredible knowledge about problem and solution The reason why we chose this topic due to its popularity to young generation nowadays The information was collected from real life and then a script was written Based on it, our group’s members played the characters and we gathered all the members’ records to create a completed video Moreover, role playing is a technique allowing participants to explore realistic situations by interacting with other people in a managed way to develop experience and trial different strategies in a supported environment Therefore, we were able to have our first-hand experience and applied realistic solutions to the problem Especially, it is also a good preparation for similar situations which can happen in real life Procedures Through the process of completing the video and report, all members of the group enthusiastically gave their own opinions as well as participated in the video We decided to divide the team into three groups: writing report, acting and scripting groups About the report, all members had responsibility for collecting information from various sources such as Internet, documents and so on Then three members from writing report group would gather all the information from all members of the team to create a comleted report The report was made after the video so that it could be included in the research’s findings and analysis The acting group took part in the video and they learned the script by heart before filming Due to Covid-19, we could not meet each other directly so it was quite hard to create a video which had interation among group’s members However, we tried our best to make up a video by gathering member’s records 11 The video clip took about more than a week to finish Besides the Covid-19, it was also due to the overlapped schedules of each member and the communication obstacles when giving the opinion for the script In spite of the difficulties, all the team’s members could learn how to communicate better and solve the conflicts effectively Finally, we accomplished the video successfully FINDING AND ANALYSIS We spend one month for our filming process: weeks for preparation, week for shooting film, and week for editting Due to the outbreak of Sars CoV 2, all members had to face with a lot of difficulties We could not congregate because of the prohibition of group gathering Moreover, our initial scenario before epidemic is impossible, so it had to be changed into a suitable one Nonetheless, we all know that Calamity is man’s true touchstone, so all of us try our best to complete our idea which was relevant to skills development and easily encountered in our daily life To attain to perfection, we had online meeting via Zoom every evening This way also helped us to strenghthen our relationships On top of that, each member had a chance to make comments and put what we had learned about Soft Skill Development into practice I Story PROLOUGE (Lines gradually turn up the black screen) They used to be an ideal couple The couple that fullfilled by vigorous youth Graceful, discreet as she is Daring, determined as he is No one has ever thought that their story soon became the story… of the past… EXT SUBURBAN HOME – LATE AFTERNOON Rain is pouring outside, the whole view is embodied in a sorrowful ambience Window soon covered in raindrops 12 INT SUBURBAN HOME – HAI DANG’S ROOM - NIGHT The house is nothing but a gloomy place Dim light from the fire only spreads a little warmth to where he is living Things seem to own theirs utmost silence Wide awake, sweat flushed all over on his face Cramming for the phone which is already half broken, he glanced at the time It’s late now All clammed up in his own space, he let himself go with the flow of thoughts When has the burning and muggy summer already arrived? When has the sky turned into so much of a nostalgic blue? When did he and she break up and things ended up in an awful mess? HAI DANG’S POV In less than a second, vivid memories of their love story coming back, evoking trembles down the spine, etching on his heart: the day he met her, it was her eyes that captured his soul Nothing was unerringly transcripted to words Maybe it was not a colour Something like the sparkle in those eyes and bright aura of that cheerful laughter turned her into a bountiful of colours Breeze passed by, there was no such golden sunshine among the sombre clouds But, he saw a better view A clear blue lake in the middle of the dull brown sand She standing right there, puckered lips and shrivelved up legs, purely covered in a classic white dress She standing right there, tied up and puny body, radiating colour that presented hope That love has long gone yet he felt like it was only the day before That teenage boy who adores pulling trick towards beloved friends as well as bucking up people, giving them strength to follow the things they aspire is now sinking in the depressed hole he himself digged Every single time looking in the mirror is another time he is heading further to the loneliness He loses confidence, easily takes in vulnerability He hesitates, wonders whether to give in or not He doubts life, assumes love, targets and perfection would not endure over span of years, or even evolve into a faded brick: gradually scatter, slowly fall off from the roof that he devoted so much time and courage to build 13 Social organization’s work is on the list, essays are all piled up, crucial exams are coming near Those urgent affairs seem to spread no influence over the condition he is facing No matter how hard he tried, regardless of how much effort he made to get out of the mess, it remains unchanged The feeling is still there, raw and stabbed He is unable to feel anything but exhausted Gasping for air, he guesses the torment has been devouring his mind and body for a pretty long time BACKYARD The way they used to dance together under the snow with their hands tied, the way they gave out the most childlike smile without worrying about outsiders He can’t help but remembering all too well (Lines gradually turn up the black screen) INTERCUT PHONE CHAT CONVERSATION: ANH DUC: It’s already May 29th, where is the script, Đăng? Your deadline is over more than a week now @Nguyễn Hải Đăng HAI DANG: I’m sorry… I obviously know that the fault is mine when I did not contribute to the team and finish the task on my own… But I can’t… I lost up in the 7Cs of Communication Skill, I can’t come up with any sort of ideas and how they would work out together Sorry, but I just… can’t… ANH DUC: 14 We had already agreed on the role from the very beginning There are no ways to reorder it back now MINH DIEP: Well well, so you are trying to say that we have to sacrifice the team for your one and only self? You are being very ridiculous, Đăng! HAI DANG: I not want that either!! Can you please understand for my unstable state right now?? The thing is that this is my personal affairs, all I can is to get out of the mess Only after that can I be in the process of our working team, or else every single thing will be ruined! NGOC DIEP: Ok I think I can kinda get the hang of it @Hải Đăng We have to be more together guys, focus on the main point – the project of the team and how, when it will be launched The time is limited, our concentration should be on the coming task Calm down, and for this moment, we need to talk to each other to find out the solution I know it’s hard but once we start, we can absolutely work out the way! BAO DUC: If you was struggling, at least tell us before a few days The current situation is also very hard for all of our members to change And I am also sorry for being not polite but what you are trying to say makes no sense for me! HONG HA: Yeah, fights will only spit more blood, but I guess through fights we can learn more about ourselves, so let’s dive in to the work as fast as possible 15 ANH DUC: Alright, I got this We are a team, not to mention that we have already learned the 5Ps which are components of a team, and “People” is the foremost factor We should feel for each other, help each person to get out of their mess whenever they are in depression I think we will start all over, once again, from now on Any idea, guys? THANH HA: The old script will no longer be available Each of us can speak out their opinions or recommendations for the new one ANH DUC: And Đăng, you are in charge of collecting all ideas and write the script I know things can be hard for you this time but if you dare to stand up and overcome it, you will get there We are always be here if you need any help ^^ NHAT DUY: Be strong, Đăng You have your families, and us! I am willing to listen to your problems If they are in my case, I can even give you some useful advices HONG HA: That’s right, nothing can defeat the spirit of a team, I believe that we can all conquer this when we are together A team with an organized structure and a mutual respect is what makes the team successful BAO DUC: 16 I was so hot-headed earlier, I am sorry to be rude If you need my support, don’t be bother to call me I’ll be there to help you through Cheer up! NGOC DIEP: Exactly, let’s get it together guyssss I am more than ready now ANH DUC: Problems solved, let’s get down to work! (Everyone agrees and sends hearts for reaction) DO DUC’S ROOM (CASCADEUR) Water running down from his face, he lets out all the exhaustion of the previuos time He lays down at the table, looking all those papers and notes Thinking over again, he starts to tidy up the room, does some exercises, create some SWOT MATRIX for upcoming plans, reorder tasks need revising He squads down the floor, begins to create a brand new script for the team After doing all those things, the smile slowly appears on his face Then, he clicks “ENTER” ANH DUC’S HOUSE (CASCADEUR)- HALLWAY He opens the curtain, let the light sheds across the room Finally, he can understand EPILOGUE That’s how friendship goes: when someone is in need, it will be other’s turn to support; when someone calls out for a meet, it will be other’s turn to appear, just simple it is Beyond doubt, friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies Friendship is when no one has ever lacked faith in the other We 17 stay side by side without the need to say it out loud We truly are “in your eyes is me, in my eyes is you” (The sun starts to rise up, everything is illuminated in the calming but also vibrant light) Behind the wind is still the wind, up above the sky is still the sky, ahead the road is still the road As a person, we are all likely to shed a tear with no reason at all, or go through a mental breakdown on our way back home But, it doesn’t mean that we can not be on the scene when the sunset shows up, then once again, embrace this world with love and affection Young and old, all involved hopes to be in a firm relationship Solid and healthy - the kind of relationship everyone is desperate to have but that’s not always what you get There are days when both you and me would stare blankly at the wall and the number one feeling throughout times is anxiety: “Ok, so what is the next road block? What is the next thing that’s gonna deter us? How long we have before this turns into a nightmare? Is it a month? Is it three days?” However, this does not mean that it is not special, and extraordinary Just to have that kind of story which is fragile and somehow meaningful in its fragility, we have gone through a lot Exactly like a piece of glass when ground round, it won’t be able to hurt others, people who used to endure pain can also be nice and kind They might give their hands out when someone needs help, they might release their umbrellas to cover strangers from the pouring rain Perhaps youth is not inherently determined by numbers, it’s all about the way your heart choose to take over and pick up this forever changing world Perhaps it does not matter what you reap, but the process after all Try to drive out of your comfort zone, peek out from the shell to see what many more aspects of this society are, but not forget to preserve your one and only honesty, purity and freedom Loving ourselves to share love for surroundings is all what we – the younger generations are carrying the pride of the country - must learn, to find our own definition of happiness Everyone is the hero of life, we are stronger than what we have imagined Life is always in its spin, so the most generous thing we can is to devote all to present Therefore, one way go ahead! 18 II Analyse story Time management: In our video, the boy was overloaded with a lot of things from many aspects of his life Love, homework, projects from his club and so on made him get in tangle However, he didn't know how to manage his time, and completed these tasks on time All of his failures came from a main reason that he didn't have any knowledge about soft skills Communication skill: At first, because of stress, the boy didn't think about his friends' feeling He easily gave up his task in skill development subjects Other members were definitely angry It leaded to some arguments when they chatted in Messenger Nonetheless, everyone regained self possession They consoled the boy and were always besides him, helped him overcome sadness Positive thinking: When everything seemed to come to an end, from a person who was always under pressure, the boy become stronger, and ready to confront with his problems He manage his time again by using Matrix After all, the boy realize the value of friendship and everything will be OK III Applied skills in making video Communication skill Communcation skills having learnt help us a lot in making video Thanks to them, we can finally have our short film finished However, during that process, communication between team members was not always good, we had wrong methods of conveying our ideas, so there were unnecessary tension, anxiety and miscommunication leading to unclear expectations But then we decided to have a discussion together about our main directions and goals of making the video We listened to each other’s ideas more seriously, really listening to what other members were saying, instead of formulating our response When member was not able to complete her tasks, we came up with solutions before the situation escalates and the team process breaks down After that, we finally communicated with each other better, which helped us manage to finish the video successfully Time management During making this video, we couldn't meet each other for filming, which was really hard for ourselves to complete our commissions  ... BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION -000 - SKILL DEVELOPMENT REPORT “HOW SOFT SKILLS HAVE CHANGED OUR LIVES” Instructor: Mr Hoang Anh Duy Ms Pham Thi My Dung Course : PPHE101.3 GROUP LE NGOC DIEP 2012250022... REVIEWS I Soft skills Definition Basic soft skills II Important roles of soft skills Analysis Mastering soft skills ... learn and improve our skills We even feel more fortunate to have chances to cultivate those four skills in the Skill Development Class of Mr.Hoang Anh Duy and Ms.Pham Thi My Dung We have been able