Tag: Soft skills

Across the business world, the days of landing a job based solely on a prestigious degree or a narrow set of technical expertise are largely behind us. Today, hiring managers aren’t just looking for people who have specialized knowledge—they’re looking for professionals who can communicate clearly, build relationships and collaborate effectively.

As day-to-day communication shifts to largely online, it is critical that credit professionals make the most of every conversation, whether it is in-person or virtual. From facial expressions to tone to body language, there is a lot to keep in mind in conversation to ensure that you are not only making your point clearly but effectively.

“I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So, if I’m going to learn, I must do it by listening.” — Larry King, CNN. King emphasizes how much more you can learn by listening rather than speaking. However, that’s easier said than done for most people. In fact, studies show that people typically remember only about 20% of what they hear immediately after listening, with retention dropping significantly over time.

With automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and ever-advancing technology dominating conversations in the business-to-business credit field, it is easy to forget the importance of soft skills, especially for new credit managers eager to ride the tech wave as they continuously enhance their technical skills.

By focusing on and refining soft skills, credit professionals can enhance performance, relationships and communication in credit management.