Social skills necessary for effective leadership —Abdul Rahman
Social skills necessary for effective leadership —Abdul Rahman
By Abubakar Ibrahim
Emerging and aspiring leaders in Nigeria have been advised to learn and work with soft skills to be successful.
The advice was given by Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), who said: “When you are planning to take on a leadership role in your career, understand that soft skills is a must.”
Abdul Rahman, however, pointed out that some leaders have some of these skills already, urging them to, still, “work on improving them.”
Abdul Rahman spoke during a recently FULafia organised One-Day Colloquium for Provosts, Deans and Directors.
The title of his presentation is: “Soft Skills for Effective Leadership.”
Other speakers at the colloquium were Professor Francisca Oladipo, the Vice-Chancellor of Thomas Adewumi University, Oko, Kwara State, who presented a paper titled: “Innovation and Digital Transformation in the University System,” and Professor Usman Ibrahim, from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, whose presentation was titled: “Enhancing Strategic Leadership and Synergy for Intellectual Development at the Federal University of Lafia.”
The event took place at the Ta’al Conference Hotel, Lafia.
He said that unlike technical or hard skills, which are specific to a particular job or field and can be taught and measured, soft skills are more intangible and relate to how individuals behave, communicate and work with others.
The vice-chancellor noted that employers were now placing more value on soft skills as they have realised that they “are crucial for success in the modern workplace, adding: “These skills complement technical proficiency and enhance overall job performance and career advancement. These highly versatile skills can be applied in different situations, making them valuable assets in any professional career.”
According to the vice-chancellor, working together is crucial for achieving success in our increasingly interconnected world.
He said that having a strong set of interpersonal skills enables individuals to collaborate effectively and find solutions to conflicts and foster positive and productive work environment.
Abdul Rahman, who described social skills to include communication, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, time management and conflict resolution, said that by adopting strategies to prioritise tasks, minimise distractions and stay organised, workers and can optimise their productivity and success in both their personal and professional life.
Singling out one skill, he said that time management “is commonly regarded as a soft skill due to its applicability and its impact on professional performance,” adding: “Time management is a technique for using your time productively and efficiently.”
The vice-chancellor advised good leaders to have all soft skills, saying, however, that to be an effective leader, people should work on their character especially in the areas of humility, honesty, patience as well as on the principles and or values integrity, transparency, accountability, consistency and efficiency.
Many people, including the principal and other staff members of the University attended the colloquium.
