With so many of us working from home during the pandemic, we have had to find new ways to work in these exceptional circumstances. But what many people do not realise is that they have actually developed several key soft skills during their isolation.

Soft skills can be incredibly beneficial to employers as they can help you thrive and work more efficiently. It has been suggested Australians are highly capable of soft skills such as communication and teamwork. That said, here are five soft skills you’ve developed without realising during this pandemic.

Communication 

Working from home and having to stay a safe distance away from each other has led to the development of different forms of communication.

While many of us at work relies on the ability to discuss issues face to face with our co-workers, during this pandemic we have had to find alternative ways to get our message across. We have adapted to Zoom calls, Skype, emails, and phone calls, learning to liaise in a new way and work on our communication despite the restrictions in place. 

During the pandemic, we might have made use of slide shows or screen sharing rather than in-person presentations. This development in our communication can benefit us as we have learned how to keep people present and interested in what we are saying in a new way.

The adaptability of our communication has helped develop our soft skills making us more appealing to employers, as well as communicating better with friends and family.

Creativity

Similarly, we have developed our creative skills to find new methods of accomplishing our everyday tasks under new restrictions. 

While in lockdown, over 46% of Australian’s spent time baking, solving puzzles, or creating arts and crafts to pass the time during the pandemic. The desire to learn a new skill or create something new can adapt our mindsets to make us more prepared to learn on an everyday basis. 

Everybody learns in different ways, so consider optimising your learning method to benefit your work and personal life.

Empathy

The pandemic has been a difficult time for everyone, and understanding the struggles of those around you has likely developed your empathy skills. Being an empathetic person can be a crucial skill as it allows you to thrive in the workplace by understanding your fellow co-workers. 

There has been no definitive idea on when things will return to normal, and the ability to empathise with friends, family, and co-workers about your shared struggles during the pandemic will greatly benefit you in the long run as it can transform your mindset.

Being empathetic is a trait of good leaders and managers, and it’s an essential skill employers will likely notice and reward.

Motivation

By continuing the best you can through the difficulties of lockdown, you have likely strengthened your motivation during the pandemic without realising. 

Even with not being able to complete many of your regular and favourite activities, you have dedicated yourself to continuing to work from home and stay home to keep yourself and others safe. The self-determination you have unlocked within yourself will allow you to complete many other tasks you never thought yourself capable of.

There are many ways to keep your motivation levels high even after the pandemic, so why not learn more about what drives you so you can always aim for success.

Time management

Staying organised and on track during the pandemic has certainly been difficult. Working from home can definitely lead to distractions, but many have managed to overcome them to success. 

Many people have even taken to redecorating their home office spaces to make them a reflection of their personalities. Working in a desirable space can definitely help you to stay on track, and provide a definite split between work and home crucial to your time management. 

You can also further these skills after the pandemic, as excellent time management is a crucial skill that will help you do more of the things you love and make your daily life more efficient.  

Summing up

Soft skills can lead to employers needing less training and being more forward-thinking, something employers covet in workers. Even though they are harder to measure, organisations that invest in soft skills see more initiative from workers.

Developing your soft skills doesn’t need to stop with the ending of the pandemic restrictions. There are many online courses, resources, and ways you can keep developing your soft skills, all of which will benefit you mentally, physically, and emotionally.