In today’s competitive day and age, just being a Jack of all trades is not enough. And to be a master of all, apart from technical expertise and qualification, one should also acquire soft skills. These skills play a pivotal role in both personal and professional growth and serve as essential attributes that complement technical expertise.
In the professional realm, soft skills foster effective teamwork, leadership, conflict resolution, and problem-solving, thereby increasing productivity and job satisfaction. On a personal level, soft skills enhance relationships, promote better understanding, help attain mental peace, and empower individuals to navigate diverse social situations with confidence. But not everyone knows how to inculcate these values and interpersonal abilities in oneself.
This is when we need assistance from skilled professionals like Santosh Talaghatti who can help us have a balanced, happy, meaningful, and successful life.
With more than two decades of experience in the industry, Santosh wears multiple feathers in his cap. He’s an entrepreneur, philanthropist, digital transformation expert, corporate trainer, public speaker, innovator, and most importantly an excellent life-coach and soft skills trainer who can help you and me with practical tips, strategies, and guidance to improve our soft skills and have an overall development.
Interviewer: Let’s start with the basic but crucial question which is, ‘Why is it important for us to acquire soft skills and what they actually are?’
Santosh Talaghatti: Soft skills are an integral part of our lives. In fact, it’s a way of life. Since everything starts with ‘self’, these skills are not just important for our career but for our self-development, eventually for life development. Once we incorporate these skills into our lives, we will be able to deal with not just the people and situations around us but also with our inner selves.
Just like hard skills, soft skills are essential as they help us with anything and everything. Right from writing and responding to emails, to interacting with peers and seniors, adding value to society, having a personal and professional balance, dealing with stress, and presenting ourselves in the greatest marketplace of the world, these skills come in handy. Missing this can collapse everything and including this aspect can bring change in everything.
Interviewer: One of the key skills a professional should possess is the ability to communicate well. Can you share how can someone improve their communication skills?
Santosh Talaghatti: The greatest gift of this world is words and with its power, anyone is capable of moving mountains.
Communication skills are the greatest knowledge element and asset and we can’t miss this one no matter how expert we are. It adds the right flavor. Just like a product’s packaging, communication also has a huge impact on others. Moreover, it’s not just a problem-solving tool but it is life-leading too.
Interviewer: As an expert, what tips would you share for working professionals who intend to improve their communication skills?
Santosh Talaghatti: Communication is not just about using big words and being an excellent orator, but it’s also about patiently listening and being the best listener.
Additionally, having a great accent and language proficiency are the attributes of communication but one should know the way to put emotions into words. It’s also necessary for one to inculcate the habit of reading and practicing the art of public speaking. With that, it’s essential to create your own reality, express your own self and never hesitate to present your opinions. In all, one should be a great listener, a thinker, be able to enhance responsiveness, and should know how to add emotional value to your words.
Apart from these tips, one should remember that everything starts from our heart. When we have that passion to communicate, listen, present, develop and bring change, everything automatically moulds and gets in sync.
Interviewer: You rightly pointed out that with perfect communication skills, one can become a leader in any sphere of life. But what according to you are some of the qualities one should have to be a great leader?
Santosh Talaghatti: Fortunately, everyone dreams to be a leader but unfortunately, everyone likes to be a follower.
Firstly, we should forget the notion that position is the leader. A person who holds the highest position in a house or a company doesn’t mean that he is a leader and everyone should blindly start following them.
“The position is the opportunity to present your leadership.”
Secondly, leadership is not always about you. If you’re able to find and make a great leader from the people around you then it also proves how accomplished a leader you are. One should get rid of ‘I and Me’ and think of the team. If you’re scared and intimidated to pull people up then sadly, you can never be on the list of great leaders. Along with that, one should also be able to foresee and predict future problems and have the capabilities to be a good problem solver.
Interviewer: Can you also elaborate more on how a person can enhance their problem-solving abilities?
Santosh Talaghatti: I’ve seen a lot of professionals and companies who claim that they are the problem solvers. However, at the time of crises, they get into panic mode which can be detrimental to the business and that person’s overall development too. To get to the root cause of a problem, first, we need to deal with our own minds. It’s all in our minds. The moment our mind comes under pressure, most of us are not able to perform and take wrong decisions even though it’s our forte.
And sadly, no educational institute teaches us how to deal with our minds. This is where soft skills come in handy. As for companies and business houses, they should start employing people who possess such skills and resolve issues. Along with that, individuals should have good mentors, friends, and colleagues with whom they can talk about the different stages of life and the complexities it comes with.
Interviewer: Was there a time in your life when you thought of giving up? How did you bounce back?
Santosh Talaghatti: Definitely! There was a time I would not get out of my bed overthinking about someone’s bad behaviour towards me and became demotivated. However, eventually, I realized that problems are meant to be solved. Instead of running away from them, I channelized my energy into finding solutions to them. I started taking the support of books by great leaders and read their stories. That’s when I realized that everyone has problems but he who can rise from them can become successful in his endeavours. We should think of problems as an opportunity. But today, it’s burning minds and becoming suicidal for careers, for a person’s mental health and physical health because we are stressing about having them rather than resolving them. Moreover, it’s fundamental to have a strong mind, be intelligent, and not panic in the face of adversity.
Interviewer: With problems come stress that ruins a person’s mental health. Can you share some effective techniques to manage stress?
Santosh Talaghatti: Stress can be a huge hindrance to a person’s growth. Hence, it’s important we get to the root cause and nip it in the bud. In case someone feels under pressure then they can try these tips:
- Try to make your environment peaceful and calm. Decluttering the noise and staying in silence can give you more perspective.
- Kickstart a spiritual journey with yourself. Meditation is one approach but finding the science within is your answer to everything.
- Get rid of the mentality that someone else has the solution to your problems. Inculcate the mindset that it’s only you who has control and can bring about the change in your situation.
- Surround yourself with the right people. Negativity and self-doubt can always be tackled with positivity and people with a positive approach in life.
- Fall in love with yourself first. Pamper yourself, give gifts, and treat yourself. Be your own cheerleader. Stop treating yourself the way negative people treat you.
- Take it easy. Stress can never be resolved with additional stress, so have faith and be patient with yourself.
- Remember: With a negative mindset, you are killing happiness, opportunities, your mind, and new possibilities.
- In the words of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, ‘Find your unique you.’
- When things go South, send affirmations to yourself saying, “I am important.”
- And lastly, develop new skills. Become an upgraded version of yourself and never lose an opportunity because you don’t possess the right skills.
Interviewer: That was insightful and definitely helpful. Thanks for sharing your expertise. I’m confident that these will help many people have an overall development.
Santosh Talaghatti: I am glad that I got the opportunity to share my learnings. In case, if anyone wants more guidance, they can feel free to write to me at santosh.talaghatti@gmail.com Signing off!
“In every challenge lies an opportunity for growth and learning. Embrace them fearlessly.” – Santosh Talaghatti
In conclusion, Santosh Talaghatti’s valuable insights highlight the undeniable importance of soft skills in achieving personal and professional growth. His expertise as an entrepreneur, life coach, and soft skills trainer exemplifies the transformative power these skills can have in shaping one’s life. By incorporating soft skills into our daily lives, we can effectively communicate, lead, and problem-solve, leading to increased productivity, job satisfaction, and meaningful relationships.
Santosh’s emphasis on the significance of self-development, effective communication, and problem-solving underscores the need for continuous learning and growth. He encourages individuals and organizations to invest in soft skills training to navigate the complexities of life and business successfully.
To benefit from Santosh Talaghatti’s knowledge and experience, individuals and organizations are encouraged to reach out and explore his soft skills and self-help programs. By doing so, they can embark on a journey of self-improvement, empowering themselves to thrive in today’s competitive world.
In summary, Santosh Talaghatti’s mission is to inspire individuals to become the best version of themselves, equipped with the essential soft skills needed to excel in every aspect of life. For a fulfilling and transformative journey of growth and development, consulting Santosh can be a life-changing decision. Embrace the power of soft skills, embark on a path of self-discovery, and let Santosh Talaghatti be your guiding light on this remarkable journey of personal and professional evolution.
Santosh Talaghatti
Leader - AI | Soft-Skills | Startups | Government IT Projects
Santosh Talaghatti is a globally recognized visionary leader, esteemed researcher, and innovative trainer at the forefront of driving innovation and digital transformation...
