You're Smart. So What?: Examining the Importance of Soft Skills • Hacker News Board

Re: You're Smart. So What?: Examining the Importance of Soft Skills

#31

Post by AtlanteanTec » Fri, Aug 23, 2013, 6:58 PM UTC

adeaver wrote: post #15

stg wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry for the diversion, but what is/was it like to be able to ace a test without really studying for it? The only emotion I can ever recall feeling when staring down at an exam is abject fear as every fact I knew drained out of my head. I was always a relatively bright kid, but never super smart. When I worked hard, I got top grades and when I slacked, I didn't. At some point I stopped working hard and drifted throu…

> Sorry for the diversion, but what is/was it like to be able to ace a test without really studying for it? Fairly anti-climatic. For someone that it comes easy too there is no real emotion or sense of accomplishment. It would be like trying to explain the color green to someone that was born blind.

> Fairly anti-climatic. For someone that it comes easy too there is no real emotion or sense of accomplishment.

I completely agree with this statement. Personally, I felt like I didnt put in as much effort into my highschool work because I knew that I could easily pick up whatever I missed in class or homework and if I knew I could do it there was no real drive for me to try harder. And this goes back to the original article.

Re: You're Smart. So What?: Examining the Importance of Soft Skills

#32

Post by AtlanteanTec » Fri, Aug 23, 2013, 7:02 PM UTC

foobarbazqux wrote: post #19

stg wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry for the diversion, but what is/was it like to be able to ace a test without really studying for it? The only emotion I can ever recall feeling when staring down at an exam is abject fear as every fact I knew drained out of my head. I was always a relatively bright kid, but never super smart. When I worked hard, I got top grades and when I slacked, I didn't. At some point I stopped working hard and drifted throu…

I think maybe it depends on what "without really studying for it" means? If you show up alert to each class, take notes, ask questions, and do a thorough job on your homework, the amount of specific exam studying that you need to do to ace an exam goes way down compared to if you slack up until the exam. If you've been doing this since first grade, the cumulative advantage by senior year high school is immense.

Agreed! If you pay attention in class and do your homework, you shouldnt have trouble with tests because tests are just a measure of how much you pay attention to the work you've been doing. At least thats the way I saw it.

Re: You're Smart. So What?: Examining the Importance of Soft Skills

#33

Post by RougeFemme » Fri, Aug 23, 2013, 7:14 PM UTC

candybar wrote: post #26

The problem with articles like this is that it inspires precisely the wrong reaction. The best way to develop "soft skills" of the sort that matter is to stop caring about developing "soft skills" and to be genuine and be in touch with who they are internally. Don't worry about presenting yourself - care about who you are inside and seek to present it genuinely. Social fluence comes naturally when you stop pretending…

Well. . .depends on what you include in "soft skills". The approach you describe works for some soft skills, but not all. For example, I don't think you can really be taught to be naturally empathetic. Some people may seem more empathetic because they are better at reading people, etc. But I don't think you can teach empathy. You can teach some skills that fall under the umbrella of communication - and I would call them soft skills. Effective facilitation of discussions. . .recognizing when you need to re-word what you're saying on the fly - and then doing it. . .looking for the value in differing opinions/approaches,even if you don't always find it. . .those are soft skills. Some people are naturally good in those areas; others need to be taught. Some may never be "good" or "best", but they can improve.

Re: You're Smart. So What?: Examining the Importance of Soft Skills

#34

Post by ekm2 » Sat, Aug 24, 2013, 5:10 AM UTC

Most people who ace tests without studying are usually just good auditory learners.In a school situation where classroom attendance is mandatory,they excel because it hones their style.Visual learners,the bookworms on the other hand ,endure the classes until after school when they can start taking in knowledge the best way they know how:by reading.

The first group always assumes they are smarter, which is not necessarily true.High IQ people belong to both groups.