ix Case Studies Real-world case studies illustrate the importance of mastering soft skills. Each case includes a work- place situation with questions that provide an opportunity to analyze and summarize opinions, while identifying the soft skills that are addressed. Appendices Appendices for workplace rules, punctuation, and capitalization are included at the end of the text. These appendices highlight grammar mechanics and examples for reference as students complete writing assignments. End-of-Chapter Content End-of-chapter material provides opportunity for review and application of concepts. • A concise Summary reiterates the learning outcomes and provides a brief review of the content for student reference. • The Terms list identifies important soft skills terms covered in the chapter. • Review questions highlight basic concepts presented in the chapter so students can evaluate understanding of the material. • Application activities provide an opportu- nity for self-reflection so students can relate the topics to their personal lives. • Internet Exercise activities provide addi- tional research opportunities for greater understanding of selected concepts dis- cussed in the chapter. • Skills Practice activities provide an oppor- tunity for students to engage in hands-on application of the content to perfect their soft skills. These data files are available for download on the G-W Learning companion website. 143 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.. Unspoken Workplace Rules Unspoken rules in an organization are behaviors that are expected, but many never appear in writ- ing in a company policy manual. A seasoned professional “reads between the lines,” but a new employee may not understand what really is expected in certain situations at work or when repre- senting the company at a meeting. Soft Skills for the Workplace provides detailed information on workplace behaviors. The fol- lowing list is a reminder of important rules to honor. Work Day Most employees work a total of 8 hours each day. Generally, companies do not expect employees to work overtime unless there is a deadline looming. If your workday begins at 8:00 a.m., you should be at your workstation ready to work at 8:00 a.m. sharp. If your workday wraps up at 5:00 p.m., that is the time you stop working to clean up your work area rather than walking out the door. Your employer pays you for a full 8 hours so do not cut your day short by pulling into the parking lot at 7:55 a.m. or leaving at 4:55. Overtime Employees who are eligible for overtime must get preapproval from a supervisor. Do not assume that if you stay beyond regular work hours you will receive overtime pay. In addition, overtime is typically only paid for working more than the standard workweek which is usually 40 hours. Flextime Flextime generally means that an employee can report to work for eight hours and leave work during standard approved work hours. However, an unspoken rule may be that coming in at 5 a.m. and working until 1 p.m. is not in line with flextime and is unacceptable. It is important to understand the meaning of flextime before making assumptions. Breaks Many organizations allow employees multiple breaks during the workday. If your manager expects you to take a 30- minute lunch, respect that and do not take an hour. Taking advantage of break time is not a good way to advance your career. Sick Daysy If you are sick, do not come into work, especially if you are contagious. Coming to work with a con-- tagious illness is disrespectful and could be dangerous to others. You may be disappointed to use PTO an illness instead of a vacation, but it is not acceptable to put others at risk. On the other hand, do not pretend you are sick if you need a personal day. APPENDIX A f if contagious. g tag ful dang disappointed ffor f if 6 Soft Skills for the Workplace SUMMARY • (LO 1-1) Explain how hard and soft skills play a role in professionalism. Someone who shows professionalism has the skills to perform specific job tasks and works well with others. A skill is something an individual does well and may be classified as a hard skill or a soft skill. Hard skills are acquired through work, education, training, or a combination of these experiences. Soft skills are the basic skills common to any job, such as reading, writing, and listening. • (LO 1-2) Define positive attitude. Attitude is how personal thoughts or feelings affect a person’s outward behavior. Individuals with a positive attitude are optimistic and look at the upside of a situation rather than the downside. Optimism enables them to look at the big picture, identify what can be changed and not be changed, and make good decisions. Positive people are enthusiastic and show interest in their jobs and activities in which they participate. • (LO 1-3) Discuss the importance of a professional image. An image is the perception others have of a person. First impressions are usually lasting impressions. A professional image is the image an individual projects in the professional world. A professional image can have an impact on a person’s ability to get a job, earn promotions, and stay employed. TERMS adaptability attitude emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) empathy employability skills flexibility hard skills image networking optimism professional image professionalism professional network resilience skill soft skills REVIEW 1. Define professionalism. 2. Explain how hard and soft skills play a role in professionalism. 3. Explain emotional intelligence quotient (EQ). 4. Define positive attitude and resilience.