Soft Skills And Remote Work: Repositioning 8 Critical Soft Skills For Online Work

The pandemic has affected people across the globe, and completely changed day-to-day life. The world is starting to feel like it has moved away from physical interactions to online. And many people are somehow shifting their daily tasks online, repositioning their old skills in this new environment.

While some of us have been lucky throughout the pandemic, there are many who have had the misfortune of losing their job. Usually, because their job simply could not be done remotely, or that their work could not afford to keep them. Those previously working in tourism, hospitality and customer service, fitness, etc. have been particularly impacted.

A new career opportunity

While losing your job isn't great. It opens doors to new possibilities you might not have considered previously. And here at Uvaro, we are noticing that more people from those industries are signing up for our tech sales boot camp course.

If you think that you don't have the skillset needed to excel in tech sales, you're happily mistaken! Tech sales is mostly customer-centric, so you'll fit in perfectly. Soft skills from past careers or personal experience will be far more important and better utilized in this tech-based environment.

They can definitely translate into a role as a tech sales representative with a little help from us. Here are the 8 soft skills that you probably already have which you can leverage for remote work.

8 Soft Skills Repositioned For Remote Work

1 - Empathy

Empathy can mean the difference between an unhappy customer and a lifelong customer. Having empathy means that clients can feel comfortable with you.

Empathy in tech sales goes a long way. Being able to relate to your customer's feelings and thought processes means that you can develop a real connection. That way, you can better help your customer with a product that really improves their life.

It also breaks the negative stereotype of salespeople who are only interested in meeting their quota. If there is one skill that you can't teach in these times, it's empathy.

2 - Effective Communication

In every industry, communication is key. Miscommunication can cause a chain of nasty disasters, creating disgruntled staff and customers. Always keep your audience in mind. Adjust your tone, content, as well as delivery when communicating.

Communicating effectively and listening actively make a great salesperson. When speaking to a customer be professional. And take note that each customer is different, so be mindful of how you communicate with each of them. A great trick would be to mimic their style!

3 - Humility

The importance of humility in tech sales cannot be overstated. If some thinks that they are above listening to their client, the sale is already lost. The best way to understanding the key pain points to a client’s journey or needs is by listening. Practicing humility is important when listening.

A fitness instructor who doesn't listen might end up injuring their client.This is exactly what might happen to you if you don't listen to your customer in sales. Really listen and understand what your customer is looking for.

4 - Confidence

In other industries, confidence goes a long way in helping clients make decisions. A confident tour guide, a confident Pilates instructor, a confident waiter, even. People are drawn to it, charmed by it, and enjoy the energy that comes with it.

As such, it goes without saying that when a salesperson is confident in themselves and their product, customers are far more willing to buy into the idea of the product.

But confidence doesn’t come from pride and arrogance. It comes from the belief in yourself and the product. Being self-assured and assertive in dealings with others can help you in the long run. Especially in your career when communicating with your boss and colleagues.

5 - Self-Control

Clients come in all shapes & sizes. Unfortunately, that means sometimes they can be difficult, rude, and/or brash. They are just human after all. In hospitality, tourism, and customer service, empathy can really play into self-control. Staff often have to employ a level of self-control to maintain an organization’s reputation of professionalism.

In tech sales, self-control can extend beyond responding to a situation rather than reacting to it. It can also involve not over-sharing, for example simply saying "I understand" or "I know how that feels". Customers benefit from empathy, but there must also be a measure of depersonalization as this keeps the focus on the customer.

6 - Responsibility

Being able to take responsibility in customer service industries can look like apologizing for bringing out the wrong dish, a wrong shipment, or even saying thank you".

Sincere responsibility for an action, whether good or bad, is a great quality to have in sales. Customers are always happier hearing an apology or an acknowledgment of praise, and it builds on the approachability, integrity, and empathy of the salesperson. It also reflects amazingly on the organization.

7 - Stress and Time Management

Time management in hospitality and customer service meant that deadlines were met, time is used efficiently, and time-wasting is always cut down. This helps boost productivity, efficiency, and prevents overworking.

In sales, this is highly applicable and translates to being able to work at one’s own pace in a remote capacity, but not requiring someone to constantly tell them what to do. Being able to manage stress and time effectively is a highly prized part of working remotely in sales.

8 - Personality

Finally, personality. In customer service industries, personality attracts clients and in many cases, keeps them around. As with empathy and confidence, a worker’s personality can charm and amuse customers without overshadowing their stellar service and work ethic.

With salespeople, customers appreciate being able to experience personality, as this turns interactions into unique occasions and again, breaks the stereotype that salespeople are stuck with.

We strongly believe that a salesperson’s personality is a very useful tool, but it also reminds them and their customers that we’re all people, at the end of the day.

Why Uvaro works

Here at Uvaro, soft skills and remote work are our things. Our mission is to help people who’ve found themselves stranded jobs by the pandemic and to help anyone who needs the training and reskilling that it may take to land a role in tech sales.

The transition to remote work once you’ve had experience working in customer service or hospitality can be daunting, but we’re confident that together with us, you’ll do wonderfully.

We blend training, technology, and work experience. Our courses work to teach the specific skills it takes to excel in the role of tech sales while using past skills and experience in this new field.

Our model is different from any before because we provide accessible training, support resources, and tools that are best in class, and you’re at the heart of everything we do. At Uvaro, we’ve got what it takes to give you a major foot up in your tech sales career, and we’re going to help you maximize all of your successes.

The blending of soft skills and remote work isn't going anywhere. We want to build you up and help you transition in these tough times, so let us help you get started today!