Continuous Excellence – Soft Skills Training Programme

Jan 23, 2024 | Quality & Business Excellence

Excellence is Pharmalys’ creed

At Pharmalys, we foster a culture of excellence. Excellence defines our mission to help advance health through data excellence; it drives our daily work, it characterises of our relationships with customers Accueil | Pharmalys. In alignment with our culture and values Our Values | Pharmalys, we created Continuous Excellence, a soft skills training programme for everyone at Pharmalys; because excellence in the workplace cannot be achieved without developing our soft skills.

Harnessing soft skills is almost as important as hard skills

We live in a world where job roles are rapidly everchanging. To meet the demands of our positions, we require not only role-specific knowledge and skills, but the capacity to leverage hard skills in alignment with our organisational roles. However, those who usually stand out as high performers within any workplace exhibit additional qualities commonly referred to as interpersonal skills. These skills encompass the ability to communicate clearly, collaborate effectively with colleagues, and manage our time effectively. These abilities are examples of soft skills, essential for professional success.

Let’s take the example of a rugby team. A player with exceptional technical skills and the ability to achieve individual play objectives is commendable. Yet, a player who not only excels technically but also has the ability to rally the team together or adapt efficiently to the actions of other team members stands out as superior.

 

Pharmalys soft skills programme

The workplace configuration has considerably changed over the past few years, perhaps most notably in the digital working world. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this shift, increasing the number of digital workers all over the globe. This adaptation has required companies across several industries to create new ways of working together as more and more teams work not only remotely, but internationally. Every day at Pharmalys, we engage with people on a remote basis from all walks of life, leaving little opportunity for in-person meetings.

With this in mind, we decided to create the Continuous Excellence soft skills programme. Starting from this month, we split the team into two groups; the Managers, including line managers, project managers, directors, and a few very senior/experienced CRAs. The second group is designed for the Professionals, including juniors and those who may be looking to expand their experience in certain areas. Seven three-hour sessions are planned for each group throughout the year.

The Professional group training will cover Stress Management, Organisation, Prioritization & Time Management, Communication Styles & Influencing, Assertiveness, Negotiation & Conflict Resolution, Working remotely, Problem Solving Techniques, and a final Integration Session to review the training.

The Managers group will work on Time Management & Stress Management, Management, Leadership & Manager Coach Posture, Leadership & Hybrid Management, Communication Styles & Influencing, Assertiveness, Negotiation & Conflict Resolution, Problem Solving Techniques, and an Integration Session.

We are all very enthusiastic about this opportunity to learn and develop our ability to collaborate smoothly with colleagues and customers.

 

A few notable quotes about soft skills to inspire us all

 

“It is not the strongest or most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.” – Charles Darwin, scientist

“Soft skills get little respect but they will make or break your career” – Peggy Klaus, author

“Take advantage of every opportunity to practice your communication skills so that when important occasions arise, you will have the gift, the style, the sharpness, the clarity, and the emotions to affect other people.” – Jim Rohn, entrepreneur

“Peace is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it.” – Mahatma Gandhi, activist

 

 

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