Most Important Skills for a Communications and Human Resources Manager at Goleta Sanitary District
Laura, a Communications and Human Resources Manager, emphasizes the critical need for flexibility and prioritization skills in her role, stating that "so many different tasks can land...on my desk at any one time". Beyond technical skills, Laura highlights the often-overlooked importance of "soft skills," such as communication, empathy, and understanding how people work best, which were key to their expanded role encompassing human resources.
Communication, Flexibility, Prioritization, People Skills, Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
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Laura Romano
Communications and Human Resources Manager
Goleta Sanitary District
University of CA, Santa Cruz, Prefer not to say!
Calif. Lutheran Masters in Public Policy & Administration
History, Art History
Food, Beverages & Alcohol, Government & Public Sector
Communication and Marketing
Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Flexibility and prioritization skills are crucial for handling diverse tasks and managing workload effectively.
2. Excellent writing and communication skills are essential, especially the ability to adapt communication styles for different audiences and to avoid jargon.
3. Strong soft skills, including empathy, understanding of diverse work styles, and interpersonal communication, are highly valuable and often overlooked, contributing significantly to organizational success.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
Flexibility is very important because so many different tasks can land on my desk or in my email at any one time. Being able to prioritize what needs to be done and what can be pushed down the list is also very important.
Writing skills are crucial because much of my work requires communication. This includes writing for a variety of audiences, especially in a technical agency environment where acronyms are common and not always understood by the public.
When I was first hired, my boss was excited by my "fresh eyes" since I was new to the organization. Now, I know just enough to be effective but I no longer have those completely fresh eyes. Sometimes we need others to review our writing because we're too close to it.
Beyond writing and organizational skills, flexibility, and soft skills are very important. I think people skills are often overlooked in the business world.
Many employers don't fully understand how crucial soft skills are. Communication, empathy, and understanding how people work best can truly make or break an organization.
Having strong soft skills has allowed me to take on additional human resources tasks and positions. Navigating all of that is incredibly important. While STEM is vital, soft skills are just as essential.
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