Savita Taylor

1. 1
thick skin required: four skills you need now
© 2009 Savita Taylor
thick skin
required:
four skills
you need
now
Savita Taylor
NO!
thick skin required: four skills you need now
My background
• MEd in Instructional Design (May 09)
• MS in Technical Communication
• Documentation Specialist/Technical
Writer/Communications Specialist
• Instructional Designer
• Instructor
NO!
thick skin required: four skills you need now
thick skin required: four skills you need now
What are soft skills?
• Interpersonal competencies
• Complement hard skills
• Rarely taught
NO!
thick skin required: four skills you need now
1. Learn quickly
• Ask questions
• Click everything
• Review legacy documentation
•
NO!
thick skin required: four skills you need now

2. 2
thick skin required: four skills you need now
© 2009 Savita Taylor
thick skin required: four skills you need now
2. Ask probing questions
• Open-ended questions
• Based on established information
• Elicit a slow response
•
NO!
thick skin required: four skills you need now thick skin required: four skills you need now
3. Follow a moving target
• Know the target is going to move
• Prioritize tasks
• Repurpose information
• Use established templates
•
NO!
thick skin required: four skills you need now
4. Develop a thick skin
• Do not get personally attached
• Practice active listening/reading
• Question what doesn’t make sense
• Continue to improve
•
NO!
thick skin required: four skills you need now
Thank you
Savita Taylor
savita.taylor@gmail.com
www.taylormadedocs.com
NO!