Lika Chophy addresses the gathering during the workshop on “Soft Skills: The Key to Professional and Personal Growth” at the college conference hall on March 16.
Chümoukedima, March 16 (MExN): The Department of Education, Patkai Christian College (Autonomous) organised a workshop on “Soft Skills: The Key to Professional and Personal Growth” at the college conference hall on March 16.
The session aimed to equip students with essential interpersonal and professional skills required for career development.
Lika Chophy, programme coordinator at YouthNet, attended the programme as the resource person. The event was chaired by Neilevono Vupru, who also delivered the invocation.
During the workshop, Chophy spoke on career development and shared insights from her personal academic and professional journey. Recounting her decision to pursue English studies, she emphasised that the first step in exploring career opportunities is self-assessment, where individuals evaluate their interests, abilities and values.
According to her, career choices play a crucial role in shaping how people spend most of their “awake hours”, influencing both personal satisfaction and long-term financial stability.
She noted that many individuals often choose careers under the influence of external factors such as television, the internet, friends, parents and life experiences.
Sharing her professional background, Chophy said she has been working with YouthNet for the past three years, where she actively engages in youth development and career guidance initiatives.
Highlighting the importance of soft skills in professional success, she remarked that employers often prioritise attitude over aptitude.
She explained that soft skills include abilities such as communication, time management, problem-solving and teamwork, all of which are vital for workplace effectiveness and personal growth.
Speaking on communication skills, Chophy pointed out that communication can be both verbal, involving words and language, and non-verbal, which includes body language, facial expressions and tone of voice. She observed that while only about 10 per cent of conflicts arise from differences in opinion, nearly 90 per cent often result from the wrong tone of voice.
Chophy also introduced the Seven Cs of communication — clarity, conciseness, concreteness, correctness, consideration, completeness and courtesy. She emphasised the need to understand the purpose of communication, whether it is to inform, clarify, promote ideas, build relationships or evaluate services.
The session also addressed the importance of time management, with Chophy encouraging students to use their time wisely and remain mindful of the hours spent on social media. She noted that poor time management can negatively affect productivity and academic performance.
In addition, she stressed the significance of problem-solving skills, teamwork and the dignity of labour, urging students not to look down on any form of work and to approach every task with dedication and respect.
In her concluding remarks, Chophy encouraged students to continuously improve their abilities by investing in self-development, practising regularly, seeking mentors, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, remaining open to feedback and maintaining a lifelong commitment to learning and exploration.
The workshop concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, during which students actively engaged with the resource person and sought guidance on various aspects of career planning and skill development.
