Curiosity Unbounded

Hard facts on soft skills — Namrata Kala

Apr 9, 2024

Namrata Kala, MIT professor, discusses soft skills with MIT President Sally Kornbluth. They cover communication skills and productivity, building relationships for climate work, and MIT's climate efforts.

25:02

Creator website

Episode guests

Sally Kornbluth

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Soft skills training boosts individual and coworker productivity in large factories.

Fostering soft skills leads to positive spillover effects and managerial benefits in the workplace.

Deep dives

The Importance of Soft Skills in Workplace Productivity

Soft skills such as problem-solving, communication, and collaborative teamwork are crucial for workplace productivity. Numbrada Kala's research on soft skills in large factories in India showcased the value of these skills over technical expertise. Through randomized training programs among workers, the study revealed that soft skills training not only benefits individuals but also positively impacts their coworkers' productivity, emphasizing the significance of these skills.

Introduction

3min

Soft Skills Training Impact & Implementation

7min

Exploring the Impact of Delegating Decision-Making Power in Organizations

2min

Navigating Soft Skills and Climate Initiatives in Developmental Economics

11min

Conversations on Climbing, Gardening, and Skiing

3min

Namrata Kala is an associate professor in applied economics at the MIT Sloan School of Management. She studies the value of employee training and incentives, how communities adapt to environmental change and regulation, and the returns on environmental technology investment. Here, Namrata speaks with MIT President Sally Kornbluth about the importance of soft skills training, and the benefits of being a straight shooter.

Links:

Timestamps: