Soft skills, also known as interpersonal or people skills, have become extremely valuable in the workplace in the 21st century. A World Economic Forum report states that “The top skills and skill groups which employers see as rising in prominence in the lead up to 2025 include groups such as critical thinking and analysis as well as problem-solving, and skills in self-management such as active learning, resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility.”
Soft skills usually come naturally to some, however, others may have problems developing them. Employers look for these skills to build an efficient workforce that has a creative mindset and that can communicate effectively, act virtuously and work as a team. Since people who are curious and like to be creative as well as problem-solving become natural entrepreneurs and leaders who help the organization in achieving its goal.
Speaking on this, Peggy Klaus – communication and leadership coach, said that soft skills get little respect but they will make or break your career. However, there has been an increase in the soft skills gap in the workforce. According to a recent LinkedIn study of recruiters, 59% of them expressed that soft skills are difficult to find in the employees.
While hard skills or technical skills are usually acquired through school learning, training, or previous experience, soft skills are more difficult to acquire. A person is required to work on several soft skills in real-life circumstances to develop them over time. Speaking on the report – “The enterprise guide to closing the skills gap” by IBM, Amy Wright, IBM managing director for talent, said to Bloomberg, “Reskilling for technical skills is typically driven by structured education with a defined objective with a clear start and end. Building behavioral skills takes more time and are more complex.”
Here are few soft skills that one must consider to stay relevant in this emerging and uncertain era:
Communication – The act of expressing and sharing knowledge, ideas, feelings, information, etc through various verbal and non-verbal means is referred to as communication. Effective communication at the workplace is considered to be a key skill of an employee since it helps the employee to connect well with colleagues, superiors, and subordinates. Feedback, directions, and information at the workplace if communicated effectively and confidently can lead to an improvement in the overall performance of the organization.
Leadership – Leadership is the ability of an individual to take initiatives, lead individuals or teams, undertake projects, and encourage others to do the same. It has nothing to do with a job position or role, rather it is a personal skill that is highly in demand in the market. It also involves other sub-skills such as building trust, aspiring and motivating others, along with developing coordination.
Adaptability and TeamWork – Adaptability at the workplace means flexibility in handling change. Employers are looking for candidates that can adapt to the rapidly changing technology. Behaviors such as open-mindedness, pro-activeness and positive mindedness along with the ability to collaborate, coordinate, influence, and support the team lead to the creation of a more valuable employee.
Problem Solving – The problem-solving skill, as stated in the ‘Future of Jobs’ report by the World Economic Forum, 2020, is one of the skills ‘which employers see as rising in prominence in the lead up to 2025.’ The ability to solve problems is one of the most important skills an employee can possess in this era. It is a common skill present in almost all world leaders and entrepreneurs. Effective problem solving and decision making is essential to a person’s success.
Creativity – Creative and critical thinking lead to the opening of new opportunities for both the individual and the organization. Creative people are more likely to interact and communicate better as they are relatively more open to learning and experimenting. This particular skill, like other soft skills, can be acquired through practice and implementation.
Time management, interpersonal skills like diplomacy, and consulting are also important skills that one must take into account along with the above-mentioned skills. It is said that a technical skill may help a person get a job but these soft skills will help them retain their job.
Arya has been a part of the Content & Research Team at Hrnxt.com. She is a keen observer of economic developments, emerging businesses, people in business and keeps a tab on latest happenings in the business environment.