The demand for human skills (or soft skills) has never been higher. A new study from Deloitte reveals that most employees seek more corporate learning and development opportunities. The findings highlight that 87% of workers consider human skills—such as adaptability, leadership, and communication—essential for advancing their careers.
However, despite the growing need for these qualities, only about half of workers feel their employers truly prioritize them. This gap between demand and development could cost companies in the long run, as nearly all respondents (95%) view these human skills as timeless and indispensable.
Suppose your organization lacks soft skills training and development, and you're looking to bridge this gap. Developing soft skills can be an empowering, self-driven journey that yields long-term professional rewards. In this article, we’ll delve into why soft skills are essential, how to cultivate them effectively, and actionable strategies to ensure they’re not just part of your toolkit but are also recognized as assets in your workplace.
Understanding Soft Skills
Employers assess employees' soft skills to anticipate how effectively they will connect and collaborate with others. Most recruiters actively look for these interpersonal abilities during job interviews, and many organizations invest in programs to develop soft skills, fostering a culture of teamwork and clear communication. The stronger the soft skills within a team or company, the smoother and more harmonious the work environment.
So, what exactly are soft skills? These are non-technical abilities essential to workplace interactions. Examples include communication, decision-making, and empathy. These skills enable people to engage and relate well with others, becoming increasingly valuable in today’s work settings.
Why are soft skills so necessary? We engage with colleagues daily on a spectrum of interactions, from straightforward task requests (e.g., "Please complete this form by Wednesday") to more challenging conversations, like addressing performance issues or discussing compensation. While the outcomes of such interactions can be unpredictable, employees with well-developed soft skills are more likely to navigate them successfully and achieve positive outcomes.
Here are a few ways soft skills contribute to a positive work environment:
● Build trust and rapport
● Reduce conflict and misunderstandings
● Promote creativity and innovation
Why Soft Skills Matter
Soft skills are critical in everyday workplace interactions, whether in routine tasks or complex conversations, like providing constructive feedback or navigating salary negotiations. While outcomes of these interactions are hard to predict, developing soft, solid skills can significantly increase the likelihood of favorable resolutions.
Building Organizational Soft Skills
Soft skills combine innate qualities with learned behaviors, meaning organizations can actively cultivate them. Leading companies prioritize soft skills by assessing team strengths and designing targeted training programs. For example, they might offer leadership training for emerging leaders, communication workshops for all employees, or decision-making sessions as an opt-in choice.
Implementing soft skills training requires commitment and input from leadership and management to ensure relevance and buy-in. Suppose your company doesn’t have the resources or funds to implement soft skills training courses. If your organization lacks personal development opportunities, you can still take proactive steps to advance your career. Here are several effective strategies:
Set Clear Goals and Self-Assess: Identify which soft skills benefit your career most. Consider areas like communication, emotional intelligence, adaptability, building credibility or leadership, and honestly assess where you currently stand.
Leverage Free and Low-Cost Resources: There are countless online resources for soft skills training, many of which are free or budget-friendly. Platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and Udemy offer courses on communication skills and leadership training.
Practice on the Job: Even without formal training, you can actively work on your soft skills during daily tasks. Seek opportunities to lead small projects, volunteer for team presentations, or improve communication by actively listening and asking for feedback.
Seek Mentorship: Mentors can provide invaluable guidance on soft skills. Identify someone whose communication style, leadership approach, or adaptability you admire, and ask for advice or feedback. Consider building an informal mentorship relationship if there isn’t a formal mentorship program.
Join Professional Networks and Groups: Many industry groups and networking associations host workshops, events, and webinars on skill development. Being active in these spaces helps you practice communication and networking and provides exposure to new perspectives and practices.
Start a Learning Group: Encourage a few coworkers to join a self-led group focused on developing soft skills. You could choose a book on leadership, listen to a podcast on emotional intelligence, or even take an online course as a group. This creates accountability and a space for discussion, helping reinforce what you learn.
Read and Listen: Books, podcasts, and articles on emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and communication offer practical insights that you can apply immediately in your work.
Track Your Progress: Keep a journal of your progress as you work on these skills. Note specific instances where you successfully applied a new skill or learned from a challenge. This will reinforce your development and provide concrete examples to demonstrate your growth when new opportunities arise.
Seek Feedback Regularly: Ask for feedback from peers, managers, and clients. Constructive feedback can highlight areas for improvement and validate your efforts, helping you fine-tune your approach to skill development.
Mastering Active Listening and Empathy
Active listening goes beyond hearing words; it requires full engagement with both the spoken and unspoken messages others convey. This attentiveness involves picking up on non-verbal cues like body language and tone, often revealing the emotional nuances behind someone’s words. Practicing this in everyday interactions allows you to fully understand your colleagues' perspectives before forming a response. When you actively listen, you show empathy by genuinely caring for your colleagues' thoughts and feelings. This approach validates their experiences and fosters a supportive, collaborative environment. Offering your full attention, making eye contact, and responding thoughtfully can build trust and show that you value their input. By consciously setting aside distractions, avoiding interruptions, and focusing on understanding, you reinforce respect and mutual understanding within your team.
This practice profoundly impacts workplace dynamics, improving communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution. People who feel genuinely heard are likelier to share ideas openly, leading to more productive problem-solving and reducing misunderstandings that might otherwise escalate. Creating a culture where empathy and respect are prioritized enhances overall team morale, job satisfaction, and productivity. Active listening and empathy lay the groundwork for a positive, high-performing workplace.
Conclusion
By committing to these steps, you’ll build a strong foundation of human skills that will support your growth and resilience, regardless of your organization’s training budget.
Building a solid soft skills framework takes time and a thoughtful approach. Setting clear objectives and a phased training plan, backed by diverse, engaging learning methods, ensures that employees gain these essential skills and integrate them into their daily interactions, creating a more harmonious and productive workplace.
Andres Lares is the Managing Partner at SNI, where he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the global training and consulting firm. He previously served the role of Chief Innovation Officer until 2017. His multi-disciplinary and lingual skills broaden SNI’s ability to effectively teach and consult in a wide range of industries, languages, and cultures. Andres’ expertise is in deal coaching live negotiations, and has focused on sports clients such as the San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns, Milwaukee Brewers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Brooklyn Nets. He also works in several capacities with clients across a wide range of industries – from developing online content to facilitating programs in Real Estate (Lennar), Advisory (PWC, Grant Thornton), Media (ESPN, Roku, Hearst), Banking (M&T Bank), Aerospace (Boeing, Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney), Insurance (Great American Insurance), and Pharmaceutical (Novo Nordisk, Roche), to name a few. Andres has led the development of SNI’s award-winning interactive online negotiation training, mobile applications, and virtual reality based applications, and in doing so has multiple patents pending. Andres co-authored Persuade: The 4-Step Process to Influence People and Decisions, which was published by Wiley on July 7th, 2021 and instantly became the #1 new release in Amazon’s Education category as well as a best-seller in Porchlight’s business book list.
