In 1960s a term originated known as “soft skills”. U.S. Army in those days realized that social skills were required to lead and motivate. The term was slowly adopted by corporate world. Soft skills can be defined as intangible personal attributes which are crucial for building, managing and navigating social situations and human interactions.
Indian education system often rewards and recognizes students with high scores in STEM [Science, Technology, English, Math] whereas soft skills do not get any recognition at school level. However, it has been observed that in the long run people with better understanding of soft skills do better in both professional and personal space. You can’t entirely separate your job performance from who you are outside of work, and you shouldn’t have to. Showing up with human-ness is the reason we haven’t all been replaced by robots yet. There are non-job-specific- skills you need to grow in your career.
But the number of soft skills is infinite, so which ones matter most?
| Organization | Leadership | Team work | Emotional intelligence |
| Time management | Mentorship | Collaboration | Stress management |
| Goal setting | Innovation | Result oriented | Positivity |
| Accountability | Initiative | Communication | Cultural intelligence |
| Delegation | Growth mindset | Adaptability | Empathy |
| Reliability | Persistence | Acceptance | Creativity |
| Problem solving | Active listening | Open mindedness | Willingness to learn |
| Planning | Public speaking | Self-motivation | Critical thinking |
| Attention to detail | Resourcefulness | Helpfulness | Patience |
| Responsiveness | Curiosity | Conflict resolution | Critical thinking |
| Transparency | Confidence | ||
| Professionalism | Integrity | ||
| Etiquette | Work ethic | ||
| Decision making | |||
| Credibility |
Demand for Soft Skills in the Market
Soft skills are not only beneficial for individual performance and satisfaction but also employability and career advancement. According to a LinkedIn survey, 92% of hiring managers say that soft skills are equally or more important than hard skills and 89%say that bad hires typically lack soft skills. Moreover, a World Economic Forum report predicted that in the current job market, very soon the most in-demand skills in the work place will be
- Analytical thinking
- Innovation
- Problem solving
- Active learning
- Creativity
- Leadership
- Emotional intelligence
Challenges of Developing Soft Skills
Soft skills can be more difficult to define and evaluate than hard skills since they are influenced by personality, values, culture and context. To develop these skills a continuous and holistic approach is required. This includes self-awareness which requires which involves understanding your strengths and weaknesses, emotions and motivations. Additionally seeking and receiving constructive feedback from others is key to improving performance and relationships. Learning new knowledge, skills and experiences is also important. Finally, applying soft skills in various situations and scenarios will help you observe the results and impacts.
How to Work on your Soft Skills
Besides loads of content available in form of books both online and offline. Mentoring and coaching are quite viable options as interacting with trained professional either in person or virtually can really help grow insights. Expert mentors with their knowledge and experience provide a structured approach to help identify goals, assess current situations and design plan of action. They also monitor progress, overcome barriers and help in up skilling through continuous training programs.
Benefits of Soft Skills in Work Place
Soft skills enhance career prospects, creating mutually benefit connections. Overall job performance is enhanced by connecting positively with others. They help to manage emotions and cope with challenges by listening actively, expressing ideas clearly and engaging in meaningful conversations. Clear and persuasive communication with colleagues, clients and managers improves team work by actively participating, cooperating, resolving conflicts and building rapport.
In conclusion, soft skills are important for success in both work and life. They help improve communication, relationships and job performance. By being self-aware, seeking feedback and learning from others, we can develop these skills. Mastering soft skills is key to growing and advancing in any career.
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