SOFT SKILLS: THE CONCEPT THAT IS REVOLUTIONISING PROFESSIONAL PROFILES
Companies are shifting the focus more and more often on soft skills, the catch-all term for social and emotional intelligence in the workplace. Without them, a company won’t function, regardless of how many qualified employees it has among its ranks.
In the wake of the global pandemic and the ensuing Great Shift of priorities in the workforce, it has become clear that soft skills are essential for businesses, both for the massive increase in productivity that they guarantee, and for the new standard in workplace culture, that leaves behind stiff conventions in favour of inclusive, kinder work environments.
For these reasons, businesses are increasingly turning to soft skills training to complement their employees and managers’ skillset.
Table of Contents:
- What are soft skills and why are they so important?
- The 7 Most Important Soft Skills in the Workplace
- The 6 Business Soft Skills Every Leader Needs
- Soft skills are key to good management and business success
What are soft skills and why are they so important?
We’re living in the most competitive labour market in human history, where more candidates than ever are qualified for the job, and these qualifications are constantly becoming obsolete thanks to technological advances like artificial intelligence.
Because of this, software proficiency takes second place; soft skills in the workplace are now the greatest, most valuable asset in the long term. Soft skills are those skills that help workers take daily interpersonal choices, attune to the company environment and culture, harmonize with their peers and, ultimately, perform outstandingly. Because of this, soft skills courses are critical to achieve maximum potential.
The 7 Most Important Soft Skills in the Workplace
Interpersonal skills continue to rank the highest among demanded soft skills, as up to 86% of employees report bad communication as the main cause of inefficiency.
Adaptability remains a crucial soft skill in an increasingly technological workplace, where employees will need resilience and a growth mindset to constantly update their software competence.
Persistence is now the trend for the companies that used to demand creative candidates, as studies have shown that creativity is often a direct consequence of persistence. It is not the muses who bring about “eureka” moments; insistence and a solid work ethic are the real key to solving problems in new ways.
Critical thinking will see a sharp spike in demand as a soft skill, as automation and artificial intelligence need to be complemented by complex, human strategies and an ability to contextualize.
Flexibility becomes increasingly important in a workforce that no longer sticks to the same job for life; positions and titles are now more fluid, as market needs rapidly shift.
Time management and the ability to prioritize tasks is desired, too, as specialization and remote work require individual proactiveness in order to meet deadlines.
Additionally, leadership qualities are not just for leaders: skills like independent decision-making and autonomy are vital regardless of your place in a company.
The 6 Business Soft Skills Every Leader Needs
Emotional intelligence is a core skill, as a lack of self-awareness and awareness of others’ perspectives blocks the path towards rational thinking and foresight.
Decision making is at the base of all leadership soft skills courses, precisely because it combines confidence and problem-solving, which are integral when leading a team towards sucess.
Initiative is a crucial soft skill in management, but not only for managers; encouraging initiative and leading by example helps teams leave their comfort zones and think out of the box, helping their business become more competitive.
Compassion is more relevant than ever for leaders, in the middle of a global shift of priorities where employees’ emotional needs are a significant factor in their choice of workplace.
Strategic thinking is strongly linked to career development and performance, as it increases effectiveness by taking into account the full context of a business situation. Better awareness and strategy leads to better decisions, more beneficial in the long run.
Coaching is the newest of leadership skills demanded from soft skills training, as effective coaching helps leaders create a collaborative environment, supporting and influencing their peers to feel involved and motivated.
Soft skills are key to good management and business success
As the job market changes and businesses’ priorities change with it, traditional ways to measure talent, like degrees and diplomas, take second place to soft skills. Companies that don’t take this shift into account might see members of their organization move on to greener pastures.
Soft skills training is beneficial throughout all the levels where a business has to excel in order to be successful: it’s a top priority for prospective and current talent, it stimulates employee growth and advancement, and it maximizes productivity and accomplishments at both personal and enterprise levels.
Managers and employees’ soft skills training has to stay relevant, now more than ever. Statistics show that businesses benefit greatly from attention to soft skills, and managers will need to adapt to the new global dynamic and stay current with tools like soft skill courses in order to attract new talent and keep their team happy.
If you don’t want to be left behind, contact us today and take the opportunity to train your employees in soft skills.
