“Soft skills are the traits and abilities of attitude and behaviour rather than of knowledge or technical aptitude” – Tobin
Soft skills describe are important for successful companies and employees. Unfortunately, many people and companies don’t see the value in investing in soft skills training. This is usually due to misconceptions about why soft skills is important. Soft skills are often underrated and misunderstood. Mostly in a business environment that thrives on collaboration, soft skills are of primary importance – at least on par with hard skills. While there are few people are naturally more gifted in some soft skill areas than others, effective training can help everyone improve skills like leadership, communication, resilience, etc. Hard skill or Technical skill proficiency is necessary but insufficient in today’s business environment. Soft skills enable a worthy cycle of collaboration, growth and performance that happens when team members trust each other, communicate effectively and are inspired to perform their best.
As a HR professional & L&D Professional, I’ve heard number of times someone has remarked that they aren’t very good at conversations: “I know I could listen better… but…” or “I’m not great at letting people talk without interrupting.”
Soft skills are mostly undervalued and overlooked, so there must be a conscious effort to build on them. They must go hand in hand and you must find the right balance between the two to find what I like to call ‘hybrid skills’.
Here are few reasons why soft skills should matter to your organization.
There are several myths about soft skills among many people. It is time to bust the myths with truths. We should look at the same.
1. People associate soft skills with English speaking skills. It is a myth. The fact is that soft skills have no connection with any specific language. Soft skills deal with how you speak but not in which language you are speaking.
2. People often use communication skills as soft skills. It is another myth. The truth is that the communication skills deal with speaking and writing skills and how effectively one is good at. In fact, communication skills are one of the soft skills. Soft skills are broader in nature and much beyond communication skills. Soft skills focus on how one speaks. For instance, ‘don’t smoke’ is what comes under normal communication. However, if you say, ‘thanks for not smoking’ it demonstrates soft skills. In a nut shell, soft skills emphasize on how one speaks pleasingly and politely.
3. People with soft skills can succeed anywhere and everywhere. It is another myth. With soft skills people can survive but not prosper. Here is the thin line that separates survival and success. That fact is that people, by blending soft skills with hard skills, can succeed in any sphere. Hard skills mean the core skills. These are also known as technical skills and domain skills. In the corporate world, a few people think just because they are good at soft skills they can achieve anything and everything. Without having technical expertise and command no professional will succeed at the workplace. Therefore, both soft and hard skills are essential for people to excel professionally.
4. People with soft skills are soft in nature. It is a myth again. The truth is that people with soft skills are assertive in nature. They are neither submissive nor aggressive. They protect their rights without offending the rights of others. They know the art of saying ‘no’ firmly but politely.
5. Soft skills are secondary/nice-to-have rather than primary/essential.
Soft skills enhance your success rate in all walks of your life – be in personal, professional and social life. It is one of the integral parts of leadership. As Daniel Goleman emphasized on emotional intelligence for effective leadership, the soft skills also make an individual as a successful and effective leader.
To sum up, soft skills are the skills and abilities about personality, attitude and behavior. When people demonstrate right personality, positive attitude and flexible behavior we can say that they possess soft skills.
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