The Importance of "Soft Skills" in Today's Workplace

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The Importance of "Soft Skills" in Today's Workplace


What are soft skills?

Soft skills are known as Interpersonal skills, and it is intangible and essential skills that are crucial in Today's workplace.   These skills refer to personal attributes and characteristics that enable individuals to interact effectively and harmoniously with others in the workplace. Soft skills encompass a broad range of abilities, including communication skills, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence.  

Importance of soft skills

In today's rapidly changing workplace, soft skills are becoming increasingly important as they allow individuals to work effectively with others, manage their emotions and adapt to new situations. The ability to communicate effectively, for example, is critical in building strong relationships with clients, customers, and colleagues. Similarly, the ability to work in teams is crucial in achieving organizational goals and objectives. Soft skills also help individuals to manage their emotions and work under pressure which is essential in a high-pressure environment. In today's competitive world, there is a trend for organizations to increasingly promote "Tacit Knowledge" and "Tacit Skills" in the workplace than technical knowledge to maintain their Market share as well as to add value to their Company profile. Hence, soft skills are most important when hiring because they can help to build a positive and productive work environment, improve communication and collaboration, and lead to better results/outcomes for the company. Employers should not overlook the importance of soft skills when hiring and should look for candidates with a good balance of technical and soft skills. And also, soft skills are personality traits that shape how we work, act, and interact with others. This is because these skills represent the various abilities and qualities that are often required for success in a particular role. 
A global survey conducted by LinkedIn revealed that the importance of soft skills in recruiting and HR is very high globally.


Source: LinkedIn

Top Soft Skills Required for the Workplace.

  1. Leadership - Directing efforts and delivering results.
  2. Character - Personal and professional conduct.
  3. Collaboration - Teamwork and connection.
  4. Communication - Information exchange and management.
  5. Creativity - New ideas and novel solutions.
  6. Critical thinking - Informed ideas and effective solutions.
  7. Metacognition - Self-understanding and personal management.
  8. Mindfulness - Inter-personal and self-awareness.
  9. Growth mindset - Improvement and aspiration.
  10. Fortitude - Constructive and inspirational.

According to the survey of American Succeeds (2021), Seven out of the Ten most in-demand skills across all job postings including communication, problem-solving, and planning are classified as "Soft Skills."

And also, according to the research conducted by Harward University, it has been shown that job success came based on the following two skills,

Well-developed soft skills      85%
Hard Skills                             15%

Signs that you required to improve your Soft Skills

Remember, soft skills are important for success in all areas of life. If you recognize any of these signs in yourself or within your organization, take action to improve your skills through training, coaching, or practice.

  • You have a low customer retention rate compared to others in your field.
  • You're constantly late for meetings or struggle to meet deadlines.
  • You fail to grow your professional network or avoid networking openings altogether.
  • You manage to land meetings with prospective guests, but infrequently due to the coming stage or close deals.

Bridging the Gap

Soft skills are essential for personal and professional success, and they can be developed and improved through deliberate practice and learning. Here are some steps to develop and train your soft skills. 

  1. Consider working with a mentor who can give feedback and model appropriate skills.
  2. Public speaking or joining a group similar to Toastmasters can be helpful if your focus is on perfecting communication.
  3. Get a trainer who can help you with high-priority skills quickly.
  4. Although it may feel deceptively simple, don't undermine by anxiety and negativity.

Changing your mindset so you're suitable to see the positive in situations can have a significant impact on how you interact with others.


Conclusion:

Soft skills are becoming increasingly important in today's workplace, and individuals who possess them are more likely to succeed and thrive in their careers. Therefore, it is essential for individuals to develop and cultivate their soft skills to remain competitive in the job market and achieve success in their careers.

Reference: 

Agarwal, S. (2022) 7 Reasons soft skills are important in the workplace, Future of Sourcing a SIG Publications. Available at: https://futureofsourcing.com/7-reasons-soft-skills-are-important-in-the-workplace (Accessed: March 12, 2023).


BARNARD, D.O.M. (2019) The Importance of Soft Skills, Vertualspeech. Vertualspeech. Available at: https://virtualspeech.com/blog/importance-soft-skills (Accessed: March 12, 2023).

Cole, L. et al. (2021) The High Demand for DURABLE SKILLS. Lawrence Street, Suite 200 Denver, America Succeeds, pp. 3–33. 

Dyson, E. (no date) SOFT SKILLS IN THE WORKPLACE: WHY THEY MATTER AND HOW TO HIRE FOR THEM. Peoplescout. Available at:https://www.peoplescout.com/insights/soft-skills-in-the-workplace/ (Accessed: March 12, 2023).


Inglethorpe, R. (2022) Why hiring for soft skills is the future of recruitment. Clevry. Available at: https://www.clevry.com/en/blog/why-hiring-for-soft-skills-is-the-future-of-recruitment/(Accessed: March 12, 2023).







Positive thinker & Team player.

Comments

  1. Iresha UdariMarch 18, 2023 at 9:24 PM

    An interesting article about soft skills. It is true that soft skills are important for individuals to work sufficiently and control to their emotions according to certain situations. Good Job!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Arjuna kangara March 19, 2023 at 5:27 AM

    Thats a very interesting article and ur explain very clear for the soft skills.

    ReplyDelete
  3. W.J. Chrishan Fernando.March 19, 2023 at 6:32 AM

    Soft skills are becoming increasingly important in today's job market, and people who possess them are more likely to succeed and advance in their careers. The human capital of a country should be equipped with these. Well done !

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dhanushka Jayanath March 19, 2023 at 9:06 AM

    An ideal article, For people to succeed in their jobs and remain competitive in the job market, it is imperative that they develop and cultivate their soft skills.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anushka DarshanaMarch 19, 2023 at 9:54 AM

    Intangible interpersonal skills (soft skills) include communication skills, teamwork, leadership, problem solving, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence and those are subjective and its characteristic to individual.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sanduni KarunanayakeMarch 19, 2023 at 9:55 AM

    Another interesting article. You have mentioned here there is a trend for Tacit knowledge and skills. Tacit knowledge is somthing like knowledge gained through living experience in personal or professional development. It's subjective, infomal and difficult to share.In workplace this type of knowledge is valuable for members.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tharanga WanigasundaraApril 20, 2023 at 9:29 AM

      Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this comment.

      Delete
  7. Tharanga JayasundaraMarch 31, 2023 at 4:14 AM

    Good execution, but Compared to hard skill, we can generate an exceptional debit when preparing the article, when reading the content, and Soft skills, as defined by Hewitt Sean (2008), are "non-technical, intangible, personality-specific qualities" that determine a person's aptitude for acting as a "leader, listener, negotiator, or conflict mediator." Instead of information or technical ability, soft skills are the characteristics and aptitudes of attitude and behavior (Tobin, 2006). Excellent effort!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tharanga WanigasundaraApril 20, 2023 at 9:29 AM

      Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this comment. Really appreciate.

      Delete
  8. George BertusApril 4, 2023 at 5:06 PM

    Interesting post. Having strong soft skills can also enhance an individual's career prospects and open up new opportunities for growth and advancement. In today's rapidly changing job market, soft skills are becoming increasingly important as employers seek out candidates who can adapt to new situations and work effectively with diverse groups of people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tharanga WanigasundaraApril 20, 2023 at 9:30 AM

      Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this comment.

      Delete
  9. Anton PereraApril 20, 2023 at 3:16 AM

    Soft skills are crucial for people in every industry or discipline because they promote successful problem-solving, communication, and teamwork. People and organizations with soft skills can obtain a competitive advantage in today's fiercely competitive and continuously changing business world. The following difficulties can be resolved by applying soft skills: Team work/Leadership & change management etc. Good Job.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nuwan SampathApril 20, 2023 at 6:24 AM

    ideal article,
    Soft skills in the workplace allow organizations to effectively and efficiently use their technical skills and knowledge without being hampered by interpersonal issues, infighting and poor public and market perceptions. Recruiting for the right blend of soft skills takes a measured and strategic approach. interesting post.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Kalani Wijewardhane (CBA/MAAT/Dip.in Comp. Acc)April 21, 2023 at 10:05 PM

    Great article! Soft skills are crucial in today's workplace, and it's important for individuals to develop and improve them through deliberate practice and learning. Employers should prioritize soft skills when hiring candidates to build a positive and productive work environment.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Asanka DevagiriApril 22, 2023 at 12:00 AM

    Soft skills in the workplace enable businesses to use their technical talents and expertise successfully and efficiently without being inhibited by interpersonal issues, infighting, and negative public and market impressions. Well done Tharanga !

    ReplyDelete

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