Why Do Soft Skills Matter?

When you write a job description for an employment ad, you probably fill the copy with a list of skills you want potential candidates to bring to the table. This list includes two types of skills: the technical skills required to do the job and the soft skills required to be successful in the job (and in life).

What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills are attributes that will enable you to interact with other people, including coworkers and customers, more effectively and seamlessly. Put simply, soft skills are people skills. And let’s face it, if we want to succeed, at work and in life, we have to be able to get along with other people.

Soft Skills Should be Included in Employee Training

Despite the importance of soft skills, not all employers include these topics in their employee training – but they should. The good news is that soft skills can be taught – and improved over time. The bottom line is that soft skills aren’t optional – they’re essential for employees, managers, supervisors, and executive leaders. In other words, they’re essential for everyone. Soft skills separate average employees from high-performing employees.

Here are some of the most valuable soft skills your employees should have:

Communication Skills

Communication skills aren’t just important at work – they’re important all day, every day. But remember, this goes beyond just being able to concisely speak your mind (or convey your message in writing). An excellent communicator is also skilled at listening and using appropriate body language. Communication skills are the building blocks to strong relationships with co-workers, supervisors, and customers.

Time Management

Can you think of any job that doesn’t require some level of time management? You probably can’t. Your employees need to know how to prioritize tasks and how to recognize how long is an appropriate amount of time to spend on each task. You can (and should) include exercises in your employee training to help your employees develop time management skills.

Conflict Resolution

If more than one person is involved in a project, some degree of conflict is inevitable. Conflict is common in the workplace – and it can be healthy. The better your employees are at working through these conflicts, the more likely it is that they’ll be able to transform conflict into productive opportunities for growth.

Problem Solving

Problems are also inevitable. It’s how you react to unexpected problems that matters most. When something goes wrong, you can sit around and complain and blame someone else or you can take action. The best employees are usually the ones who the ability to think on their feet and creatively solve problems.

Adaptability

Times change, people change, and things don’t always go as planned. We all know this. But again, it’s how you react to change that will set you apart from the rest. If you’re able to grow with your company, adjust to the changes, and maintain a positive attitude, you’ll go far.

Leadership

Every organization needs people to step up and take on leadership roles. But not everyone is a natural-born leader so training should focus on confidence, motivation, and persuasive communication. Managers are always looking for employees with leadership potential because those workers will one day be taking over the reins and building on the company’s legacy.