As the machines rise, workplaces, will always need people. (After all, someone must program and maintain the machines). Human relationships will always be vertical, horizontal, and diagonal in an organisation, requiring a myriad of interpersonal skills, communication skills, emotional intelligence, social intelligence, leadership abilities, critical thinking and problem solving. We will always need “soft skills”.
Unlike hard skills – and by hard skills we tend to mean technical skills – soft skills never become obsolete. Hard to define, hard to demonstrate, hard to measure … and hard to learn? What are soft skills anyway … they sound quite hard, don’t you agree?
Let’s look at five reasons why soft skills are so darn hard, and by implication, why we need them more than ever.
Reason 1: they’re complex and subjective.
One of the primary reasons soft skills are hard is their inherent complexity and subjectivity. Unlike hard skills that are concrete and measurable, soft skills involve intangible qualities and interpersonal dynamics that vary from person to person and situation to situation. For example, effective communication entails not only articulating thoughts clearly but also active listening, employing diverse questioning techniques, the ability to pick up on nonverbal cues, and understanding diverse perspectives.
Reason 2: you’ve got to keep working on them.
Like hard skills, if you don’t use them, you lose them. Our world is changing with lightning-fast technology advances and shifting cultural norms. Our soft skills require ongoing practice and refinement to adapt to new environments, work with diverse teams, and navigate cultural differences. This dynamic nature demands a commitment to personal growth and a willingness to embrace change, which can be uncomfortable and demanding.
Reason 3: They require you to step outside your comfort zone.
Soft skills often require a high level of emotional intelligence and self-awareness, which can be difficult to develop. Emotional intelligence encompasses understanding and managing one’s emotions and being attuned to the emotions of others. Similarly, self-awareness involves recognising one’s strengths, weaknesses, and biases. Both emotional intelligence and self-awareness require introspection, empathy, and at least some curiosity about human behavior. Achieving mastery in these areas demands personal reflection, feedback, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.
Reason 4: Contextual nuances and cultural sensitivity.
Soft skills also entail navigating contextual nuances and cultural sensitivity. Interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds requires an understanding of cultural norms, values, and communication styles. What might be considered acceptable in one culture could be inappropriate in another. These subtleties add complexity to developing effective soft skills, as it necessitates a keen awareness of cultural differences and the ability to adapt one’s behavior accordingly.
Reason 5: Ambiguity and ambivalence.
Real-life situations rarely come with clear-cut answers or solutions. Effective problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict resolution demand the ability to tolerate ambiguity and make tough decisions in uncertain circumstances. This requires critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to weigh multiple perspectives. Navigating through ambiguity is a challenging task that requires practice and experience.
Soft skills are hard precisely because they require mastering complex, subjective, and ever-evolving qualities. Developing and honing these skills demand continuous learning, adaptability, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, cultural sensitivity, and a willingness to embrace ambiguity. While soft skills may present challenges, they are essential for personal and professional growth, as they empower individuals to collaborate effectively, build strong relationships, and thrive in diverse environments. By recognizing the difficulty and investing time and effort into developing these skills, we can unlock the secrets to interpersonal success and enhance our overall quality of life.
*Social intelligence is the capacity to know yourself, and know others, and what drives actions. At work, it’s a set of interpersonal competencies (people skills – soft skills!) that build trust and respect and inspire others to thrive at work. Social intelligence is a critical skill set for leaders from the shop floor to the C-suite. Find out how we can help you to build and master this powerful leadership skill here.
Photo by Mikael Blomkvist: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-and-a-woman-working-at-a-construction-site-8961070/
