Soft-skills - the ever-challenging art of “getting along at work”
The workplace of today can be daunting. It’s time, therefore, to look at how we work rather than fixating on doing the work. And, says Andrew Dowsett, let’s revisit the original intentions behind the term ‘soft skills’
Soft-skills - the ever-challenging art of “getting along at work”
The workplace of today can be daunting. It’s time, therefore, to look at how we work rather than fixating on doing the work. And, says Andrew Dowsett, let’s revisit the original intentions behind the term ‘soft skills’
Navigating the nuances of the modern workplace is daunting. This is due in part to the rapid pace of change in technical knowledge or artisanal skills, but it’s also influenced by the ever-evolving social skills needed to interact successfully at work.
Interestingly, these “soft skills” routinely form a practical cornerstone of “getting along at work” but are often overlooked in formal education or work-place training.
For a person who makes his living through effective communication and engagement I am perplexed.
Should we not be teaching how-to-work, ahead of doing-work to ensure our people and businesses thrive? Afterall the workplace is by its very definition a collection of humans all supposedly working towards the same goal. Yet, we are so often ill-equipped to deal with those we interact with daily.
When you throw in hybrid working, regional differences, international time zones and - as is often the case these days a reluctance to just talk – is it any wonder?
If these are considered soft skills, why are they so highly prized and often the hardest to master?
It would appear, as is often the case with populist evolution of language and “in-phrases”, the term soft skill has been co-opted from its original meaning. Historically it was not specifically stated to mean an easy skill but rather to draw distinction of a physical from a non-physical one.
Wikipedia suggests the term "soft skills" was first used by the U.S. Army in the late 1960s to reference “any skill that does not employ the use of machinery”.
This sought to recognise the social skills necessary to lead groups, motivate soldiers, win wars and, crucially, to identify the clear difference between – for example - being able to fire a field gun or motivate troops to charge a machine-gun emplacement.
This also highlights the danger in use of the term soft skills if used incorrectly to suggest easy or weak skill sets.
I spoke with one workplace wellbeing insider who strongly suggested a rebrand was in order and that these types of skills should be referenced as imperative or indispensable to remove any association with “soft and squidgy” connotations.
A further search of the internet reveals an abundance of candidates for the top soft skills. To bring clarity where there is ambiguity, I would suggest the following are both the most important and arguably the harder to learn.
“To truly teach and learn such (soft) skills nothing beats immersion. Seeing good examples in action, those values being lived by colleagues, and encouraging a working environment where everyone can flourish is the key to organisational and commercial success.”
1) Communication: Effective communication is vital for building strong relationships with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. It involves not only conveying messages clearly but also understanding others’ needs and responding to feedback. Indeed, active listening is probably the most nuanced, least used and hardest skill to master of all. (Difficulty 8/10)
2) Teamwork: By its nature, collaborative teamwork in a nurturing work environment encourages cooperation, collective problem-solving, conflict resolution and encourages leadership behaviours. However, it is rarely formalised in the workplace. Thankfully we are exposed to teamworking in many walks of life (sports/marriage to name just two) so being good at it should come easier simply by mass exposure. Beware, however, the toxic work environment which may talk a good teamwork game but ultimately foster individualism over collective success. (Difficulty 6/10)
3) Adaptability: In our rapidly changing world adaptability is critical. Employees who can navigate dynamic environments, embrace change, and learn new skills fast are highly valued. Adaptability ensures resilience and the ability to thrive as the pace of change accelerates. It’s here I will suggest Gen Z has the advantage – born into a world of rapid change they are highly suited to lean-in to emerging trends and, as digital natives, are perhaps more suited to personify an adaptable approach to emerging technology. (Difficulty for Gen X and Boomers – 7+/10 for Gen Z 6/10)
4) Problem-Solving: The ability to analyse challenges, think critically, and find innovative solutions is indispensable. This skill is highly prized in the military and equally so in civilian organisations. A proven ability to think then act to achieve a goal despite potential problems is most sought after yet often hard to learn. Key to progress here is to consistently challenge the status-quo and, importantly, create a working environment where such behaviour is celebrated (Difficulty 7/10)
5) Presentation Skills: In my opinion, ranking second only to self-awareness (below) as the most useful soft skill. Certainly, it has a foot in the communication camp but key here is the ability to share knowledge credibly. Whether a formal presentation or an informal team meeting, the ability to convey information clearly and persuasively matters. Strong presentation skills enhance your impact and your ability to influence. They do, though, sadly lack training in many professions. (Difficulty 8/10)
6) Self-awareness and emotional intelligence: Understanding and managing emotions - both your own and those of others - is crucial. High self-awareness and emotional intelligence underpin many of the other skills in this list. This skill alone can enhance (or detract) from the other five. Strong skills in this area fosters empathy, effective communication, conflict resolution and problem solving. Whereas low self-awareness can manifest in stubbornness, a lack of empathy and dogged tunnel vision resulting in harming the other skills here listed. (Difficulty 9/10)
Are these skills difficult to learn? Ultimately yes. They are not, however, unachievable when we acknowledge soft-skill mastery is a journey rather than a destination. Like many professions based in nuance and interpretation of knowledge over experience (such as law and medicine), we often refer to professionals as practitioners rather than masters.
If we take the same approach to soft skills, we find that difficulty bought sharply into focus. We are, after all, just practitioners of the art of soft skills. To truly teach and learn such skills nothing beats immersion. Seeing good examples in action, those values being lived by colleagues, and encouraging a working environment where everyone can flourish is the key to organisational and commercial success.
Sadly, or excitingly, (depending on your perspective) this means soft skills. However they are defined or catalogued, will inevitably continue to require life-long learning and evolution to ensure we remain masterful practitioners in the art of “getting along at work”
Andrew is the owner and principal consultant of Rhabdomancy Consulting, specialising in marketing and communication strategy. With a passion for engaging, content led storytelling his activity in corporate health and wellbeing thought leadership includes work in influencer strategy and he is an established event MC, seminar leader and public speaker.