In the last few days, I have coached two people managers who both expressed their profound dislike of managing what we generally refer to as “soft skills”.
One manager only wants to focus on teaching technical or “hard skills” that relate directly to her work in finance. In contrast, the other manager wants to focus on her team’s personal issues, bypassing the skills needed for them to develop as professionals, such as showing up on time or handing in mistake-free work.
As managers, we need to help our team members develop the skills that matter most for effective communication, teamwork, and emotional intelligence, as they are critical to their professional development, the team, and the company.
Worth the share
While the author of this article from Fast Company, Shannon McKeen, doesn’t even like the term “soft skills,” he clearly articulates why it matters and how we can do better teaching these skills. As the Professor of Practice at the Wake Forest School of Business, he passionately states his case for the value of a liberal arts education since “historically, hard skills emerged from the natural sciences—quantitative, measurable, and increasingly automatable.” Soft skills, which lean into the humanities and social sciences, help us understand human behavior, expression, and interaction.
He breaks soft skills into three areas:
Character Traits – innate things like curiosity, empathy, resilience, and integrity
Behavioral Traits – includes listening, punctuality, and follow-through
Teachable Skills – such as negotiation, presentation skills, and handling conflict
While I respectfully disagree with some of his classifications—for example, I believe empathy, listening, and curiosity can be taught—I fully support his insight into the growing importance of soft skills in an era where AI and other tools are automating many of the technical skills professionals have spent years developing.
Read Let’s stop calling them ‘soft skills.’ They are the hardest ones to master.
#wisewords
“Soft skills get little respect but they will make or break your career” – Peggy Klaus, author
And Finally...
Yes, soft skills matter, and it’s essential to understand that the most effective ways to communicate changes over time. Authenticity matters. Finding your unique voice matters. Situational awareness matters. Understanding how different generations communicate matters. Being aware of your style and sharpening specific areas to be more effective matters.
I am excited to launch a new, five-part series: Communicating with Impact in the Age of AI, Alignment, and Generational Change, which incorporates effective communication, confident communication, generational communication, difficult conversations, and authentic, engaging presentations. If you are curious about learning more, reach out anytime.
Have a great week,
Mary Jo