Soft skills are more than trendy buzz words; they are a hard yes at every leadership level. Soft skills revolve around behavior and attitudes. Research conducted by Charles R. Mann in 1918 and published by Carnegie Foundation and Stanford Research Center revealed that 85-percent of a person’s professional success is a result of the mastery of soft skills (Mann,1918). Subsequent studies conducted by the National Soft Skills organization have determined that the value of soft skills is as essential to success today as ever before. Yet, many organizations and professionals fail to address soft skills deficiencies. It is time that organizations and leaders give more attention to developing these skills and encouraging behavior at every level of leadership.

I remember completing my Bachelor’s degree and landing my first management role with a large big-box retail store. I had no idea what soft skills were, nor did it seem that anyone else in what was then a male-dominated leadership team knew either. Looking back, I can recall that everything was a struggle. Communication was broken, and establishing collaboration among departments was none existent. It seemed as though everyone operated in silos. 

According to the National Soft Skill Association, soft skills are personal qualities that help make an individual a positive and contributing member of any organization (2020). Some examples of soft skills include organization, planning, critical thinking, empathy, mindset, teamwork, and the ability to convey a thought or idea verbally. Some people view soft skills as emotional, sensitive, and feminine traits, often viewed as a weakness, and for these reasons, some people shy away from developing soft skills. However, this is not always the case with women. Korn Ferry’s (2016) report found that not only have women excelled in the 12 critical areas of emotional and social intelligence, which includes soft-skills, but they have also learned how to leverage their skills. Korn Ferry (2016) also found that “women more effectively employ the emotional and social competencies correlated with effective leadership and management than men” (2016). 

A leader’s ability to develop and apply soft-skills can change the trajectory of a person’s career and the company. Leaders who can quickly adapt to new and evolving situations effectively convey a mission or vision through written and verbal communication, champion collaboration, and lead with strength and grace are not only valuable, but they are in high demand. Soft skills are in high demand because studies have found a relationship between soft skills and innovation (Hendarman, 2018). Of the above mentioned, the ability to champion collaboration or teamwork is vital to a leader’s success. To foster more collaboration, the Corporate Executive Board (2013) recommends that leaders identify desired business outcomes, recognize areas conducive to collaboration, and select technology supporting the goal and increasing workflow, as cited by DuBrin.  

Leaders looking to enhance their leadership skills, regardless of gender, should embrace and develop their soft skills and invest in developing those same skills in those they lead. If your organization does not have a formal training program, invest in yourself, and determine how you can personally implement changes to enhance team performance using soft-skills. Determine which soft skill you want to focus on each day. With consistency and commitment, you will be pleased to see a dramatic improvement as soft skills are developed.

References

DuBrin, A. J. (2013). Leadership: research findings, practice, and skills. Mason, OH: Cengage.

Guest, G. (2019, May 28). Soft skills training boosts productivity. Retrieved from https://news.umich.edu/soft-skills-training-boosts-productivity/

Hendarman, A. F., & Cantner, U. (2018). Soft skills, hard skills, and individual innovativeness. Eurasian Business Review, 8(2), 139.

Mann, C. R. (1918). A Study of Engineering Education. Carnegie Foundation, 106–107. Retrieved from https://www.nationalsoftskills.org/downloads/Mann-1918-Study_of_Engineering_Educ.pdf

National Soft Skills Association. (2017, August 3). Soft Skills Resistance. Retrieved from https://www.nationalsoftskills.org/soft-skills-resistance/

New Research Shows Women Are Better at Using Soft Skills Crucial for Effective Leadership and Superior Business Performance, Finds Korn Ferry. (2016, March 4). Retrieved from https://www.kornferry.com/about-us/press/new-research-shows-women-are-better-at-using-soft-skills-crucial-for-effective-leadership