In all roles technical skills are crucial, we need to be sure that an employee can perform their role to a high standard. However, beyond technical skills, soft skills also play a vital role in an individuals ability to perform their role, as well as be a valuable asset to the team for the long term.
Soft skills refer to the personal attributes that enable individuals to interact effectively and harmoniously with others. Unlike hard skills, soft skills are more transferable across roles and industries.
Here’s why soft skills should be at the top of your hiring checklist:
Valuable soft skills that enhance your workforce:
- Good communication skills provides collaboration within the workforce and team
- Problem solving skills help the workforce to think critically and find solutions when facing challenges and working under pressure
- Adaptability is a great trait within a workforce as the world is everchanging and you need your workforce to thrive within changing environments and be open to new challenges
- Individuals with great emotional intelligence can help to understand and manage emotions within a team, as well as their own to prevent issues escalating and foster productive interactions
- Teamwork is crucial within the workplace so your team is working together to help achieve collective goals
Why are soft skills critical in today’s world?
In today’s competitive job market, we seek out the candidate with the right skills for the job, however what can set great candidates apart are their soft skills. The ability to lead, communicate and adapt helps you to create a team for long term success.
1. The Changing Nature of Work
The introduction of AI, as well as other technology, is transforming workplaces. However, there are certain soft skills that cannot be replaced by AI or machines such as the ability to innovate, collaborate and lead within a dynamic work environment. In industries where change is constant, human-centered skills like creativity and learning to adapt become more valuable.
2. Remote and Hybrid Working Arrangements
The rise in working from home positions has made soft skills such as communication, self-motivation and time management essential to create effective communication and collaboration across team members scattered across different locations.
3. Cultural Fit and Team Dynamics
Hard skills are often taught or trained on the job, where as soft skills that enable an individual to work within a team are harder to teach. Employees who collaborate well with others and align with the cultural fit are more likely to contribute to a positive workplace culture.
4. Leadership and Management
Soft skills are vital for employees who move into leadership roles. Their ability to inspire, motivate, mentor and guide teams through challenging periods are more effective in driving long term success.
5. Client and Customer Relationships
Soft skills such as empathy, patience and listening are crucial, not only for building internal relationships, but especially for those roles that require relationship building with clients, customers and stakeholders.
How to indentify soft skills
Here are a few strategies you can include within the hiring process to help you indentify soft skills:
- Behavioral Interviews: Asking candidates to describe specific situations where they deomstrated soft skills, for example describing how they have handled a difficult situation at work
- Scenario-Based Assesments: Providing hypothetical work scenarios that test their problem solving, communication and emotional intelligence
- Cultural Fit Questionnaires: Asking candidates to complete a questionnaire or survey to measure their preferences in areas like collaboration, communication, risk taking and leadership styles to assess their alignment with your company’s norms.
- Candidate References: When speaking with previous employers, ask questions about the candidate’s interpersonal abilities like teamwork and adaptability in the previous roles
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