Soft skills are essential for professional and social success – Professor Rao reveals their transformative power

The importance of soft skills is increasingly recognised across global educational institutions, where they enhance employability, and within organisations, where they drive productivity and performance. 

Despite their importance, soft skills remain an under-researched area. Several myths surround soft skills because the field is still evolving. They are often confused with other concepts, such as: 

• People skills. 

• Life skills. 

• Life management skills. 

• Emotional intelligence. 

Researchers, scholars and educators struggle to agree on a universal definition of soft skills, let alone create a standardised curriculum. Furthermore, there is an urgent need to develop tools and techniques to measure soft skills effectively, ensuring meaningful training outcomes. 

The importance of soft skills increases as leaders move from operational to strategic management

What are soft skills? 

Skills are typically divided into two categories: technical (or hard) skills and general skills. Some general skills – particularly those related to behaviour – fall under the umbrella of soft skills. 

Soft skills are a collection of abilities that are vital for thriving in personal, professional and social contexts. They complement hard skills (also known as technical or domain-specific skills) by enhancing how those hard skills are presented. While hard skills can be showcased on a CV, soft skills are best observed in interviews or on the job. 

Success in both professional and leadership roles often depends on a balanced blend of hard and soft skills. 

The significance of soft skills 

Research conducted with Fortune 500 CEOs by the Stanford Research Institute International and the Carnegie Mellon Foundation found that 75% of long-term job success depends on people skills, while only 25% relies on technical knowledge. These findings underline the critical role of soft skills. 

The advantages of soft skills are numerous. They: 

• Create positive first impressions. 

• Build and strengthen relationships. 

• Boost employability and job longevity. 

• Foster empathy and effective communication. 

• Reduce employee turnover. 

• Promote camaraderie and organisational cohesion, which improves performance and productivity. 

• Maximise human capital for higher return on investment. 

Soft skills also empower leaders to guide teams effectively, resolve conflicts amicably and make sound decisions. They enhance customer care, help in persuasion, and improve resource management. As transferable skills, they are valuable across all industries, roles and organisations. 

Soft skills and leadership 

The importance of soft skills increases as leaders move from operational to strategic management. For senior and C-suite executives, the emphasis shifts towards people-centric leadership. 

Leaders require three core skill sets: technical skills, human skills and conceptual skills. As they rise to more senior levels, the need for human (or soft) skills grows, while the reliance on technical skills diminishes. Meanwhile, the need for conceptual skills – critical for strategic decision-making – remains constant. 

In this context, human skills align closely with soft skills, while technical skills represent hard skills. 

A take-home message 

As more research emerges, soft skills will continue to develop as a formal discipline. A balanced mix of hard and soft skills is crucial for success in today’s competitive world. Soft skills give individuals a significant edge, making them indispensable assets to both employees and organisations. 

Soft skills are essential for everyone, from entry-level employees to C-suite executives, to achieve their goals and maximise their potential. 

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Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D. is the Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India and the author of 53 books including the award-winning See the Light in You