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Soft Skills: The Unspoken Game Changer in Career Development
Posted on July 20, 2023 by Editor
In the 21st-century economy, skill development is not a luxury but a necessity
As we reflect on the recent World Youth Skills Day, a significant trend in the global professional sphere warrants our attention – the rising importance and demand for soft skills. These skills, often undervalued, are non-technical abilities that involve emotional intelligence and human interaction such as communication, problem-solving, leadership, and empathy. As workplaces continue to digitise and automate, these human-centric skills have gained immense significance, proving to be just as crucial, if not more, than technical proficiency.
Jayanthi Yeshwant Kumar, Chairman, Ad Astra Consultants, says, “In a world increasingly driven by technology, soft skills remain our unique human advantage. They are critical for communication, leadership, and problem-solving across industries. By nurturing these skills alongside AI advancements, organisations can create a harmonious environment where humans and technology work together, driving productivity, innovation, and overall success.”
From an employee’s perspective, today’s workplace can often be tricky to navigate. With evolving technology, employees are always on the lookout to learn new tools. Add to that, changing team dynamics and working with people from different cultures give rise to a challenging environment. It’s in these instances that soft skills become crucial. Being able to communicate clearly, adjust quickly to situations, and understand different perspectives helps employees handle these challenges, create a positive work environment, and grow in their careers.
This trend is not an overnight development. It’s a shift that has been taking shape over time. A survey by McKinsey reported that the focus on empathy and interpersonal skills doubled in 2020. Moreover, leadership and management skills took a front seat in most companies’ priorities, rising ten percentage points yearly, from 40% to 50%. A Deloitte report made a striking projection, stating that “soft skill-intensive occupations will account for two-thirds of all jobs by 2030” and that hiring employees with more soft skills could increase revenue by more than $90,000.
Some of the soft skills include empathy, emotional intelligence, kindness, adaptability, integrity, optimism, self-motivation, and resilience. These are attributes that machines and algorithms, despite their efficiency, can’t replicate, making them invaluable in the workplace.
Rohan Rajiv, Director of Product Management at LinkedIn, stated in an interview that “foundational soft skills have become even more important, given the rise of remote and autonomous work, and are growing in importance across industries, levels and work environments. These were featured in 78% of jobs posted globally over the last three months.”
The prominence of soft skills isn’t just a fad – it’s a paradigm shift in how we view career growth and success. A study involving Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center found that 85% of career success is attributed to well-developed soft skills, leaving just 15% to hard skills, including technical knowledge.
With the rise of remote work and digital collaborations, these skills are becoming increasingly critical in maintaining efficient communication and effective teamwork. Moreover, in an era where information is abundant, the ability to critically think, creatively problem-solve, and navigate complex interpersonal dynamics is a distinct advantage.
There’s no denying that the value of soft skills has been recognised worldwide. A staggering 80% of respondents in a survey by LinkedIn’s Global Talent Trends Report agreed that soft skills are increasingly important in today’s business world. Further emphasising the significance, 92% agreed that human capabilities and soft skills matter as much or even more than hard skills, and 89% pointed out that when a hire doesn’t work out, it’s usually due to a lack of soft skills.
The projected growth of the global soft skills training market supports these findings. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 34.62% between 2022 and 2027, adding a market size of USD 119.22 billion according to a study conducted by Technavio. This growth will be primarily driven by the increased adoption of affordable and efficient e-learning solutions, providing accessible soft skills training worldwide.
Reflecting on these figures and insights, it’s apparent that the professional landscape is changing. As Deloitte’s report projected, “soft skill-intensive occupations will account for two-thirds of all jobs by 2030”. To prepare for this future, we need to invest in developing these skills today. This brings us to an essential question – how can we develop these skills in our youth effectively?
Learn World indicates that education and training programs have begun adopting strategies to enhance soft skill development. Initiatives range from establishing coaching or mentoring programs, live workshops, and peer learning to online learning, adopting a learning mindset, simulation training, role-playing, and self-reflection opportunities. These strategies offer diverse avenues to learn and master these skills in different contexts and settings.
As we commemorate World Youth Skills Day, we encourage the emphasis on soft skill development. By preparing our youth for the future of work, we are not just investing in their careers but in the prosperity and adaptability of our global workforce. As the adage goes, “Hard skills will get you the job, but soft skills will get you the promotion.” Let’s work towards building a balanced skill set, shaping our youth for a future where they’re not just workers, but innovators, leaders, and game-changers in their respective fields.
Soft Skills: The Unspoken Game Changer in Career Development
Posted on July 20, 2023 by Editor
In the 21st-century economy, skill development is not a luxury but a necessity
As we reflect on the recent World Youth Skills Day, a significant trend in the global professional sphere warrants our attention – the rising importance and demand for soft skills. These skills, often undervalued, are non-technical abilities that involve emotional intelligence and human interaction such as communication, problem-solving, leadership, and empathy. As workplaces continue to digitise and automate, these human-centric skills have gained immense significance, proving to be just as crucial, if not more, than technical proficiency.
Jayanthi Yeshwant Kumar, Chairman, Ad Astra Consultants, says, “In a world increasingly driven by technology, soft skills remain our unique human advantage. They are critical for communication, leadership, and problem-solving across industries. By nurturing these skills alongside AI advancements, organisations can create a harmonious environment where humans and technology work together, driving productivity, innovation, and overall success.”
From an employee’s perspective, today’s workplace can often be tricky to navigate. With evolving technology, employees are always on the lookout to learn new tools. Add to that, changing team dynamics and working with people from different cultures give rise to a challenging environment. It’s in these instances that soft skills become crucial. Being able to communicate clearly, adjust quickly to situations, and understand different perspectives helps employees handle these challenges, create a positive work environment, and grow in their careers.
This trend is not an overnight development. It’s a shift that has been taking shape over time. A survey by McKinsey reported that the focus on empathy and interpersonal skills doubled in 2020. Moreover, leadership and management skills took a front seat in most companies’ priorities, rising ten percentage points yearly, from 40% to 50%. A Deloitte report made a striking projection, stating that “soft skill-intensive occupations will account for two-thirds of all jobs by 2030” and that hiring employees with more soft skills could increase revenue by more than $90,000.
Some of the soft skills include empathy, emotional intelligence, kindness, adaptability, integrity, optimism, self-motivation, and resilience. These are attributes that machines and algorithms, despite their efficiency, can’t replicate, making them invaluable in the workplace.
Rohan Rajiv, Director of Product Management at LinkedIn, stated in an interview that “foundational soft skills have become even more important, given the rise of remote and autonomous work, and are growing in importance across industries, levels and work environments. These were featured in 78% of jobs posted globally over the last three months.”
The prominence of soft skills isn’t just a fad – it’s a paradigm shift in how we view career growth and success. A study involving Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center found that 85% of career success is attributed to well-developed soft skills, leaving just 15% to hard skills, including technical knowledge.
With the rise of remote work and digital collaborations, these skills are becoming increasingly critical in maintaining efficient communication and effective teamwork. Moreover, in an era where information is abundant, the ability to critically think, creatively problem-solve, and navigate complex interpersonal dynamics is a distinct advantage.
There’s no denying that the value of soft skills has been recognised worldwide. A staggering 80% of respondents in a survey by LinkedIn’s Global Talent Trends Report agreed that soft skills are increasingly important in today’s business world. Further emphasising the significance, 92% agreed that human capabilities and soft skills matter as much or even more than hard skills, and 89% pointed out that when a hire doesn’t work out, it’s usually due to a lack of soft skills.
The projected growth of the global soft skills training market supports these findings. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 34.62% between 2022 and 2027, adding a market size of USD 119.22 billion according to a study conducted by Technavio. This growth will be primarily driven by the increased adoption of affordable and efficient e-learning solutions, providing accessible soft skills training worldwide.
Reflecting on these figures and insights, it’s apparent that the professional landscape is changing. As Deloitte’s report projected, “soft skill-intensive occupations will account for two-thirds of all jobs by 2030”. To prepare for this future, we need to invest in developing these skills today. This brings us to an essential question – how can we develop these skills in our youth effectively?
Learn World indicates that education and training programs have begun adopting strategies to enhance soft skill development. Initiatives range from establishing coaching or mentoring programs, live workshops, and peer learning to online learning, adopting a learning mindset, simulation training, role-playing, and self-reflection opportunities. These strategies offer diverse avenues to learn and master these skills in different contexts and settings.
As we commemorate World Youth Skills Day, we encourage the emphasis on soft skill development. By preparing our youth for the future of work, we are not just investing in their careers but in the prosperity and adaptability of our global workforce. As the adage goes, “Hard skills will get you the job, but soft skills will get you the promotion.” Let’s work towards building a balanced skill set, shaping our youth for a future where they’re not just workers, but innovators, leaders, and game-changers in their respective fields.