Soft Skills: The Key To Thrive In Today’s Business Landscape?

Mastering soft skills for future workplace success

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023 found that analytical thinking, leadership, social influence, creative thinking, curiosity, lifelong learning, motivation, self-awareness, empathy and active listening all feature in the top business skills priority list for 2027.

While the importance of these so-called ‘soft skills’ is not new, it seems that many professionals are beginning to place more emphasis on the role they play in a successful workplace, and are starting to embed them into their learning and development strategy.
 

Previously courses teaching technical skills were often the main focus, taking up the majority of learning and development budgets. But recently we’ve seen a rise in customers looking for training to help tackle soft skill gaps. And with the Skills Builder Partnership’s Essential Skills Tracker 2023 finding that a lack of soft skills is costing the UK a total of £22.2 billion a year, it is hard not to see why.

But what is causing this rejuvenated appreciation for soft skills, or ‘power skills’ as I recently heard them called? At ILX, we believe a key reason is the rise in technology and artificial intelligence.

With many individuals now regularly automating mundane and repetitive tasks, we are constantly exploring new ways we can use AI to increase efficiency and reduce our day-to-day workload. But some abilities yet to be replaced by this technology are the softer skills, such as critical thinking and emotional intelligence. As a result, many organizations are now looking to experts to help improve the quality and efficiency of their business and the output it generates.

These rapid advancements in technology also highlight the need for adaptability and flexibility to navigate these changes. Individuals can respond more readily, if they have the emotional intelligence, resilience, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to do so. And without employees who thrive in this modern environment, organizations face falling behind the curve, a factor that is likely to have a detrimental impact on their business.

And it's not just when an individual gets into the workplace that these skills come into play, they are increasingly valued and tested in the hiring process. In its recent study, The Future of Soft Skills in the Workplace, Business Name Generator found that 84% of organizations believe new employees must possess soft skills and demonstrate this in the hiring process.

This is because soft skills contribute to success in various ways for both an individual and an organization, such as helping individuals to communicate more effectively with colleagues and stakeholders, building stronger relationships and creating a more collaborative work environment.

Harnessing these skills effectively, also provides individuals with a strong foundation when taking on leadership roles, guiding and motivating others, and fostering a more positive and inclusive workplace culture from the top down. All of which leads to improved employee satisfaction and business performance.

Whether an individual is entering the world of work for the first time, or looking to secure an executive-level position, showcasing a well-rounded set of soft skills could prove the best way to ensure success.

Author Bio

Russell Kenrick is Managing Director at ILX Group.