ARE YOU ENGAGED IN SOFT VS HARD
What would you say are the most important skills in life? Of course, it depends on individual goals, circumstances, and values. AI lists those skills needed for personal development, interpersonal skills, professional skills, and some broad categories. All but one was a soft skill.
I then asked AI to tell me which was more important - hard skills or soft skills. AI stated that hard skills are technical skills acquired through education, training, or experience. Soft skills are personal qualities and social abilities that enable individuals to interact, build relationships, work collaboratively, and navigate interpersonal challenges, and communicate effectively with others.
Most companies hire for hard skills and promote on soft skills. Many wonder why the culture is off, have high turnover and poor employee engagement.
Gallup’s annual study regarding employee engagement year after year finds those engaged to be lacking 36% with 51% disengaged and 13% actively disengaged*. *Feeling miserable at work and spreading negativity to their colleagues.
Some of the benefits of engaged employees are that they are happier, report lower absenteeism, and tend to be more loyal. Businesses feel the costs: $450-$550 billion each year due to disengaged workers. A single disengaged employee can cost a company about $3,400 in lost productivity for every $10,000 in salary.
So, how do you improve engagement? Gallup indicates its soft skills. Yet, how much of your training budget is dedicated to these characteristics – self-awareness, empathy, communications skills, adaptability, critical thinking, resilience, conflict resolution and relationship building? Remember:
Both hard and soft skills play vital roles in success.
Developing a well-rounded skillset in both areas is ideal.
Hard skills are often easier to quantify and measure than soft skills.
Soft skills are increasingly becoming essential for success in many fields.
Technology can automate many hard skills, but not soft skills.
Soft skills can be learned and developed.
Ultimately, the most important skills in life are the ones that help everyone live a happy, fulfilling, and meaningful life. These skills will vary depending on your individual circumstances, but by focusing on developing a strong foundation in the areas mentioned above, you can equip yourself and your team to navigate life's challenges and seize its opportunities.
Our ability to optimize skills, whether soft or hard, are closely aligned with our mental fitness. I provide the tools to optimize skills.