Essential Soft Skills for Career Success, Part 1

Why Soft Skills Matter

According to Peggy Klaus, leadership and communication expert and author of “Brag”, “75% of long-term job success depends on people skills, while only 25% on technical knowledge.”  Indeed, in defining job skills for any position, HR and hiring managers usually break them down into two major categories:  technical or hard skills and soft skills.  Jobs focus on the technical, but it’s the soft skills that lead to promotions, raises and success. 

The term “soft skills” itself has a bit of a misleading history.  The term originated in the U.S. Military in the 1960s.  Coined by the U.S. Army in the late 1960s, it was used to contrast with “hard skills,” which involved the use of machinery and technical expertise. “Soft skills” were essentially referred to as any skill that didn’t directly involve operating equipment.  

The concept of “soft” was not intended to be demeaning.  Initially, the concept of “soft” skills was not chosen as a way to imply these skills were unimportant or less important. Most soft skills were recognized as crucial for military success, such as communication, leadership, and teamwork.  But, over time, the term “soft” began being misinterpreted as implying that those skills were less important or easily acquired. This, of course, was a significant mistake but one that persisted.  Indeed, the term “soft skills” is a historical artifact that doesn’t accurately reflect their true importance. These skills are fundamental for success in any career and are often more difficult to develop and master than technical skills.

The Essential Role of Soft Skills

Soft skills are universally important in all careers because they directly influence how employees interact with others, navigate workplace dynamics, and contribute to team success, regardless of their specific job title or industry.  They are crucial for building positive relationships, communicating effectively, and being adaptable to changing situations within any professional environment. 

Soft skills are also important because they can transfer across industries. Unlike hard skills which are often specific to a job role, soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving can be applied to most any career field. They also enable smooth collaboration with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders, leading to better project outcomes and positive working relationships. And they are absolutely essential for effective leadership by allowing individuals to motivate, inspire, and guide others.  Last but not least, they impact how a person interacts with others, including their communication style and interpersonal skills and it affects the person’s professional reputation and perception.  So soft skills bleed into practically every career and are considered essential to most any job.

Categories of Soft Skills

Given how important they are and how mastery of soft skills is intricately tied to success, it is important to have a unified, shared understanding of what qualifies as a “soft skill.”  Here are the broad categories of soft skills:

1. Interpersonal Relationships – This is comprised of Collaboration with Internal Clients and Interactions with External Clients, including teamwork, effective communication, active listening, building and maintaining positive relationships with colleagues, clear communication, empathy, and relationship-building. 

2. Communication – This includes active listening, clear and concise verbal & written communication, and conveying messages effectively in a professional manner such as in public speaking. 

3. Adaptability and Growth – This is comprised of problem-solving and continuous learning, including critical thinking, situation analysis, and developing creative solutions.  It also includes continuous learning, acceptance of change, and the ability to thrive in evolving situations.

4. Career Advancement – This is comprised of leadership skills such as delegation and motivation as well as professionalism including a strong work ethic, punctuality, a positive can-do attitude and a professional reputation.  

5. Emotional intelligence consists of a person’s ability to identify, understand and manage their own emotions and those of the people around them. People with well-developed or high EI skills will find it easier to get along with people in all areas of their life, including the workplace.  Emotionally intelligent employees consistently are able to receive and give constructive feedback, voice concerns or problems with the goal of improving, and support an environment where people can express themselves, repairing and resolving issues and conflicts in a timely manner.

In today’s rapidly changing job market, as technologies advance, many routine tasks are being automated. This increases the importance of so-called human “soft skills”.  And with a globalized workforce in an increasingly interconnected world, those “soft skills” are essential for collaborating with colleagues and clients across different cultures, languages, and time zones.  While technical skills are important for specific jobs, soft skills are the foundation for success in any career.  They enable individuals to build strong relationships, navigate complex situations, and thrive in a constantly evolving workplace.  

6.  Time Management focuses on the ability to prioritize tasks, manage deadlines, and balance multiple responsibilities.  It is vital for maintaining productivity and achieving long-term success.

The Most Essential Skills Seldom Taught

While hard skills may get you through the door, soft skills often determine your success and growth within an organization.  Although essential for most any professional path, traditional academic settings – such as high schools, colleges or technical schools — seldom prioritize teaching soft skills.  Instead, the focus is on the hard or technical skills needed to do a job.  There is an assumption that soft skills come naturally or can be acquired quickly.  But, for many, that is not the case.

Notwithstanding, there are some excellent avenues for learning and strengthening soft skills, even as adults. 

• Internships provide real-world experiences, teach collaboration, and help develop communication career skills. It’s a bumpy way to learn those skills, especially for people who might have learning disabilities or socialization difficulties such as being on the Autism spectrum.
  
• Part-time Jobs allow people to develop time management, punctuality, customer service, and teamwork skills.  
  
• Volunteer Work cultivates empathy, communication, and leadership skills while contributing to community.  
  
• Extracurricular Activities such as Clubs or Organizations for sports, arts, and debate as well as Student Government and Community Service organizations help students learn empathy, communication, problem-solving and other soft skills.   
  
• Online Courses & Workshops such as Coursera, edX, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offer a wide range of courses on communication, leadership, negotiation, and other soft skills.  
  
• Workshops and Seminars focused on specific soft skills, such as public speaking, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence offer learning opportunities for adults.  
  
• Mentorships can provide valuable insights and feedback on soft skills.  
  
• Reading and Podcasts help explore topics like communication, leadership, and emotional intelligence.  
  
• Social Situations provide practice in communication, active listening, and empathy in daily interactions with others.
  
• Public Speaking Opportunities provide opportunities to speak publicly, such as giving presentations, participating in class discussions, or joining a public speaking club such as Toastmasters.

By actively seeking out opportunities to develop these skills, it is possible to significantly enhance one’s soft skills.

Case in Point

Jonathan De Gouveia, a real estate investor based in Cleveland, OH, discussed how soft skills were more important than most people can imagine.  He described the role that his soft skills – namely his communication and negotiation skills and creativity – led to the creation of his real estate investing business.  De Gouveia explained that “Soft skills are more important than you could possibly imagine. I’d say that 80% of the success I’ve had in my life was directly correlated to my soft skills and the other 20% was using hard skills I learned as I went.”

In his LinkedIn post, De Gouveia shared his company’s origin story.  “I remember the first wholesale deal we did back in June 2020.  It was all on the back of soft skills.  I reached out to a guy I met at a networking event while I was still living in LA and he lived in Cleveland and was a real estate investor.  We were struggling to get our first deal and I remember calling him and I said ’what can I do to help you?’

“He was a full time mechanical engineer so he had zero time to do any marketing for leads or follow-ups, so I proposed he paid for the marketing list and we’d make the phone calls and set up the appointments.  Then, once we got a house under contract, we’d wholesale it and split it 50/50.  A month after starting the partnership, we landed our first deal and made a whopping $600! It was one of the happiest days of my life because that was proof of concept that it was real and we could do this!”

De Gouveia built his real estate investing business on a foundation of soft skills.  Most of the technical skills he would eventually need for the business were acquired later on the job.  Essential skills that are seldom taught yet crucial for success, a solid foundation of soft skills is nearly enough to propel one’s professional and personal success.  The only real question is:  how strong are your soft skills? 

Next week, we’ll dive deeper into the squishy world of these important soft skills and take the first step toward strengthening that foundation that leads to success.  Stay tuned!

Quote of the Week
“Soft skills get little respect but they will make or break your career.” Peggy Klaus

© 2025, Keren Peters-Atkinson. All rights reserved.

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