Do "Soft Skills" Develop Naturally?

Soft skills aren’t just “picked up” along the way—they must be as deliberately cultivated as any hard skill.

Contrary to what many people think, the organic development of soft skills is a myth that undermines professional growth and organizational success. While hard skills are acquired through education, soft skills—in my opinion—should not be left to chance or the whims of experience.

Here's a simple, strategic blueprint to shift this paradigm:

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Recognize the need for soft skills. Leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence are not optional; they're essential.

𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: Design educational and training programs that focus on real-world application, mirroring scenarios professionals will face and practicing in real time the skills needed. This approach is about turning theory into practice.

𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤: Cultivate a culture where ongoing, respectful, and appropriate feedback is valued, practiced, and exemplified. It's the compass that guides the development of soft skills. And giving feedback, by itself, it's a soft skill that can, and should, be learned.

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞: Like any hard skill, soft skills improve with repetition and reflection. Encourage scenarios where these skills can be practiced and refined.

𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞: Establish metrics for success and continuously assess progress, adapting strategies as necessary.

And always look for ways to do all of the above with the support of a trusted colleague coach, or mentor.

In focusing our efforts on intentionally developing soft skills, we're not just enhancing individual careers but are also forging more cohesive, adaptive, and ultimately successful organizations.

Remember, the future of leadership isn’t just knowing the path but in walking it with empathy, adaptability, and effective communication. Let’s make the intentional development of soft skills a strategic priority, especially in this era of incredibly fast technological advances. We can't lose sight of our humanity.