There is a growing understanding that assigning the label “soft skills” to public speaking and other people skills is misleading and often damaging. Soft suggests easy but these are skills, and skill acquisition is always requires real work. They are also simply fundamental, critical skills for career success instead of just niceties. In just one example, a study by Kirch, Tucker & Kirch (2001) suggested that 80% of career success is based in the ability to effectively interact with others!
The implied ease of soft, often leads to feelings of failure in those who have not acquired these fundamental skills. It also can lead to condescending attitudes from others, who don’t recognize these as skills that one has to work hard, over time to acquire. Battling misconceptions and stressing the importance of these skills is a long term approach, but more immediate methods are needed.
Tags: Industry Insights • News