Have you ever worked with someone who’s highly intelligent and excels at the technical aspects of their job, yet when it comes to communicating and collaborating with the team, they seem to struggle?

Maybe you’ve even seen this lead to conflict or an unsettling work environment. 

While being great at a job is one thing, being pleasant to work with is another – which is why companies looking to improve workplace wellbeing are beginning to focus more on soft skills vs. technical skills in their hiring practices. 

So, what soft skills are important for the workplace, and how can you learn to spot them in others and develop them on your own team? In this guide, you’ll discover: 

• What are soft skills vs. technical skills 

• Leadership soft skills essential for career growth

• How to improve soft skills with mindfulness 

What Are Soft Skills vs. Technical Skills? 

Soft skills are the foundational, interpersonal attributes that help people interact in harmony with others. These social and emotional skills are the foundation upon which we build our careers and lives. Without them, we can experience burnout, overwhelm, and exhaustion – collapsing and potentially taking down others around us.   

Technical skills, on the other hand, refer to the abilities and knowledge needed to perform specific tasks or job functions. These are your more tangible and measurable skills like using payroll software, preparing accounting statements, or forecasting your sales pipeline. They’re necessary, but without the soft skills, we only have half of the recipe for success. 

In a recent survey by the Business Council of Canada, human resources leaders said that interpersonal and communication skills were the most sought-after skills for employees – whether entry-level or mid-career. These and other “human skills” are recognized as essential, ranking above technical skills for both employability and career success. But why? 

Soft skills don't just complement technical abilities, but are foundational to the type of strong leadership, decision making, and culture building that support a healthy business. Without them, your team runs the risk of encountering conflict, low morale, and high turnover. 

Leadership Soft Skills Essential for Career Growth

Whether you’re hiring new employees, developing your team, or working on your own leadership, here are some of the foundational soft skills that make for career success: 

1. Emotional Intelligence: No one wants to walk on eggshells around their coworkers, which is why having the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, and those of the people around you, is invaluable. An emotionally intelligent person exercises patience, communicates clearly, and responds to challenges with empathy and a level head.

2. Self-Awareness: Understanding your strengths, weaknesses, and emotions is a useful skill in both your personal and professional life. It involves humility, which allows you to make better decisions and recognize when to ask for help. Self-awareness also helps you identify stress before burnout sets in. I've witnessed skilled colleagues burn out quickly due to poor stress management, negatively affecting both their careers and their team's effectiveness. When you can see the signs of overwhelm and reach for stress management strategies early on, you’ll prevent the crash and burn.   

3. Adaptability: Change is constant in life – so your ability to adapt is essential. Think of a time you had a coworker who was resistant to change, and how that may have hindered your team’s success or progress. When we’re adaptable, we can learn to not just accept but embrace change. This leads to the progress needed to thrive.

4. Problem Solving and Creativity: Would you rather have a team member who consistently drops problems on your desk, or one that proactively brings forward creative solutions? The ability to observe a challenge optimistically and approach it from different angles is valuable in any role.  

5. Time Management: Your team needs to rely on one another – but when they’re always picking up the slack for the one person who shows up late or misses deadlines, it can erode trust and productivity. Learning to effectively manage time doesn’t just ensure the job gets done, but it can lead to better work-life balance for everyone on the team. 

6. Leadership: While technical expertise might get you into a managerial position, soft skills are what make a true leader. Leadership is a soft skill that encompasses many others – from the ability to motivate your team, to managing conflicts, and steering projects to successful completion.

How to Improve Soft Skills with Mindfulness 

Mindfulness – rooted in being present and fully engaged with the here and now – plays an important role in building soft skills by improving emotional regulation, reducing stress, and enhancing self-awareness, creativity, and adaptability. Over time, mindfulness practices create calm, focus, and resilience within us. At work, this translates to soft skills that create more creative, efficient, and cohesive teams that work in harmony.  

Strengthen Your Team’s Soft Skills with Mindful Workplace Training 

Not sure where to begin with your team’s soft skills training? My Mindful Workplace Training is designed to help your team cultivate mindfulness and foster effective communication at work. Explore the training topics that have helped teams like yours to not only survive, but thrive.