7 essential soft skills in demand

1. Teamwork

With effective teamwork, teams are more productive, deadlines are met, relationships with your team members are stronger and knowledge is shared. It makes the workplace a better place to be in. If you work well in a team, you achieve common goals while supporting and complementing the strengths of others.

Employees with strong teamwork skills keep their team’s objectives in mind, understand their own individual responsibilities as well as the responsibilities of all team members, are supportive and positive, communicate regularly and actively listen to others. Find out how to develop your teamwork skills.

2. Problem solving

No matter how smooth of a workplace we have, hurdles will appear, which is why knowing how to work towards the best possible solution to new and complex problems will ensure more successful outcomes.

Effective problem solvers identify the real problem being faced, are diligent in researching the situation and processes behind the problem, understand all the complexities, then draw on their critical thinking to brainstorm possible solutions and determine the best possible resolution. Find out how to develop your problem solving skills.

3. Communication

This soft skill is one you hear about often, and for good reason. Good communication skills means you are able to actively listen to, and understand other perspectives, while also being able to share your own effectively. Good communicators are skilled at verbal and written communication, while they also understand non-verbal communication cues.

For example, strong communicators know their audience, stick to the point, use clear and concise language and are empathetic. They are aware of how their body language and tone of voice convey their message. Find out how to develop your communication skills.

4. Adaptability

Just as you need good problem-solving skills to resolve the constant stream of challenges occurring in our fast-paced world of work, you also need the ability to adapt in the face of change. Not everyone can naturally cope in a positive way when faced with change, so being able to quickly and successfully adapt to it is a core soft skill.  

If you’re adaptable, you’ll make sure to completely understand an impending change and keep an open mind. You’ll look for opportunities in the change and plan the practical actions needed to adopt or perform differently as a result of the change. You’ll be able to focus on the positives and you’re not afraid to step outside of your comfort zone to establish a new routine. Find out how to develop your adaptability skills.

5. Critical thinking

Critical thinking skills are valued in the workplace because they allow you to effectively analyse information given to you and make informed decisions. Through this, you can form successful plans, perform efficiently, take advantage of opportunities and always respond rationally to situations and challenges.

Find out how to develop your critical thinking skills.

6. Time management 

Knowing how to effectively manage your time at work helps you take control of your day and alleviate the stress that can come with not knowing how to prioritise your day-to-day tasks. With only so many hours in the working day, time management is a process whereby you intentionally allocate your time productively and effectively. This ensures you achieve all your most important and urgent tasks, without having to work extended hours, to the benefit of your employer, team and career.

Those who excel at time management work with team members to prioritise what is genuinely urgent and important, schedule their days to allocate time to the most essential tasks, then stay committed to their plan – all while retaining a level of flexibility in case priorities shift. Find out how to develop your time management skills.

7. Interpersonal

Interpersonal skills are those that allow you to build relationships and communicate well with others. They are the behaviours you use every day to interact and get along with people and so underpin positive working relationships.

Those with strong interpersonal skills are active listeners and have a high level of emotional intelligence. They can resolve conflict, communicate well and collaborate effectively to maintain mutually beneficial working relationships. They enjoy rewarding professional relationships. Find out how to develop your interpersonal skills.

Other useful soft skills

Conflict management

Conflict is almost certain to happen in the workplace as there are bound to be disagreements across projects. Being able to settle disputes quickly and effectively is an important skill to pick up for your career.

Reliability

This soft skill goes hand-in-hand with other ones such as dependability and work-ethic. Making yourself a dependable resource for other team members means you become an integral and well-liked part of your team.

Leadership

Building your leadership capabilities is something that will come along with improving your communication, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills. It is also helpful to have a leader you admire to talk to about learning leadership skills.