soft skill
Non-technical workplace ability
Soft skills are personal attributes and interpersonal abilities that affect how well someone works with others, as opposed to technical knowledge or expertise.
Communication, teamwork, adaptability, and emotional intelligence are commonly cited examples.
The term arose in business and education contexts to distinguish these harder-to-measure qualities from "hard skills" like coding or accounting.
Employers increasingly value soft skills alongside technical qualifications.
Attending to sound
- articulationClear vocal expression
- clarityState of being understandable
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- feedbackReturned response data
assertiveness · negotiation · presentation · storytelling · public speaking · verbal · nonverbal · dialogue
Sharing another's emotions
- self-awarenessInsight into one's psyche
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- patienceCalm during delays
mindfulness · emotional regulation · perceptiveness · understanding · supportiveness · intuition · composure · self-motivation
Joint effort toward shared aim
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- delegationTransferring responsibility downward
- consensus-buildingCreating widespread agreement
partnership · synergy · team player · cross-functional · mentoring · coaching · accountability · reliability
Dedication to doing one's job
- time managementPlanning how hours are spent
- organizationStructured group with purpose
- punctualityBeing on time
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
attention to detail · critical thinking · decision-making · prioritization · self-discipline · goal-setting · follow-through · confidentiality
Ability to adapt easily
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- problem-solvingAddressing challenges methodically
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
- open-mindednessAcceptance of differing viewpoints
growth mindset · change management · improvisation · curiosity · receptivity · versatility · stress tolerance · pivoting
listening
Attending to sound
- articulationClear vocal expression
- clarityState of being understandable
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
feedback · assertiveness · negotiation · presentation · storytelling · public speaking · verbal · nonverbal · dialogue · eloquence
empathy
Sharing another's emotions
- self-awarenessInsight into one's psyche
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
patience · mindfulness · emotional regulation · perceptiveness · understanding · supportiveness · intuition · composure · self-motivation · kindness
teamwork
Joint effort toward shared aim
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- delegationTransferring responsibility downward
consensus-building · partnership · synergy · team player · cross-functional · mentoring · coaching · accountability · reliability · dependability
work ethic
Dedication to doing one's job
- time managementPlanning how hours are spent
- organizationStructured group with purpose
- punctualityBeing on time
integrity · attention to detail · critical thinking · decision-making · prioritization · self-discipline · goal-setting · follow-through · confidentiality · accountability
flexibility
Ability to adapt easily
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- problem-solvingAddressing challenges methodically
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
open-mindedness · growth mindset · change management · improvisation · curiosity · receptivity · versatility · stress tolerance · pivoting · self-improvement
- skillsability, abilities, competencies, talent, expertise
soft skillhard skill
Measurable, teachable professional ability
technical skill · specialized knowledge · technical expertise · technical proficiency · data analysis
soft, skill, softer, softest, softly, soften, softened, softening, softener