soft skills
Workplace social competencies
Soft skills are interpersonal and social abilities—communication, teamwork, adaptability, emotional intelligence—as distinguished from technical or job-specific expertise.
The term emerged from business and education contexts where employers noticed that technical competence alone didn't predict success: Her soft skills made her an effective manager despite having less experience.
Sometimes called people skills.
Clear vocal expression
- active listeningFocused, responsive attention to speech
- empathySharing another's emotions
- clarityState of being understandable
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
diplomacy · nonverbal · rapport · feedback · assertiveness · negotiation · storytelling · conciseness
Ability to adapt easily
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- open-mindednessAcceptance of differing viewpoints
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
- agilityQuickness and ease
improvisation · tolerance · patience · growth mindset · receptiveness · versatility · composure · stress management
Guidance from experienced person
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
- delegationTransferring responsibility downward
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- decisivenessAbility to choose firmly
strategic thinking · initiative · accountability · foresight · integrity · influence · charisma · vision
Joint effort toward shared aim
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- synergyCombined effect exceeding components
- consensus-buildingCreating widespread agreement
compromise · interdependence · trust · support · accountability · camaraderie · partnership · reliability
Creating something original
- ideationForming mental concepts
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
- originalityNovel creative quality
- ingenuityClever, original thinking
brainstorming · design thinking · divergent thinking · conceptualization · visualization · lateral thinking · experimentation · prototyping
articulation
Clear vocal expression
- active listeningFocused, responsive attention to speech
- empathySharing another's emotions
- clarityState of being understandable
persuasion · diplomacy · nonverbal · rapport · feedback · assertiveness · negotiation · storytelling · conciseness · eloquence
flexibility
Ability to adapt easily
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- open-mindednessAcceptance of differing viewpoints
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
agility · improvisation · tolerance · patience · growth mindset · receptiveness · versatility · composure · stress management · pivoting
mentorship
Guidance from experienced person
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
- delegationTransferring responsibility downward
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
decisiveness · strategic thinking · initiative · accountability · foresight · integrity · influence · charisma · vision · stewardship
teamwork
Joint effort toward shared aim
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- synergyCombined effect exceeding components
consensus-building · compromise · interdependence · trust · support · accountability · camaraderie · partnership · reliability · delegation
innovation
Creating something original
- ideationForming mental concepts
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
- originalityNovel creative quality
ingenuity · brainstorming · design thinking · divergent thinking · conceptualization · visualization · lateral thinking · experimentation · prototyping · synthesis
- Workplace Wisdombest practices, rules of thumb, tricks of the trade, practical knowledge, professional ethics
- career developmentcareer advice, career goals, career path, career paths, career change
- employabilityresume, cover letter, job application, job search, professionalism
- expertiseexpertise, mastery, proficiency, competence, ability
- Job Qualificationsqualifications, experience, credentials, degree, certifications
- work skillsadaptability, communication, creativity, dependability, initiative
soft skillshard skills
Teachable, measurable work abilities
technical skills · technical expertise · specialized knowledge · vocational skills · technical proficiency
soft, skill, skills, solving, communication skills, emotional intelligence, people skills