Rebranding Soft Skills: The Hard Truth About What Employers Actually Want
Back in the day as an erstwhile leader myself, I got the opportunity to interview many job
seekers, freshers, experienced candidates and was convinced or should I say conditioned to
believe that the pre-requisite for all new recruits is a strong technical affiliation. As it were,
that was also a business requirement. A technically sound individual meant he had a strong
foundation in Maths & Science. No counter arguments.
But no sooner into their coveted profiles, it was time for periodic performance evaluation.
One stark reality stood out. They lacked basic communication skills and were unable to
handle objections, adversities, pressures, team coordination, blame game and most
importantly they lacked ownership.
That polished behaviour, team spirit, communications skills, selling skills are NOT a given, in
fact they were clearly ABSENT. They were viewed as elitist, which led to a lot of resistance
on their part to comprehend the importance of soft skills despite extensive training provided
to bring them up to scale. One of the key reasons for resistance was that the training was
provided internally and they took it as their prerogative and not a privilege to upskill.
This experience hit hard because the conditioning of the mind is “technical knowledge
makes me brilliant”, “ I am accepted in the group because I sound intelligent”.
Hard skills—coding, financial analysis, machine learning—are viewed as the real currency of
success.
Soft skills, on the other hand is not recognized by most individuals and firms alike. It is
considered a cost head and in more often than not it is the first function which is axed in
cost cutting measures.
But here’s the hard truth: SOFT SKILLS AREN’T SOFT. THEY’RE SURVIVAL SKILLS.
The AI enabled, fast-paced workplace demands resilience, adaptability, and the ability to
build confidence and gain trust in uncertain times. The best leaders aren’t just skilled
technicians; they’re people who know how to handle conflict, inspire action, and lead with
empathy.
Thought for the day: The most successful people aren’t always the smartest in the room.
They’re the ones who communicate with clarity, navigate crises with composure, and forge
meaningful relationships.
Dear Techies, AI has set the pace technically. Go reinvent yourself, Its human skills that will
be the ultimate differentiator. It’s time we stop calling them soft skills and start treating
them as power skills. Because when everything else changes, people skills remain the
foundation of progress.
Share your thoughts. 👇
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