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Hard Skills v Soft Skills

In your world of work, ‘hard skills’ are technical procedures related to your core business. Examples include the latest law, rules and regulations in your area of expertise, or industry. Ironically enough, these ‘hard’ skills are typically easy to observe, quantify and measure.

They’re also generally easier to train because most of the time it is actually just knowledge being taught. The facts one learns are generally right or wrong so there can be little scope for misunderstanding.

Soft skills

By contrast, soft skills (also called people skills) are typically hard to observe, quantify and measure. You can teach knowledge as we mentioned above but you can’t teach attitudes or mind-sets. As the last phrase suggests, when one has a set idea it is very difficult to change peoples’ minds. So what is more important?

People skills are needed for everyday life as much as they’re needed for work. They have to do with how people relate to each other: communicating, listening, engaging in dialogue, giving feedback, cooperating as a team member, solving problems, contributing in meetings, and resolving conflict.

Leaders at all levels rely heavily on people skills too: setting an example, teambuilding, facilitating meetings, encouraging innovation, solving problems, making decisions, planning, delegating, observing, instructing, coaching, encouraging, and motivating. Reflections

When you look for new people to join your company, what are you focusing on? I think it’s only when you’ve been at work a few years that you realise the hard skills are easy to learn, and it takes many a fall to learn the soft skills.

Blog by Will…

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Kintish Ltd, 23 The Residences, Scholes Lane, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 0NT
+44 (0)161 773 3727

Learn the art of networking

...without leaving your desk!

Watch Will's new online E-Learning course: How to Become a More Effective and Confident Networker

Let me offer you free access to my monthly briefings

I write a monthly briefing to add value to your networking knowledge. To subscribe please complete this short form to give me approval.

By way of a thank you, you will automatically receive my mini-book “How to follow up opportunities in a confident and professional manner”.

Join my community now

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