In 2020, the World Economic Forum named the top 10 work skills they expected would be in demand by 2025. Eight of those 10 were in the categories of problem-solving, self-management and working with people —in other words, soft skills. “Problem-solving” is self-explanatory, but the report goes on to define the “self-management” category, with qualities such as resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility. “Working with people” includes leadership and social influence. All of these are components of emotional intelligence.

Soft skills and emotional intelligence are not new to learning and development professionals, and their importance is not lost on management, either. As far back as 2016, Career Education Review reported that 97% of employers agreed that soft skills impacted job performance. But at the same time, only 31% felt their job candidates had sufficient soft skills. With these stats in mind, it is puzzling that some companies still need convincing that they are as worthy of investment as more tangible hard skills and aptitude.

At the heart of the matter, perhaps, is that only certain soft skills are recognized as things that are teachable — such as public speaking or giving feedback. When it comes to the more nebulous soft skills that involve emotional intelligence, there tends to be uncertainty about what they look like, how they help companies achieve their goals and how (and even if!) they can be learned.

Defining Soft Skills and Emotional Intelligence

Soft skills (sometimes called “power skills” or “core skills”) are a range of interpersonal and communication skills that help people function both in their personal life and at work. While there are many different interpretations of how to describe these skills, they typically include these competencies:

• Problem-solving.
• Creativity.
• Critical thinking.
• Stress management.
• Decision-making.
• Emotional intelligence.

While some might use the terms emotional intelligence and soft skills interchangeably, they are not the same. Emotional intelligence is just one set of soft skills: It is the ability to manage and cope with negative emotions in oneself and others, while also harnessing and building on positive emotions. Emotional intelligence consists of:

• Self-awareness.
• Self-discipline.
• Social skills.
• Relationship management.
• Communication.

The key to emotional intelligence is observing and acknowledging emotions and acting with empathy. Leaders do this with their teams through active listening, not judging, being present and encouraging communication. But these aren’t skills that only leaders should have — any team member can benefit from honing these skills. And the more people that have them, the better the organization is likely to do overall.

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence Soft Skills in the Workplace

Organizations increasingly recognize the role that emotions play in a person’s motivation and engagement on the job. An example might help highlight the difference.

Imagine two people with the exact same knowledge and education. One excels in their role and is great to work with. The other person will perhaps get the work done but is not engaged or interested in learning anything new. They might even be difficult to work with and have frequent conflicts with coworkers. The qualities that set these two apart are their soft skills. In most organizations, the best employees — the go-getters — have mastered those skills.

A company might hire the brightest individuals with advanced technical knowledge. But without soft skills, employees are likely to lack the ability to adapt to challenges and come up with creative solutions to problems that arise. Fostering cooperation and collaboration might be difficult, if not impossible.

Leaders, especially, need to master emotional intelligence to motivate and encourage their employees. Consider that negative emotions — such as anger and resentment — will result in bad morale not just for the individual, but also for everyone who works with them. These emotions need to be addressed. On the other hand, an effective leader will notice positive emotions like resilience, optimism and the satisfaction of learning from one’s mistakes. These can be encouraged and turned into teachable moments, leveraging positivity to reach further goals.

Emotional intelligence enables a leader to bring out the best in their teams as a coach or mentor. And individuals who master emotional intelligence will learn to recognize, analyze and communicate their own emotions to their leaders and coworkers in a healthy and constructive way. This will result in more teamwork, better conflict resolution and a more productive, enjoyable experience for all.

Mastering Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills

Some people have a natural aptitude for emotional intelligence and other soft skills. They can effortlessly display empathy and understanding without even realizing it. But none of this means that these skills can’t be learned and practiced, either. On the contrary: These abilities are a set of skills that anyone can learn and improve with practice.

This can be especially limiting for employers if they think of emotional intelligence and soft skills as something a candidate learns by living in the real world … or that they either have them or they don’t. Such assumptions can limit choices when it comes to hiring decisions.

By understanding the competencies involved in these skills, and that they can be learned, organizations can build the teams they need to thrive.

Create a More Fulfilling Environment With Soft Skills and Emotional Intelligence

In today’s workplace, there is a greater understanding of the value of individual fulfillment. Managers know that happy, satisfied people are more productive and that productivity equals success. Meanwhile, unfulfilled employees are not engaged. Whether they quit or stay and continue to do less than their best, the organization suffers.

Individuals with developed soft skills and emotional intelligence excel at what they do. This can translate into a brighter future, in terms of job satisfaction, career advancement and financial gain. Best of all, these skills are transferable to any job, as well as to one’s personal life.

In sum, prioritizing soft skills and emotional intelligence is essential in the workplace: It benefits both individual employees and the business at large.