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Hard skills vs soft skills
In the world of work, hard skills are technical or administrative procedures related to an organizations core business. Examples include machine operation, computer protocols, safety standards, financial procedures and sales administration. These skills are typically easy to observe, quantify and measure. They are also easy to train, because most of the time the skill sets are brand new to the learner and no unlearning is involved.
By contrast, soft skills (also called people skills) are typically hard to observe, quantify and measure. People skills are needed for everyday life as much as they are 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.