Building strong teams: Why soft skills matter when hiring
In the fast-paced and ever-evolving landscape of the modern workplace, technical skills alone are no longer sufficient for success. Employers are increasingly recognising the important role that soft skills and personal attributes play in their business.
In our latest blog we’ll highlight the importance of soft skills when building a strong, productive team.
What are ‘soft skills’
The term describes the non-technical abilities that individuals demonstrate in the workplace. Sometimes referred to as ‘people skills’, soft skills include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, time management, adaptability and leadership, amongst others.
Unlike technical credentials, which are specific to a particular job or industry, soft skills are transferable and contribute to an individual’s overall effectiveness in any professional setting.
Why soft skills matter in the hiring process
Team collaboration
These skills have a direct impact on team dynamics and foster a positive working environment. By having a team with these abilities, you’ll create a workplace where team members can communicate effectively with each other, resolve problems and work collaboratively to aligned goals.
Client and Customer relations
The technical ability to perform a task isn’t enough when dealing with clients and stakeholders. For those in customer-facing roles, soft skills are essential. Employees who are able to express active listening, empathy and problem-solve are important in building client relationships. As any business knows, once you forge a strong relationship with your clients, this leads to customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Problem solving
In today’s dynamic business environment, adaptability and problem-solving skills are critical for navigating change and overcoming challenges.
Critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity are all essential when finding solutions to complex challenges. Employers should be looking for candidates who can approach situations with a fresh perspective, think critically and collaborate with others to brainstorm ideas.
Leadership and Management
If you research what makes a good leader or manager, you’re going to find reference to several soft skills. The ability to communicate, demonstrate active listening, show empathy and make decisions, are all key components to a management-level position. Leaders who possess these skills will motivate and inspire their teams, leading to a positive company culture from the top.
What makes a successful workforce
To summarise, we believe that employers must recognise the importance of these skills within their teams when looking at the hiring process.
Whilst technical skills are important, a successful workforce should possess a mix of both.
By recognising the importance and value of soft skills, businesses will build teams that are not only skilled, but also adaptable, collaborative and innovative.
How do we support businesses in the hiring process?
When working with our clients, we will ask about the appropriate skills when taking briefs on the roles. This is an important stage where we will be able to prompt them to share both the soft skills and hard skills required for their positions.
After receiving the brief, we can then devise a job advert to reflect their needs, ensuring that all skills are highlighted throughout.
Want to know more?
To have a conversation with our team about how we can help you attract candidates with more soft skills, get in touch today.