soft skills

/sɒft skɪlz/
noun phraseIntermediate interpersonal and communication abilities
💼Business
formal

Personal attributes that enable effective interaction and collaboration with others, such as communication, teamwork, and emotional intelligence.

During the interview, the hiring manager emphasized the importance of soft skills like adaptability and problem-solving.

This highlights how soft skills are prioritized in professional settings.

💡

Soft skills are often contrasted with 'hard skills,' which are technical or job-specific abilities.

informal

Non-technical abilities that contribute to personal and professional success, including emotional intelligence and social awareness.

Soft skills like empathy and active listening help build strong relationships in both personal and professional life.

This demonstrates the broader applicability of soft skills beyond the workplace.

💡

These skills are increasingly recognized as essential for leadership and team dynamics.

Collocations

develop soft skillsto improve interpersonal abilitieslack of soft skillsdeficiency in communication or teamwork

Related Phrases

hard skillsphrase
technical or job-specific abilities
emotional intelligencephrase
the ability to understand and manage emotions

💡Pro Tip

Practice Active Listening

Improving soft skills starts with listening more than speaking in conversations.

Gold Rule

Soft Skills Are Transferable

Unlike hard skills, soft skills apply across industries and roles.

📖Word Origin

The term 'soft skills' emerged in the late 20th century to describe non-technical abilities that enhance workplace performance.

📝Usage Notes

While 'soft skills' is widely used in business and psychology, some argue the term is misleading as these skills require significant effort to develop.

Word Breakdown

soft
non-technical, interpersonal
adjective
+
skills
abilities or competencies
noun
English Dictionary