The hard truth about soft skills

Vinnie Bhadra

Posted On Tuesday, September 07, 2010 at 03:06:32 PM

Though you may be academically more competent and technically sounder than your peers,
have you wondered why you were not considered for a promotion this year, despite your many
credentials? There could be a possibility that you aren't equipped with soft skills

In today’s competitive environment, we all know that it is not enough to be the best in your field,
intellectually. Competency is only half of what you need to climb the corporate ladder. The other
half, the most important aspect in today’s times, is the softer side of you. In other words - the soft
skills you possess that define your personality, the part of you that will be liked, admired, trusted
and remembered.

‘What matters most?’ is a question that plagues the mind of many employers as well employees
during the hiring process.  “Indian companies are growing to be more competitive, both locally
and globally. To derive a competitive edge, they need to attract talented people on one hand and
business opportunities on the other. To achieve this, they need people who are able to work with
teams, have strong interpersonal skills and are able to communicate and influence others across
levels, functions and cultures in a sensitive manner,” says Ritu Malhotra, assistant director- HR,
Canon India.

Soft skills have taken precedence over many factors like academic qualifications, work
experience and technical know-how today. Though these factors are not totally alienated, HR
personnel today are willing to compromise on them to a certain limit, provided the individual is
well equipped with soft skills. “Today, we co-exist in a world of meritocracy and not mediocrity.
A professional cannot expect to be appraised based solely on his/her technical knowledge and
work output. Being equipped with a considerable amount of soft skills, is vital today,” says
Shailesh Thaker, chief mentor, Knowledge Inc.
The difference between soft skills and hard skills is that soft skills are transferable skills
necessary in every domain while hard skills are confined to a particular domain.  Hard skills
stress on ‘what you say’, not ‘how you say it’. In contrast, soft skills emphasise on ‘how you say’
and not on ‘what you say’. Most recruiters feel that soft skills cannot be imparted, unlike hard
skills that can be imbibed over a period of time. "And for the same reason today, soft skills have
become an important part of a working professional’s KRA (Key Result Area) and no KRA
sheet can actually be designed without their inclusion,” adds Thaker.

Stressing the above point, Jayashri Ramamurti - head of people Operations for Engineering and
Product, Google India says, “Nowadays, close attention is paid (during the hiring process) to a
person's ability to work in a team, lead projects independently, work collaboratively and
communicate well. Being able to lead and work cross-functionally, is an integral part of the
journey that leads to success.” Many companies today use tools and techniques, which measure
not just functional know-how, but also personality and behavioural patterns as well.
Psychometric tools and BEI (Behavior Event Interview) have become extremely popular ways of
assessing an individual’s softer aspect. Every individual has various elements in their personality
and there is nothing good or bad about the same; it is about how they manage the same in a
professional environment and fit in with the softer requirements of a job.

In today’s competitive environment, we all know that it is not enough to be the best in your field,
intellectually. Competency is only half of what you need to climb the corporate ladder.

The other half, the most important aspect in today’s times, is the softer side of you. In other words, the
soft skills you possess that define your personality, the part of you that will be liked, admired, trusted
and remembered. ‘What matters most?’ is a question that plagues the mind of many employers as well
employees during the hiring process.

“Indian companies are growing to be more competitive, both locally and globally. To derive a
competitive edge, they need to attract talented people on one hand and business opportunities on the
other. To achieve this, they need people who are able to work with teams, have strong interpersonal
skills and are able to communicate and influence others across levels, functions and cultures in a
sensitive manner,” says Ritu Malhotra, assistant director- HR, Canon India.
Soft skills have taken precedence over many factors like academic qualifications, work experience and
technical know-how today.

Though these factors are not totally alienated, HR personnel today are willing to compromise on them
to a certain limit, provided the individual is well equipped with soft skills.

“Today, we co-exist in a world of meritocracy and not mediocrity. A professional cannot expect to be
appraised based solely on his/her technical knowledge and work output. Being equipped with a
considerable amount of soft skills, is vital today,” says Shailesh Thaker, chief mentor, Knowledge Inc.

The difference between soft skills and hard skills is that soft skills are transferable skills necessary in
every domain while hard skills are confined to a particular domain.
Hard skills stress on ‘what you say’, not ‘how you say it’. In contrast, soft skills emphasise on ‘how you
say’ and not on ‘what you say’.

Most recruiters feel that soft skills cannot be imparted, unlike hard skills that can be imbibed over a
period of time.

"And for the same reason today, soft skills have become an important part of a working professional’s
KRA (Key Result Area) and no KRA sheet can actually be designed without their inclusion,” adds Thaker.

Stressing the above point, Jayashri Ramamurti, head of people Operations for Engineering and Product,
Google India says, “Nowadays, close attention is paid (during the hiring process) to a person's ability to
work in a team, lead projects independently, work collaboratively and communicate well. Being able to
lead and work cross-functionally, is an integral part of the journey that leads to success.”

Many companies today use tools and techniques, which measure not just functional know-how, but also
personality and behavioural patterns as well.

Psychometric tools and BEI (Behavior Event Interview) have become extremely popular ways of
assessing an individual’s softer aspect.

Every individual has various elements in their personality and there is nothing good or bad about the
same; it is about how they manage the same in a professional environment and fit in with the softer
requirements of a job.