However, the very technological disruption that is transforming jobs can also provide the key to creating them – and help us learn new skills. 

Active learning, learning capabilities and creativity will make a difference and climb up the ranking of most in-demand skills for 2022.

Emotional intelligence and leadership abilities will continue to be sought after. 

Computational thinking and programming will be crucial. 

The World Economic Forum advises us on the essential skills to develop today and tomorrow, with predictions for 2022. They are essentially soft skills. Here is the list of essential soft skills for 2022:

2. Active learning and learning strategies 
3. Creativity, originality and initiative 
4. Technology design and programming 
5. Critical thinking and analysis 
6. Complex problem-solving 
7. Leadership and social influence 
8. Emotional intelligence 
9. Reasoning, problem-solving and ideation 
10. Systems analysis and evaluation 

Many organisations focus on performance management and product knowledge training because they directly impact company sales. But they fail to recognise the importance of soft skills even though abilities such as communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving are at the core of business. In every department and job, employees must strengthen their interpersonal skills to improve customer service stats and build a stronger team dynamic. Here are a few benefits that highlight the importance of honing soft skills in the workplace: 

Soft skills improve employee performance and productivity across the board. Staff are able to manage their time more effectively and communicate their thoughts with ease. This allows them to speed up task completion times without compromising quality. A stronger team dynamic, thanks to interpersonal skills, also facilitates greater collaboration. Everyone understands their role and works together to achieve common goals.  

Lack of self-awareness and confidence makes things risky in the workplace. For example, an employee is unable to communicate with their manager or adapt to new policies or protocols. Potentially they could break the rules or violate company policy. Soft skills help them mitigate risks and solve problems on their own. They use creative reasoning to think of all possible approaches and repercussions to achieve the best outcomes.  

The most direct benefit of soft skills in the workplace is an increase in customer satisfaction. Employees are better equipped to actively listen to consumers' needs, identify the problem, and help them resolve it. They also have more empathy- a essential quality in the customer service department.  

Happy customers lead to more sales. Soft skills in the workplace also benefit your sales team during the negotiation process. Employees can use their skills to engage with the customer on a personal level without blurring their professional boundaries. They take the time to discuss the consumers' pain points and match them with the right product. They also overcome buying reluctance with tact.  

It's not only the front-end customers who reap the rewards of soft skills training. Your employee becomes a cohesive unit because they're able to collaborate and respect each other's perspective. These skills build a stronger team and a sense of community. Everyone remains positive and faces challenges with optimism. They treat every new obstacle as an opportunity to grow and identify personal areas for improvement. In many respects, skill-based training makes them more well-rounded. You're not simply focusing on their sales pitch or compliance knowledge.  

Another notable perk of soft skills in the workplace is greater self-confidence and self-esteem. Employees know they have what it takes to complete their job duties. Training has given them all the tools they need to overcome challenges and creatively resolve their differences. There are also fewer conflicts so that team members can rely on each other for moral support. Then, there are the stress-reducing benefits. Increased confidence and assurance lead to lower stress levels; mistakes become a learning opportunity.  

 7. Improve Employee Retention 

You retain top talent because they have all the essential skills. You've invested in their professional growth, and it pays off. You don't have to pay to hire and train their replacements. You hold on to top performers who continue to widen your profit margin. 

Soft skills boost online training benefits by improving knowledge retention. Employee training participants can manage their time more efficiently and get the most from experience. They encounter a problem and immediately turn to the training library because they possess strong planning, organisation, and self-evaluation skills.  

Employees who have improved their soft skills and are entering a jobs marketplace which is saturated with applicants have a distinct advantage in being hired. This is a major bonus for management as they are not just developing an employee to collaborate and develop within their organisation but also progressing to the next chapter outside. 

The payoff to the employer is increased employee engagement, well-being and job satisfaction. This will make the business stickier, retaining employees and attracting new talent. 

 Soft skills in the workplace are more challenging to measure because they're nuanced. There are no business reports and sales stats to evaluate employee proficiency. You can't simply conduct a multiple-choice exam to identify pre-existing gaps. However, you can use LMS metrics, Coaching, Events for collaboration (e.g Virtual Escape Rooms), Personalised Certification Courses and real-world assessments to gauge your employee’s professional development. These will identify areas for improvement and help your team boost productivity and reduce risks. These tools also will increase staff retention, employee satisfaction, engagement and well-being which will eventually effect your bottom line.  

 In essence improving soft skills combined with all the elements outlined will create a happy and productive workplace to future-proof your business. 

CareerJay combines Soft Skills Assessments that enable employees to upskill and develop through Online Courses, Coaches and Events. Companies deposit money into Employee Wallets and empower their people to take control of their career journey. As a bonus CareerJay comes with Well-being built in, truly offering a wraparound employee and business solution to our rapidly changing landscape. 

Check out this introduction video to CareerJay: