The Most Essential Soft Skills for Companies in 2021

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, new roles that complement automation and new kinds of work saw an increase in demand for soft skills. Over the past year, that acceleration has only magnified the need for businesses to hire for, train and cultivate the right kind of skills among their workforces.

New ManpowerGroup research as revealed that a K-shaped, two-speed recovery is emerging as countries lift restrictions and return to work. Some industries and people are bouncing back faster and better – those in growth sectors and with high demand skills – while others are at risk of falling further behind. It is predicted that by 2025, humans and machines will split work-related tasks 50-50, while 97 million new jobs will emerge in AI, the Green economy and Care economy.

As the workforce moves quickly into a new chapter in the digital era, here are the soft skills that will be most beneficial to companies focused on future proofing their workforce.

Drawing on multiple people’s talents from diverse backgrounds is the best way to foster the creativity and innovation needed to find solutions to today’s complex challenges. This includes the soft skills of being able to connect people between a variety of styles, generations and work environments. And, as the business environment becomes more complex and flexible work arrangements continue, effective communication skills will be even more essential. The collaborative nature of leaders and workers will be able to add value and glue together disparate elements to create more than the sum of their parts.

Computers can generate big data. Spreadsheets can help analyse numbers. Machines can help automate responses and generate outcomes. But at the end of the day, humans are still needed to see the big picture, communicate effectively, incorporate data, feedback and insights to solve problems and make sound decisions. When there isn’t always a clear road map, the ability to think holistically and consider long-term implications is essential.

With uncertainty the norm, organisations need employees who can effectively navigate challenging environments, motivate teams and produce results. That is why transparency, resilience, and optimism are such essential traits of today’s leaders.

While automation is augmenting work, effective teamwork and collaboration among humans will only increase in importance. A leader must, therefore, possess the interpersonal skills to guide and motivate teams to deliver results even in the midst of change and ambiguity.

Having the right soft skills will be even more essential as organisations transform and digitise at speed and scale. The biggest challenge, however, will be to bring all people to this transformation so that nobody is left behind.

Download the report ‘Skills Revolution Reboot: The 3Rs – Renew, Reskill, Redeploy’ for more insights on today’s most essential soft skills and how to find them in a competitive market.