Soft skills are the new hard according to Australian author and communications specialist, Leah Mether.
Ms Mether, who has published a book for leaders titled ‘Soft is the New Hard: How to Communicate Effectively Under Pressure’, said soft skills such as those demonstrated by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the wake of the Christchurch terrorist attack, were increasingly being recognised as essential for leadership success.
According to Ms Mether, ‘soft skills’ is the name given to non-job-specific skills and personal attributes that create human connection and make someone good to work with, not simply good at what they do.
Skills like communication, emotional intelligence, empathy, mindset, resilience, and adaptability.
“Jacinda Ardern is a wonderful example of a leader with exceptional soft skills,” Ms Mether said.
“She is leading with humanity, compassion, connection and empathy, while steering her country through one of its darkest and most challenging times.
“Soft skills don’t make her weak, they actually make her incredibly strong, influential and effective.”
After decades skewed towards valuing hard, technical skills, Ms Mether said a worldwide awakening was happening across a wide range of industries to the value of soft skills.
“Don’t let the name fool you; soft skills are not easy. They’re often more difficult to master than ‘hard’ job-specific technical skills that require years of formal study and work experience, yet they’re essential for career and personal success,” Ms Mether said.
“Studies are being released around the globe that show soft skills are essential for high performance and they’re also the skills of the future because they’re hard to outsource and automate.”
According to a report published by Deloitte Access Economics titled ‘Soft skills for business success’ in May 2017, soft skill-intensive occupations will account for two-thirds of all jobs in Australia by 2030, compared to half of all jobs in 2000.
Ms Mether said soft skills were particularly important for leaders.
“As one leader said to me recently, ‘why does no-one tell you the hardest part of leadership is the people bit?’ And it’s true. Many leaders have been promoted on the back of their technical skills and experience, but don’t know how to lead.
“They’ve never been taught the foundations of how to stay calm under pressure, have difficult conversations, or build strong relationships with people who have a different communication style to them.
“It’s their lack of soft skills that brings them undone.”
Ms Mether, who runs workshops on a range of communication and soft skill topics, said her book featured many stories and examples to teach leaders how to improve their communication and self-management under pressure.
“No-one is a perfect communicator, everyone can improve and in my book I show you how.”
Soft is the New Hard: How to Communicate Effectively Under Pressure is available in paperback, e-book and audiobook. For further information visit https://leahmether.com.au.
