Essential Soft Skills for 2024

A few decades ago, high professional skills in your field alone would have granted you a good position and a nice-figure salary. Today, the situation has changed dramatically, and technical or "hard" skills are no longer enough. With technological advancements and AI, technical tasks are more automated while human or "soft" skills, such as problem-solving, communication, and creativity, are gaining increasing value.

Soft skills are personal skills related to how you work and interact with others. While hard skills are mostly gained through formal education and tied to the industry, soft skills are universal and developed through life experiences, attitudes, and communication. Creativity, respect, empathy, critical thinking, and listening are just a few examples of soft skills.

According to recent LinkedIn research, 92% of modern HR managers say soft skills are more important than technical ones. 89% of respondents noted that the main problem with bad hires is their insufficient soft skills. But what are the crucial soft skills that HRs look for? Let's discover the top 5 in this article.

Recently, CashNetUSA researched the most desirable soft skill in the USA for a highly paid position. They analyzed publicly available data from Indeed.com, focusing only on the positions in the top 25% wage bracket. The most valuable soft skill, appearing in nearly 65% of job postings, is strategic thinking.

Strategic thinking is the ability to analyze complex situations, consider multiple perspectives, and make informed decisions that align with long-term goals. It's about seeing the big picture and understanding how various elements fit together to achieve desired outcomes.

Strategic thinking is a must for leaders, however, it is also a necessary trait for managers and high-achieving non-leadership professionals.

A curious mindset is your key. Ask probing questions about situations, processes, and outcomes. Challenge assumptions, seek out diverse perspectives, and explore alternative viewpoints.

Analytical skills are the next vital component of strategic thinking. Looking for patterns, trends, and relationships within information can be an excellent exercise to develop them.

Critical thinking is integral for a strategic mind. To practice it, evaluate information objectively and critically, looking for potential logical fallacies and biases. Another great exercise is to analyze and consider the possible consequences of different actions.

Finally, follow the example of colleagues and leaders and ask for their feedback when possible. Read books, articles, and case studies on strategic management.

Communication tops the list of 2024 Most In-Demand Skills, according to LinkedIn. Career expert Catherine Fisher calls communication one of the "most widely needed, transferable skills, relevant to almost every job and industry." She explains that the importance of communication stems from the recent advancements in AI, the spread of remote and hybrid work arrangements, and the fact that the job market now consists of five generations, each with a different communication style.

Effective communication includes three vital aspects: verbal, non-verbal, and written.

For effective verbal communication, you must be able to express your thoughts clearly and concisely and be an active listener.

How to be an active listener

Focus on the speaker and try to understand their viewpoint. If you have any questions or information to add, let them finish their thoughts before responding.

Recap what you've heard to ensure understanding.

How to express your thoughts clearly and concisely

While speaking, be specific. Use clear and direct language and avoid jargon so everyone can understand you. Structure your thoughts logically and consistently, and avoid including irrelevant information in your speech. Use strong, direct language and speak clearly and loud enough for every participant to hear you well.

Non-verbal communication is body language, facial expressions, gestures, and posture. Nonverbal cues often complement or contradict verbal messages.

To attract your conversation partner(s), maintain eye contact - this way you will show your interest and engagement. Do not cross your arms or legs, use open body language. If your conversation partner belongs to a different culture, it is worth learning its non-verbal communication peculiarities, such as unacceptable gestures, differences in gesture meanings, etc.

Finally, match verbal and nonverbal cues. Ensure consistency in your message: for example, if you say you are glad to see the person, your facial expression should convey the same.

Written communication encompasses communication through written text, such as emails, reports, and presentations. Much like verbal communication, it emphasizes clarity, and conciseness, and requires grammar.

Today's world changes rapidly, and the ability to adapt to new business landscapes and technologies has not lost its relevance. In its 2024 Most In-Demand Skills research, LinkedIn calls it the top "skill of the moment".

Adaptability is adjusting to new situations, challenges, or environments. It encompasses flexibility, resilience, and a willingness to learn and grow. Adaptability helps organizations and individuals stay focused and act most efficiently in the changing environment.

How to become more adaptable

The key to developing adaptability is to step out of your comfort zone and welcome changes in your life. Challenge yourself to try new things, from something small like taking a different route home, to something bigger, such as changing your routine work pipeline. View these changes positively as opportunities to grow and learn. And if you face a challenge or a setback, don't dwell on your failures. Take it as an opportunity to build your resilience and learn from your mistakes.

Avoid rigid thinking and be open to different opinions, perspectives, and approaches. Such a mindset will help you develop flexibility and explore alternative viewpoints.

Leadership is the ability to influence and inspire others to achieve a common goal. A good leader has a clear vision of the desired result, can convey it, work out an effective roadmap to achieve it, and make sound decisions along the way. A leader is not just a title, but a role model who guides and empowers others.

It may seem that leadership is a vital soft skill for managerial positions only. However, good leaders are valued in other positions too. They are exceptional mentors to their colleagues and new hires and excellent guides for their teams.

How to brush up your leadership skills

The first step towards being a good leader is understanding your strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations. What are you best at? What skills do you lack? What drives you forward and inspires you? What leadership style suits you best?

Once you figure these out, you can target specific skills that you may be lacking or would like to master better. Being a leader does not mean you can stop learning - quite the reverse, best leaders use every opportunity to gain new practical knowledge and skills. Getting a coach or a mentor is an excellent way to assess your current skills and guide your professional development.

Learning does not work without practice, so take leadership roles in your current position when you have a chance. Begin with small steps, analyze your actions and results, find what works best, and gradually grow your leadership skills.

Time management is a group of skills that include planning, setting priorities, organizing, and allocating time to achieve maximum productivity.

Time management is a must-have skill for anyone, from a student to a top manager in today's fast-paced world. You can accomplish more in less time, reduce stress from the seemingly neverending flow of tasks, and balance work and personal life better.

How to master time management

Start by setting short and long-term tasks and prioritizing them. Break down large tasks into smaller manageable steps. Focus on the most important ones first.

Time blocking and an efficient schedule are your best friends. There are plenty of convenient planning and time-blocking apps, such as Notion, Things, Google Calendar, and Todoist. If you are committed to traditions, you can use a good old notebook and a pen. Develop an efficient weekly or daily schedule that will include not only time for the most important tasks but also breaks and leisure activities that will allow you to recharge.

Observe your work process and identify things distracting you: notifications, your phone, or an endless shorts carousel on YouTube. Think of ways to minimize these distractions: disable unimportant notifications, install an app that will temporarily block your phone screen for a focus session, or use a program such as CleverControl that will block access to unproductive sites.

Finally, your schedule should not be set in stone. Regularly review it and make the necessary improvements.

We spoke with Quinn Taylor, the head of marketing at one of CleverControl's client companies. Quinn's career path is an incredible example of how important soft skills are for professional growth.

"I studied History at college, - says Quinn, - but after graduation I understood that I don't want to work in this field. I was really interested in marketing and tried to study it by myself, but I was obviously lacking experience. Nevertheless, I decided to try my luck and apply for junior positions in this field."

After a series of interviews with various companies, Quinn managed to get the role of a marketing assistant. Although she lacked professional knowledge, during the interview she focused on her adaptability and ability to learn quickly.

"The learning curve was steep. I remember feeling overwhelmed by the volume of information and the pace of the industry, - Quinn admits, - but I realized that my communication skills and ability to adapt were my huge advantage."

Quinn managed to build a strong support network of her colleagues. They kindly helped her gain the lacking hard skills. Additionally, her desire to learn and adaptability helped her quickly grasp new concepts and technologies. "I took online courses, attended industry conferences, and sought mentorship from colleagues with stronger technical backgrounds," Quinn says.

As Quinn made progress in the new field, she understood that she needed to focus not only on her technical skills but also on soft skills. "As I took on more responsibilities, the ability to lead and manage a team became a must for me. Time management also played a significant role. Juggling learning, multiple projects, and deadlines required discipline and organization."

Now Quinn is the head of marketing at her company. "It was a combination of both hard and soft skills that propelled me forward," she says.

While professional knowledge remains valuable, the importance of soft skills is hard to underestimate - more and more HR managers believe them to be equally or more important than hard skills.

In this article, we explored the five key soft skills for 2024: strategic thinking, communication, adaptability, leadership, and time management. Each of these skills will help you to navigate complex situations, build strong relationships, and achieve success in today's dynamic environment.

However, these skills often do not appear naturally; they require conscious work and training, dedication and practice, and willingness to learn and grow. Invest in yourself now and grow your career!