As a teenager, I stepped out with my Sony Walkman, fitted the spongy earphone to my ears, and sang ‘We all need the human touch’.
They were the words written by my first crush, Australian-born Musician, 'Rick Springfield'. He wrote in 1983, ‘Everybody’s talking to computers, they’re all dancing to a drum machine’. And yet here we are in 2023. Things haven’t changed; in fact, they got a whole lot worse.
Recent reports from Yahoo Finance and Insider suggest that ‘soft skills’ are on the decline, with Gen Z’ers being hit the hardest. Citing them as lazy, unable to use their own initiative and lacking the basic skills and understanding of acting and presenting themselves in the workplace.
In response to this skills shortage, some of the largest Consulting Companies, such as PwC, Deloitte and KPMG, are offering training courses to bridge the gap and help improve workplace culture.
What are soft skills?
Soft skills are defined as character traits, personal and interpersonal skills and attributes that are difficult to measure but are big red flags that have the potential to make any environment feel like a war zone when they’re lacking.
Unlike hard skills, which are teachable, quantitative, and measurable, soft skills are subjective, and although they can be taught and improved, many come from within a person and are part of their essence.
What do soft skills feel like? Soft skills can convey a person's authenticity and sincerity. They help people to feel valued, included and understood. They also generate positive energy, magnetically drawing people in and lifting those around them, motivating, encouraging, and bringing out the best in people. They appear in openness and trust, creating safe spaces and building loyalty and respect.
They might not necessarily be credited on a cv or reference for the very same reasons why they are hard to measure. Still, they are equally, if not more important, as a person's knowledge and experience.
Digitalisation – Help or Hinder?
It is considered in this digital age, where vast amounts of business and communication are conducted online, that the skills that make human interaction personable and enjoyable are on the decline. With ‘working from home’, video calls, text and instant messaging the norm, people are feeling a lot less ‘peopley’ and more like ‘things’.
Chatbots, auto-replies, texts and emails are filled with programmed pleasantries, and as the capabilities of Ai grow, real human interaction will become an outdated and cost-ineffective form of communication.
As humans, our need for social connection originates from caveman times when our safety and survival relied on the help and support of others. Since survival is no longer our main priority, our needs have changed, but we still rely on those bonds for acceptance, a sense of belonging, love and friendship – ‘We all need the human touch’.
Covid-19
It would be fatuous to fail to acknowledge the global pandemic's impact on how we communicate, as well as the imprint it left on our mental health and well-being. However, as life returned to normal and hugs were warmly given and received, for some face-to-face interaction has become an anxiety-raising and challenging concept.
How can we help?
It would be safe to say, that a high-performance, happy workforce where everything is running tickety-boo is an ideal that is almost impossible to achieve. But we can do our bit by recognising the importance of these skills, and instead of drawing attention to those who have suffered and missed out on learning, and many have taken for granted, let's see this as an opportunity to build a better community and ask people, ‘How can I help you?’
Discuss with your teams, business leaders and colleagues which areas need the most attention.
Offer shadowing or mentoring to those who need help.
Arrange for additional training and learning opportunities.
Encourage people to talk and discuss their feelings and fears so that they can feel heard and understood.
Offer a buddy system to help them feel more secure.
Ask for a preferred form of communication to help avoid causing further stress.
If possible, avoid putting people on the spot to speak (especially publicly)
Publish an agenda for meetings or processes so that people can feel prepared.
Ensure company policies, procedures and handbooks are up to date with clear information for employees to refer to if they need guidance.
Offer counselling or Employee assistance for professional, confidential support.
Do not shame or victimise those who are struggling. Helping them in their time of need builds trust, loyalty and respect. – Soft skills that they can learn from you.
As businesses, we have seen the problems that face us when there is a gap in skills, but as colleagues, friends and humans, we should never take these attributes for granted or take advantage of. They are gifts that improve our lives, work, businesses and relationships, so it is vital to nurture and cultivate the people who give them freely, for these people choose to give their best every time because that’s who they are.
These are the guardians of your business!
References:
Yahoo Finance – Paolo Confino – July 10th 2023
Insider Magazine – Jordan Hart – August 3rd 2023
Available - https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-workers-are-lazy-lack-soft-skills-managers-say-2023-8
LinkedIn – Article
Rick Springfield - Human Touch - 1983
Comments