Published Aug 18, 2026 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 18, 2026 | 7:00 AM
(Special Arrangement)
Synopsis: With technology transforming the services sector and routine tasks increasingly automated, technical competence alone isn’t enough anymore. Soft skills such as communication, teamwork, adaptability and judgement are becoming essential to professional success.
The education system in India over the last several years has focused on scores rather than knowledge and marks rather than practical skills. This meant that even meritorious students were left handicapped at times. However, the new educational policy has placed increased emphasis on the concept of ‘Skills’.
Skills are goal-directed, well-organised, and acquired through practice and performance. They can be split into two: Hard Skills and Soft Skills.
Hard skills mean a person’s skill set and ability to perform a certain kind of task or activity, which include, among other things, related professional knowledge and tools and techniques that are learnt, can be defined, and evaluated. They include job skills, which could be presented in a resume, along with educational qualifications. Hard skills are the ability to read, write and express oneself verbally and could also include proficiency in typing, computer applications, developing software programs, web designing, etc. The ability to do the job has been considered a hard skill.
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There is a saying that while hard skills get you the job interview, soft skills take you to the top. Soft skills mean the ability to listen to people in such a way that one understands what they mean and why they said it that way, and the ability to ask for something in an effortless manner. Management guru Peter Drucker famously went further, observing, “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.”
Soft skills are needed in the daily interaction with others. They govern our behaviour at meetings, towards colleagues, on the phone and the way we approach problems. These skills are not easily measurable and stand in contrast to technical skills. While hard skills are rule-based, technological, tool/technique based, methodical, replicable and tangible, soft skills are experience-based, people-rated, behavioural, non-specific, general, trans-situational and intangible.
Soft skills are especially important in business. It is essential to be technically sound, but one should also have the ability to convey the idea to the masses in the simplest possible manner. LinkedIn’s global talent trends report highlights how over 90% of talent professionals believe soft skills are as, if not more, important than hard skills. Subjects like IT applications and marketing management can be taught in the classroom and studied at home. But not soft skills.
Soft skills are personal attributes that enhance the individual’s interactions, job performance and career prospects. They are personality-driven skills like etiquette, getting along with others, listening and engaging in tasks. They are the complete collection of our social, communication and self-management behaviours.
A list of soft skills includes effective interaction, co-operation, responsibility, sociability, accountability, social grace, ethical behaviour, self-management, acceptance of others, listening skills, learning from others, self-confidence, ability to accept, learning from objective criticism and winning commitment.
It also includes effective qualities such as questioning skills, emotional management, stress management, speaking with confidence, critical thinking, working under pressure, influencing skills, creativity/innovation, organisation skills, interviewing skills, diagnostic insight/ problem solving, reasoning power and having a positive attitude.
Here are some tips to develop soft skills.
What is most important is to avoid belittling anyone. Look for something to like in everyone, help others and help them like you’d want to be helped. Love first, love best and love most.
Further, get your priorities straight. Know what you value and become what you value. Speak the truth. Always remember to say something good and respect responsibility and leadership. If you’ve good character, nothing else matters.
Training in soft skills becomes all the more relevant in a country like India, where the education system does not delve into personality development. We do not have it in our academic curricula. Soft skills entail developing various competencies such as optimism, learning the skill of educating, motivating and activating people’s innate leadership abilities, identifying legacies of leadership and defining your dreams. Learning to apply the lessons learned through failure as a means to grow personally and help others. Learning the skill of being authentic is another key competency.
Illustrative soft skills include ‘Courtesy’ and ‘teamwork’. Courtesy indeed could be reflected in the habitual use of “please,” “thank you,” “excuse me,” and “may I help you?” while dealing with users, supervisors, and colleagues. Teamwork indeed means the ability to share responsibilities, confer with others, honour commitments, help others do their jobs, and seek help when needed. The best secret for acquiring soft skills is to be your own trainer, observe your own behaviour in the group, how you relate to others and introspect on how you react to feedback.
Both technical and soft skills complement each other, and the balance between these two is what makes a complete Professional. The real key to success in any job is making your soft skills and hard skills complement each other. Remember, life is what you make of it.
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(Surjith Karthikeyan serves as Director, Ministry of Finance. Views are personal. Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
