Soft skills are a set of interpersonal characteristics that enable a person to interact effectively with others. They are different from hard skills, which are specific qualities that can be clearly defined, measured, and taught for success in a job. Soft skills include attributes and personality traits that help employees effectively interact with others and succeed in the workplace. Examples of soft skills include communication, leadership, problem-solving, critical thinking, empathy, work ethic, time management, and teamwork. Soft skills can be taught, but they are not as straightforward as hard skills. They require situational awareness to know when to use which skill. Soft skills are more difficult to acquire through formal training, and they are dependent upon intangible factors.
A positive attitude is a key ingredient to strengthening soft skills and growing a career. Soft skills are unlike hard skills in that they require situational awareness to know when to use which skill. Soft skills are character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize a persons ability to interact effectively with others. Workers with good soft skills can help companies achieve higher levels of efficiency and productivity.