Editorial
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the global workforce by enhancing efficiency and redefining job roles across sectors. In healthcare, AI algorithms accurately diagnose diseases, while in finance, machine learning models predict market trends. AI also streamlines manufacturing with robotic automation and improves customer service through 24/7 chatbots, demonstrating its capacity to augment human capabilities.
As AI reshapes the workplace by automating technical and repetitive tasks, research shows that the spotlight turns increasingly towards human-centric or "soft skills" as the cornerstone for future workforce success. While the surge in AI integration elevates the demand for technical prowess, it simultaneously underscores the irreplaceable value of skills that foster human connection and creativity.
Dave Barnett, Chief Administrative Officer, DeVry University, sees this trend: “As generative AI takes over a bigger part of what we do, durable skills are going to become more pronounced and significant. Generative AI is going to move toward staff augmentation and make people better at what they do.”
Employers are now recognizing that the essence of a truly effective workforce lies not just in its technical capabilities but profoundly in its soft skills. In fact, a study demonstrated that skills such as critical thinking, leadership and management, creativity and communication are considered some of the most valuable skills in tomorrow’s economy. These skills facilitate seamless human interactions, spur innovation and drive collaborative success in an AI-dominated landscape. This paradigm shift invites a strategic refocusing on nurturing these indispensable human skills to empower and future-proof our workforce.
Current State and Challenges of Soft Skills Development
Organizations increasingly acknowledge the critical role of soft skills. This has prompted a shift towards prioritizing these skills alongside technical expertise in recruitment and development strategies. Consequently, companies are increasingly integrating soft skills assessments into their hiring processes and updating training programs to emphasize holistic, lifelong learning and continuous improvement.
While there is a consensus on the importance of soft skills, they are often more subjective and nuanced, lacking the quantifiable metrics of hard skills, and therefore require sophisticated assessment tools and training methods. Beyond training programs, cultivating soft skills across an organization necessitates a cultural shift, with leadership buy-in being essential. Leaders must exemplify and prioritize soft skills, fostering environments that promote open communication, collaboration and continuous feedback to effectively nurture these abilities.
“Because machines aren’t yet able to fully replicate or lead humans, durable skills will become a larger proportion of how people demonstrate and share their value,” Barnett said. “[employers] should prioritize and empower durable skills throughout the employee lifecycle as AI becomes a larger part of how things get done while human empathy and connections keep organizations thriving.”
He also reminded leaders that, “as technologies move into completing more hard skill tasks, soft skills are one way to truly differentiate one individual from the next.”
Related Article: To Craft Fulfilling Workplaces in the AI Age, Embrace the Human Element
Preparing Your Workforce for the Future
Barnett said that employers can empower durable skills in three ways: through selection, development and performance management.
“Incorporating durable skills into performance measurements will be key to empowering those skills in the workplace and allowing employees to gain recognition and advancement based on them,” he said.
He highlighted that outcomes and results should be “complemented by thoughtful measurements of durable skills and competencies so that we’re equally measuring outcomes and the demonstration of skills that are critical to performance and the organization.”
To prepare your workforce for the future, consider integrating soft skills development into existing training programs and exploring new and innovative ways to develop and measure them. Leadership is crucial in this effort, not only by endorsing these skills but also by actively modeling and promoting a culture that highly values them.
While technology like virtual reality and AI-based training tools can offer immersive and interactive learning experiences that enhance soft skills acquisition, it's important to recognize that these technologies alone are not sufficient. Soft skills development can easily become a mere "check-the-box" activity with minimal return if not implemented thoughtfully.
Combining continuous learning and establishing feedback loops is essential for the ongoing development and refinement of soft skills. Systematically integrating these competencies into real-life contexts ensures that employees not only learn these crucial skills but also apply them effectively in their daily work and life. Organizations achieve the most success and engagement when they help individuals become the best versions of themselves, beyond just work-related applications. This approach is effective because soft skills development often requires a deeper engagement than hard skills, involving the understanding and overcoming of personal barriers and the building of new mental habits and behaviors. After all, human skills development should be tailored for humans!
“Employers will need to blueprint the skills and competencies that will make someone successful in a role,” Barnett said. “Employers should also leverage behavioral interviewing and keep durable skills out front in decisions on internal mobility and promotions.”
Conference
Sep
16
HR Tech Conference Las Vegas 2025
Register
Conference
Oct
27
Gartner HR Symposium/Xpo Orlando 2025
Register
Get Started!
As the workplace continues to evolve, the importance of soft skills is only expected to grow. To enhance your approach to soft skills development, start by considering the following key questions:
- How do you currently assess soft skills, and how accurate is this measurement?
- Do you have a systematic method for developing the right soft skills that produces sustainable impact?
- Can you provide personalized development plans that enable employees to practice within the context of their real-life situations?
Organizations that invest in developing soft skills will be better positioned to navigate the complexities of the global economy, maintain competitive advantages and foster innovation. Leaders that view the rise of AI not solely as a replacement of the human element, but as an opportunity to enhance the unique human skills will see success. The future of work is not just about what we can do with technology, but about what we can achieve through our humanity — making soft skills development a strategic imperative for organizations worldwide.
Learn how you can join our contributor community.
