The ultimate guide to soft skills (+ 30 examples)

Are soft skills important? Absolutely! In the fast-paced Malaysian job market, these skills are a must. Research  shows that 85% of job success comes from having well-developed soft skills and people skills. Only 15% of job success comes from technical skills and knowledge (hard skills.) 

The importance of soft skills is also noted in a paper on Universiti Malaysia Sabah graduates' soft skills and employment status. According to the paper, Malaysian graduates are well-educated. But they lack the soft skills employers seek.

Here's another reason why developing soft skills or non-technical skills is crucial. In the May 2023 "Future of Jobs" report of the World Economic Forum, 9 of the top 10 important skills are soft skills. These are: 

• Analytical thinking 
• Creative thinking
• Resilience, flexibility, and agility
• Motivation and self-awareness
• Curiosity and lifelong learning 
• Dependability and attention to detail
• Empathy and active listening
• Leadership and social influence
• Quality control

What exactly are soft skills, and how can they help you succeed in the workplace? This article will answer these questions plus more! 

• What are soft skills?
• Hard skills versus soft skills
• List of soft skills
• Examples of soft skills for careers
• Conclusion
• FAQs

What are soft skills?

Soft skills are personal attributes that allow you to interact harmoniously with others. They're also behavioural traits and interpersonal skills that let you have meaningful relationships in the workplace.

They include your ability to communicate, work with a team, solve problems, and think out of the box. You can hone these skills through workshops, mentors, or from experience and feedback. 

You can apply these soft skills across roles and industries. They enhance your employability and open doors to opportunities.

Are you considering a career shift? Aiming to thrive in your current role? Investing in your soft skills will help you reach your goals and more. 

Hard skills versus soft skills

Still, you can't be all about soft skills. You need hard skills, job-specific capabilities, and technical knowledge. Hard skills give you a means of livelihood. They help run businesses and make the economy boom.

Tap into your soft skills to make people appreciate you and your technical know-how. Are you fluent in a foreign language? Show you're dependable by serving as the interpreter to a visiting executive. Familiar with the latest software? Create a PowerPoint presentation and share it with colleagues, or offer to discuss it as a group. At a social event? Make friendly conversation with people next to you, and get your colleagues involved.

Knowing when to use your soft skills makes you sensitive to the needs of a situation and the people around you.  Everybody will remember you for it.

List of soft skills

Communication

Excellent communication skills are vital for cultivating robust relationships in the workplace. They involve expressing yourself in a way that everybody will understand. They require active listening and comprehending other people's messages too.  

Here are five ways to develop your soft skill in communicating effectively:

• Public speaking
  ⁠Experts say it takes 10 minutes before people stop listening.  Prepare what you have to say well before your speech and get feedback from practice. On the big day, smile at the crowd and maintain eye contact. Speak in a natural tone and conversational pace, and don't confine yourself to the podium. Entertain questions to keep your audience's interest and communication lines flowing.
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• Presentation skills
  ⁠Delivering a compelling presentation demands effective communication. Again, you can hold your audience's attention by keeping your presentation succinct. Try to inject storytelling and humor. They add warmth and personality to an otherwise predictable presentation. Use props and visuals to go with your spoken message. Later, invite comments and questions to make it an interactive experience.
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• Persuasion and negotiation
  ⁠Nobody likes a hard sell.  For effective persuasion and negotiation, practise active listening. Be aware of your verbal and non-verbal cues. Consider other people's thoughts and feelings. Good persuaders and negotiators are confident without being aggressive. They come prepared with their facts and arguments yet keep an open mind. They also put people at ease with their sincerity and trustworthiness.
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• Empathy
  ⁠The workplace may be all professional and business, but it has room for empathy too. Show empathy for your colleagues. Listen to them. Acknowledge their feelings. Extend help even if they don't ask. By doing this, you develop stronger relationships and a positive work environment.
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• Diplomacy
  ⁠Effective communication involves diplomacy. Be tactful and respectful towards other people's feelings and points of view. Actively listen, empathise, and use verbal and non-verbal skills when navigating sensitive situations.

Teamwork and collaboration

Teamwork and collaboration involve working effectively with others towards a common goal. When you work collaboratively, you each bring a wide range of knowledge, skills, and ideas to the table. This results in better outcomes. Working with diverse individuals broadens your perspective and leads to innovative solutions.

Working well with others can make you happier and more motivated at work. Research shows that companies with strong teamwork have higher employee engagement and productivity.

 Here are examples of teamwork and collaboration soft skills:

• Conflict resolution
  ⁠Working in a team can sometimes lead to conflicts. Resolve the occasional misunderstanding by first identifying the issue and its cause. Discuss it in a safe, private space. Allow all parties to air their sides, and actively listen to what everyone has to say. From there, you can propose a solution, or at least ways to compromise. Then you can move forward to focus on your common goal.
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• Consensus building
  ⁠Getting members of a team to peacefully come to an agreement on a project or goal can be challenging. Again, listen actively. Consider everyone's inputs and perspectives without judgement. Eventually, you can arrive at a consensus acceptable to all.
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• Mentoring and coaching
  ⁠Well-rounded teams have members who can serve as either mentors or coaches. The former acts as a teacher of sorts, sharing valuable knowledge and experience. The latter provides guidance and feedback necessary to achieving goals. Use good communication skills to help your members grow personally and professionally.
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• Networking
  ⁠Collaboration skills help you build a strong network within and outside your organisation. This can lead to new opportunities or partnerships that can boost your career in the long run.
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• Relationship building
  ⁠Successful teamwork and collaboration are built over time. Overcoming conflicts and achieving goals together can only strengthen your bond. They help develop trust and respect for one another. They also promote open and honest communications.

Adaptability and flexibility

⁠Adaptability and flexibility are essential skills in today's constantly evolving work environment. Adaptability means learning new things, taking on different roles, and handling unexpected challenges. Flexibility involves shifting priorities, multitasking effectively, and adjusting to changing work demands.
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⁠Employers value these skills because they show you're not afraid of challenges. Adaptability and flexibility mean you're willing to learn and grow. Organisations with adaptable and flexible employees are more likely to outperform competitors.  Be open to new ideas and ready to adjust your approach whenever necessary.  

Here are examples of adaptability and flexibility soft skills: 

• Change management
  ⁠Change is uncomfortable but it's necessary in our dynamic world. Keep an open mind to stay relevant in today's ever-evolving work environment.
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• Multitasking
  ⁠When you know how to prioritise tasks, you  improve your productivity and efficiency. You can also save and make money for the company. Successful multitaskers manage their time well and delegate tasks whenever necessary.
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• Time management
  ⁠Whether you have an hour or 30 minutes, if you have excellent time management, you can get the job done. Stay focused despite distractions. Learn to adapt to any work environment. Know what to prioritise. These are among the qualities of those who manage their time well.
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• Prioritisation
  ⁠Don't let a lengthy to-do list make you give up even before you start. The right technique will make you breeze through your tasks. Perhaps you can prioritise the toughest job first and work your way to the easiest, or do it the other way around. Whatever method you prefer, smart prioritisation results in high productivity and reduced stress.
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• Self-motivation
  ⁠Self-motivation is setting goals, then achieving them on your own initiative. This skill is an asset in the workplace. It means you're willing to take responsibility and don't wait for others to tell you what to do. Taking charge of a situation and putting in the work to finish what you set out to do is a sign of true self-motivation. 

Problem-solving and critical thinking

In a 2023 survey, problem-solving skills ranked first as the most important attribute employers look for in job applicants.

No surprise. Your ability to solve problems and think critically indicates good communication skills. It also suggests creativity, empathy, and dependability. These are qualities that bosses value.

Here are examples of problem-solving and critical-thinking skills:

• Systems thinking
  ⁠Systems thinking takes a holistic approach to tackling a problem. By stepping back and seeing the big picture, you can make better sense of a complex situation. From there, you can propose the appropriate solutions and goals for it.
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• Strategic thinking
  ⁠In strategic thinking, you set your goal before mapping out the steps to reach it. This realistic approach considers other likely outcomes that could happen along the way. As such, strategic thinkers are flexible and open-minded, too.  
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• Design thinking
  ⁠Design thinking is just that—using your creativity to come up with a product or solution.  Getting input from the people who need your product or service is part of the creative process. Thus, design thinking is also “client-focused” or “human-centered."
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• Risk assessment
  ⁠Things can go wrong even with the best-laid plans. That's what risk assessment is for. By identifying potential hazards in a situation, you minimise, if not avoid, these hazards from happening. Practicing risk assessment prevents work-related accidents and costly errors. Plus, it allows room for improvement.
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• Innovation
  ⁠Being innovative means coming up with new ideas to solve problems or improve things. It's all about finding better ways, creating something that people will need and want, and thinking out of the box.

Leadership

“Leaders aren't born, they're made,” as the old saying goes. As such, you can develop your leadership skills to manage and guide your team to reach a common goal. Good leaders empower and inspire. They easily adapt to different situations, set clear goals, and lead by example.

Here are examples of leadership soft skills:

• Visionary thinking
  ⁠Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Richard Branson of the Virgin Group are visionary leaders. They changed the world with their bold and progressive ideas. Visionary thinking means taking risks yet planning strategically. It requires resilience, optimism, and believing in yourself.
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• Decision-making
  ⁠Making informed decisions under pressure is a gift. It takes looking at a situation from all angles, then considering possible outcomes before you finally make a choice. The best decisions are the ones that have a positive impact on others.
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• Delegation
  ⁠Delegation means assigning someone a specific task based on their strengths and skills. Doing so empowers them and makes them feel recognized and trusted. When they're happy at work, the whole company benefits.
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• Motivating and inspiring others
  ⁠The right leadership skills make people want to do their best and achieve more. When people feel motivated and inspired, they work harder and are happier with their job. This makes them more productive and satisfied with their work.
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• Emotional intelligence
  ⁠Are you good at managing your feelings while understanding the feelings of others? Then you have emotional intelligence. Leaders with strong emotional intelligence make the workplace happier and more efficient.

Examples of soft skills for careers

1. Business

Engaging in business isn't just about making a profit. It's about developing relationships and answering a market's needs. It's also about improving the lives of those who work for you. Leadership, empathy, and problem-solving are good soft skills to have in business.

Necessary soft skills in the business industry:

•  Communication
•  Leadership
•  Problem-solving
•  Time management

2. Healthcare

According to a study, patients prefer a doctor or nurse with a good bedside manner. A good bedside manner contributes to reduced symptoms and improved recovery.

Gain your patients' trust and confidence with soft skills. Polish your empathy, active listening, patience, and good communication.

Necessary soft skills in the healthcare profession:

• Empathy
• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Patience

3. Creative arts

Creatives have much to gain from mastering communication, teamwork, and other soft skills. Especially if you're in the corporate world. As part of a creative team, you don't just create. You pitch ideas to clients, collaborate with marketing people, and work under pressure.

Necessary soft skills in the creative arts:

• Creativity
• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Time management

4. Education

Educators are often looked upon as mentors, even second parents, to their students. With good communication skills, you can impart knowledge and values that students will keep for life.

Necessary soft skills in the education sector:

•  Communication
•  Empathy
•  Patience
•  Problem-solving

5. Technology

When you're in technology, you'll likely spend your day staring at your computer. But people, not machines, make up the tech industry. Develop strong communication skills and a mind for critical thinking and problem-solving to work more effectively with a team.

Necessary soft skills in the technology industry:

•  Problem-solving
•  Critical thinking
•  Communication
•  Time management

6. Social services

Soft skills are a must in social service. The field involves helping vulnerable, disadvantaged individuals and groups overcome challenges in life. Using empathy, patience, and problem-solving empowers others to make changes for the better.

Necessary soft skills in social services:

• Empathy
• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Patience

7. Hospitality and tourism

Making guests feel welcome and comfortable is the goal in the hospitality and tourism industry. Achieve it with communication, empathy, patience, and other soft skills. Your visitors will not only notice it, they'll appreciate you for it.

Necessary soft skills in hospitality and tourism:

• Communication
• Customer service
• Problem-solving
•  Time management

8. Finance

​​Analytical thinking and proficiency in math are desirable skills in the finance industry. But whether you're an accountant, financial planner, or investment manager, you'll benefit from soft skills too. Strengthen your ability to communicate. Build strong relationships with clients and your team.

Necessary soft skills in finance:

• Analytical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Communication
• Time management

9. Law

Excellent communication skills aren't the only soft skills to master when you're in the legal profession. If you're a lawyer, you must have an analytical mind. You must practise time management, empathy, and dependability.

Necessary soft skills in law:

• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Analytical thinking
• Time management

10. Engineering

Relevant knowledge and technical skills are key to a successful career in engineering. But the soft skills of problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication are just as essential. As an engineer, you always work with a team. You interact with clients and turn exciting ideas into real, concrete solutions.

Necessary  soft skills in engineering:

• Problem-solving
• Critical thinking
• Communication
• Time management

11. Science

We rely on scientists to provide us with the latest inventions and cures for diseases. If you're in this field, your problem-solving and critical thinking skills will help you come up with amazing discoveries. With good communication skills, you can explain your work in ways that everyone can easily grasp.

Necessary  soft skills in science:

• Problem-solving
• Critical thinking
• Communication
• Time management

12. Government and public service

Working in administration? Diplomacy? Policy-making? Strong leadership skills are crucial for people in government and public service. To be a true leader, you must inspire positive change and involvement. Good leadership brings people together to achieve a common goal.

Necessary soft skills in government and public service:

• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Empathy
• Leadership

13. Journalism and media

Good communication skills are a given in a field that people turn to for accurate information. Presenting news on print, online, TV, or radio also requires teamwork, empathy, and critical thinking.

Necessary  soft skills in journalism and media:

• Critical thinking
• Creativity
• Time management
• Collaboration

14. Nonprofit and philanthropy

 Successful philanthropy requires empathy, active listening, adaptability, and communication. These soft skills will enhance your ability to raise funds and confidently lead a cause close to your heart.

Necessary soft skills in nonprofit and philanthropy:

• Empathy
• Problem-solving
• Leadership
• Communication

15. Entrepreneurship

In entrepreneurship, you're your own boss. Run a thriving business with soft skills such as leadership, empathy, communication, and creativity.

Necessary soft skills in entrepreneurship:

•  Creativity
•  Problem-solving
•  Leadership
•  Communication

16. Research

Researchers have a nose for gathering information and conducting in-depth investigations. If you're a researcher, you must be an expert at analysing data and presenting clear solutions to your clients. Work on your critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills.

Necessary soft skills in research:

•  Analytical thinking
•  Problem-solving
•  Time management
•  Teamwork

17. Administration

There are two types of jobs in administration: management and support. Succeed in these jobs with soft skills like leadership, organisation, and time management. These skills help you work well with others and finish tasks on time.

Necessary soft skills in administration:

• Leadership
• Organisation
• Time management
• Communication

18. Consulting

Consultants bring years of knowledge and experience to clients from various industries. If you're a consultant, you must be an excellent listener and problem solver. You possess the ability to adapt to different personalities and work styles. Hone your presentation skills to deliver convincing recommendations and win over clients.

Necessary soft skills in consulting:

• Problem-solving
• Analytical thinking
• Time management
• Communication

19. Customer service

Customer service is all about soft skills. Listen carefully to what customers say, put yourself in their place, and be polite even when they're upset. A hard-to-please client will appreciate your being patient and calm in tense situations.

Necessary soft skills in customer service:

• Empathy
• Problem-solving
• Patience
• Flexibility

20. Writing and editing

Writing an article? Editing a manuscript? Creating marketing content? Remember to  keep your work fresh and engaging. Be concise, pay attention to details, and get creative. These soft skills will not only yield great content, they'll help you connect with your readers.

Necessary soft skills in writing and editing:

• Creativity
• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Attention to detail

Conclusion

In a diverse, dynamic country like Malaysia, soft skills in the workplace are a necessity. Employees come from different cultures and speak different languages. This results in a myriad of work and communication styles. Soft skills build positive relationships. They make teamwork and collaboration smooth, effective, and enjoyable.

Having strong soft skills can have a significant impact on your career, too. It can increase job satisfaction, promote career growth, and present opportunities for advancement. By investing in your soft skills, you can stand out in a competitive job market.

FAQs

1.  What are some examples of soft skills?
   ⁠Soft skills are personal attributes that enable you to interact effectively with others. Some soft skills examples are communication, adaptability, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving. Developing and improving these abilities can impact your career and personal life. 
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2. How can I improve my soft skills?
   ⁠Improving your soft skills requires practice, seeking feedback, and embracing challenges. Training programmes and courses are available to help you improve your soft skills.
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3. How do I show my top soft skills in a job interview?
   ⁠To show your top soft skills in a job interview, communicate clearly and listen actively. Use specific examples to illustrate how you applied your soft skills in previous roles.
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   ⁠Example: “I demonstrated adaptability by multitasking from one project to another seamlessly and efficiently.”
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4. Are soft skills taught, or are they innate?
   ⁠Soft skills can be both innate and taught. Some people are naturally inclined towards specific soft skills. But everyone can improve and develop their soft skills through practice and learning.
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5. Are soft skills more important than hard skills in the workplace?
   ⁠Companies have been putting a premium on soft skills in recent years. These personality traits and behaviours are often included in the job description or posting. In the May 2023 "Future of Jobs" report of the World Economic Forum, 9 of the 10 most important skills listed are soft skills. But, still, a combination of hard and soft skills is ideal. Hard skills are necessary to perform specific job functions.  Soft skills are essential for harmonious interaction in the workplace.