The formula for career success ain’t what it used to be. Yesterday’s hot skills — science, technology, engineering and math — that won workers new jobs, promotions and pay raises a few years ago won’t be sufficient for success in 2024 and beyond.
Today, employers care just as much, if not more, about so-called “soft skills” — like communication, being a team player and adaptability.
A popular analogy likens hard skills to tools in your toolbox; soft skills are what you need to pick up those tools and use them. As career coach and best-selling author Marlo Lyons put it, “Soft skills are the ‘how’ of doing your job; hard skills are your area of expertise.”
Former CEO and co-founder of Yum! Brands Inc. David Novak, who has authored multiple books, including “How Leaders Learn: Master the Habits of the World’s Most Successful People” (Harvard Business Review Press), agreed. “Soft skills come before hard skills. It’s the soft skills that drive the hard results,” he said.
So, what ones are vital for success?
Listen while you work
Communication is more about listening than talking. “People want to be heard and know that their input matters,” said Novak. This doesn’t mean you need to do what your co-workers want, but you need to be open to their ideas.
When it comes to speaking, be concise. “Don’t talk in circles, which is what most people do,” said Lyons. Many people don’t make their point until they are almost done speaking; by then, you may have lost the listener’s attention.
Lyons recommended using the STAR method (which stands for situation, task, action, result) for answering questions from managers. Here’s how it works:
Situation: Describe the situation you are in. What is happening? Where are you?
Task: Explain the task you need to do or the problem you have. What is your goal?
Action: Describe the actions needed to solve the problem or complete the task. What steps will you follow? What will you do?
Result: Finally, share the result of your actions. How did it turn out? What was accomplished?
This approach is also important in job interviews. “Everyone thinks everything is fake,” said Patrick Kellenberger, president of recruiting operations at Betts Recruiting. “Describing how you accomplished something in detail makes it believable.”
When it comes to communicating via email, skip the paragraphs; no one is going to read them, said the experts. Use bullet points instead. One trick is to write in paragraphs first, then feed it into a generative artificial-intelligence tool (like ChatGPT, Gemini or Anthropic’s Claude) to create bullet points for you.
There’s no ‘I’ in team
To succeed in the modern world of work, collaboration and teamwork are key. Problems and solutions in the workplace belong to “us” versus “you” or “me.”
“Your success relies on your ability to play nice in the sandbox. If no one wants to work with you, your job will eventually be gone,” said Lyons.
“Before I hired anyone, I always asked, ‘Would I want my daughter to work with this person?’ ” said Novak.
You must be empathetic and understand how other people are thinking and collaborate well enough that they understand how you are thinking, too. “If we were storming Normandy, would I want this person to be there with me?” is Novak’s litmus test.
During interviews, Kellenberger asks potential candidates to describe a situation where they worked on a successful team project. “Emphasize your role and how you collaborated with others, and the outcomes you achieved together,” he said.
Use your mentors, co-workers, or friends to practice on, and have them provide feedback.
Problem-solving is a group affair
Solving problems in today’s workplace isn’t about one person coming up with a brilliant solution and convincing the rest of the team to embrace their approach. Instead, workmates brainstorm to create two or three options. “Remember to get varying points of view on the table,” said Kellenberger. The idea is that we are more brilliant working together than alone.
Novak has a formula for problem-solving: First, define the problem you’re trying to solve. Get people engaged in developing the solution. Finally, ask: What should we do?
When a co-worker comes to you with a problem, ask, “Do you want me to listen, or do you want advice?” said Lyons. Their answer speaks to how you can be most helpful.
If you’re looking for a job, be prepared to discuss problem-solving during the interview. “You will be asked about your approach,” said Lyons. “The business wants to know how you work with others to tackle problems.”
Don’t fear conflict
People often avoid conflict, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t simmering beneath the surface. “It’s up to the manager to get varying viewpoints on the table,” said Novak. He gave the example of a financial officer who aims to save money and a marketing officer who needs to spend money to win business.
“Understanding the intent of each party goes a long way,” he said. “Each individual needs to make their case, but at the end of the day, the CEO makes the ultimate decision.”
One key is to recognize that the other party may have a point, “even if they are only 2% right,” said Lyons.
Learning brings rewards
“The best leaders I know are active learners,” said Novak. That’s not just education classes or certifications — active learners glean something on the job, and immediately put it to use.
For example, earlier in his career, Novak thought his public speaking skills needed work, so he enlisted a coach to help him. Novak is now a speaker who, according to his Executive Speakers Bureau page, earns up to $100,000 per speech.
There may also be technical gaps in our skills that need filling. “Take online courses, earn those certificates,” said Lyons, who recommended updating your boss on what you have been learning each week.