Don’t use the S word: Why “soft skills” need a rebrand
Our team is avidly passionate about continuous learning; it’s a part of who we are and how we serve everyone we work with. Beyond developing our technical knowledge, we understand the importance of improving the human skills that shape how we work, collaborate, lead, and grow.
Gillian Barnes, our Business Analysis Practice Lead calls them power skills instead of the common soft skills. After all, they are anything but soft; human skills are key drivers of impactful work and meaningful relationships. In this article, Gillian shares her unique perspective and journey in developing these abilities and why reframing them had such a big impact on her career and confidence.
Don’t use the S word
Well, you can use the word “soft”, just not with the word “skills.” I can’t relate to the phrase soft skills; it carries too many fluffy connotations. It doesn’t feel sturdy, tangible, or like a real tool. You don’t refer to your soft tools when tackling some DIY – you are eager to grab your power tools (or maybe that’s just me).
I refer to them as power skills, and across industries, this is increasingly the term used to describe non-technical abilities. In many roles, these skills weren’t always seen as necessary, but today they are progressively in high demand.
If I look at my discipline (and my career), being able to communicate in many different scenarios – and being able to disagree without shaming, blaming, or causing offence – is massively important and often makes the difference in how people perceive our level of analytical seniority. Like any skills, we need to refresh them regularly, often by exposing ourselves to different scenarios to reinforce or adapt. Sometimes, these skills can feel even harder to master than technical ones.
We can hide away while I remind ourselves of how to create the right SQL query, or firm up our knowledge of the latest rules around pensions before a new assignment. But learning how to present to large groups or facilitate workshops? That is a team sport.
Stepping into discomfort
I was born an introvert, happier not being the centre of attention. However, as the youngest child, I soon learnt that I needed to make myself heard. Once I entered the working world, it became clear that avoiding a level of communication beyond my comfort zone wasn’t going to be an option.
Over the years, I’ve been incredibly lucky to be mentored by some amazing people – some were managers, others just total legends who were willing to be generous with their time. To those in my team: I know I’ve probably bored you with stories about them or the cringe moments they helped me learn from. If you ever have a few minutes give me a ping – I am happy to share more.
From little tips to calm presentation nerves, to helping me recognise when it is better to be more assertive than usual (yes, I do have stories of telling off feisty fund managers and I’m happy to share those too, especially if you’re at a loose end and there’s not much on Netflix) – I was lucky to find the right mentors who supported me in stepping out of my comfort zone and helping me grow.
Engaging with Power Skills content will give you skills that will certainly boost your career but also transform how you show up, how confident you feel, and how much you enjoy your role. For me, it’s made all the difference.
If you find that you struggle to communicate with some people, a good way to learn different approaches is to understand what is causing the communication mismatch. Observe others who appear to have a better rapport and either ask them to buddy you or try using some of their communication styles to see if that improves things.
My top tip is to find a strong role model and ask them if they are willing to provide you with feedback. I was incredibly lucky to have someone who would give early and relevant feedback from workshops – tips on what I could have handled better and the things that went well I could expand on.
Before you go
Thank you for reading! If this perspective resonates with you, or you’d like to share your thoughts, stories, tips, or even awkward moments of your own, feel free to reach out; I’d love to chat!
If you’re curious to learn more about our amazing Business Analysis practice, start by reading this edition of our Open Doors! article series; if you’re ready to join a team sharing and growing together across the world and creating products that make a difference, browse our job opportunities.
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