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Skills Development
5 min
Soft Skills: Which Ones to Develop First
Hard skills get you the interview. Soft skills get you the job and help you advance. With equal technical skills, it's always the candidate with the best soft skills who wins. And the higher you climb in responsibility, the more crucial they become. This guide identifies the most valued soft skills and shows you how to develop them concretely.
1
Clear and impactful communication
The ability to convey your ideas clearly and convincingly is THE number 1 soft skill.
What it includes: • Expressing yourself clearly orally and in writing • Adapting your message to your audience • Structuring your ideas logically • Listening actively (not just waiting for your turn) • Giving and receiving feedback
Signs of good communication: • People understand the first time • Your emails are short and actionable • You're often asked to present • Your meetings are efficient
How to develop it:
In writing • Reread each email: can it be 50% shorter? • Structure: 1 idea = 1 paragraph • Start with the conclusion (inverted pyramid)
Orally • Practice out loud (alone or on video) • Join a Toastmasters club • Ask for feedback after your presentations
In listening • Rephrase what the other person says before responding • Ask open-ended questions • Leave 3 seconds of silence before speaking
Daily exercise: Before each meeting, write down your key message in 1 sentence.
What it includes: • Expressing yourself clearly orally and in writing • Adapting your message to your audience • Structuring your ideas logically • Listening actively (not just waiting for your turn) • Giving and receiving feedback
Signs of good communication: • People understand the first time • Your emails are short and actionable • You're often asked to present • Your meetings are efficient
How to develop it:
In writing • Reread each email: can it be 50% shorter? • Structure: 1 idea = 1 paragraph • Start with the conclusion (inverted pyramid)
Orally • Practice out loud (alone or on video) • Join a Toastmasters club • Ask for feedback after your presentations
In listening • Rephrase what the other person says before responding • Ask open-ended questions • Leave 3 seconds of silence before speaking
Daily exercise: Before each meeting, write down your key message in 1 sentence.
2
Emotional intelligence
Understanding and managing your emotions (and those of others) is a professional superpower.
The 4 components:
Self-awareness • Recognize your emotions in real time • Identify your triggers • Know your strengths and weaknesses
Self-management • Control your impulsive reactions • Stay calm under pressure • Adapt to changes
Social awareness • Read others' emotions • Understand group dynamics • Show empathy
Relationship management • Influence positively • Manage conflicts • Inspire and motivate
Signs of good EI: • You stay calm in stressful situations • People confide in you • You defuse tensions • You create lasting relationships
How to develop it:
Daily practices • Emotional journal: note 1 emotion/day and its trigger • 6-second pause before reacting emotionally • Ask "How are you really?" and listen
Training • Meditation / mindfulness (Headspace, Calm) • Books: Daniel Goleman, Brené Brown • Individual coaching if budget allows
The 4 components:
Self-awareness • Recognize your emotions in real time • Identify your triggers • Know your strengths and weaknesses
Self-management • Control your impulsive reactions • Stay calm under pressure • Adapt to changes
Social awareness • Read others' emotions • Understand group dynamics • Show empathy
Relationship management • Influence positively • Manage conflicts • Inspire and motivate
Signs of good EI: • You stay calm in stressful situations • People confide in you • You defuse tensions • You create lasting relationships
How to develop it:
Daily practices • Emotional journal: note 1 emotion/day and its trigger • 6-second pause before reacting emotionally • Ask "How are you really?" and listen
Training • Meditation / mindfulness (Headspace, Calm) • Books: Daniel Goleman, Brené Brown • Individual coaching if budget allows
3
Problem-solving and critical thinking
Faced with a complex problem, are you the one who panics or the one who finds solutions?
What it includes: • Analyzing a problem in a structured way • Identifying root causes (not symptoms) • Generating multiple alternative solutions • Evaluating options objectively • Deciding and taking action
Problem-solving framework:
1. Define the problem • What is the exact problem? • What is the impact? • When did it start?
2. Analyze causes • Why? (5 times in a row • 5 whys method) • Ishikawa diagram if complex
3. Generate solutions • Brainstorming without judgment • Minimum 3 different options
4. Evaluate and decide • Criteria: impact, feasibility, cost, timeline • Decision matrix if needed
5. Act and follow up • Concrete action plan • Success indicators
How to develop it: • Get in the habit of proposing solutions, not just problems • Practice on concrete cases (case studies, logic puzzles) • Ask to attend problem-solving meetings
Exercise: This week, apply this framework to a real problem.
What it includes: • Analyzing a problem in a structured way • Identifying root causes (not symptoms) • Generating multiple alternative solutions • Evaluating options objectively • Deciding and taking action
Problem-solving framework:
1. Define the problem • What is the exact problem? • What is the impact? • When did it start?
2. Analyze causes • Why? (5 times in a row • 5 whys method) • Ishikawa diagram if complex
3. Generate solutions • Brainstorming without judgment • Minimum 3 different options
4. Evaluate and decide • Criteria: impact, feasibility, cost, timeline • Decision matrix if needed
5. Act and follow up • Concrete action plan • Success indicators
How to develop it: • Get in the habit of proposing solutions, not just problems • Practice on concrete cases (case studies, logic puzzles) • Ask to attend problem-solving meetings
Exercise: This week, apply this framework to a real problem.
4
Adaptability and resilience
The world changes fast. Your ability to adapt determines your professional survival.
What it includes: • Accepting change without resistance • Learning from failures • Bouncing back after a setback • Staying effective in uncertainty • Regularly questioning yourself
The 3 levels of adaptability:
Level 1: Reactive • You adapt when you have no choice • Change stresses you
Level 2: Proactive • You anticipate changes • You prepare in advance
Level 3: Creator • You initiate change • You see opportunities in disruption
How to develop it:
Voluntarily change your habits • Take a different route to work • Test a new tool every month • Step out of your comfort zone regularly
Cultivate a growth mindset • Failure = learning, not defeat • "I don't know yet" instead of "I don't know" • Celebrate effort, not just results
Build your resilience • Solid support network • Stress management practices • Perspective: "In 5 years, will this matter?"
Exercise: Identify a change you're avoiding. Take the first step this week.
What it includes: • Accepting change without resistance • Learning from failures • Bouncing back after a setback • Staying effective in uncertainty • Regularly questioning yourself
The 3 levels of adaptability:
Level 1: Reactive • You adapt when you have no choice • Change stresses you
Level 2: Proactive • You anticipate changes • You prepare in advance
Level 3: Creator • You initiate change • You see opportunities in disruption
How to develop it:
Voluntarily change your habits • Take a different route to work • Test a new tool every month • Step out of your comfort zone regularly
Cultivate a growth mindset • Failure = learning, not defeat • "I don't know yet" instead of "I don't know" • Celebrate effort, not just results
Build your resilience • Solid support network • Stress management practices • Perspective: "In 5 years, will this matter?"
Exercise: Identify a change you're avoiding. Take the first step this week.
5
Collaboration and teamwork
No major professional success is achieved alone. Knowing how to collaborate is essential.
What it includes: • Working effectively with different profiles • Contributing positively to team dynamics • Sharing information and credit • Managing disagreements constructively • Advancing the collective, not just yourself
Key behaviors:
In meetings • Prepare in advance • Listen before speaking • Build on others' ideas ("Yes, and...") • Keep your contributions concise
In projects • Clarify roles and responsibilities • Proactively communicate on progress • Ask for help when needed • Help others without being asked
In conflict • Attack the problem, not the person • Seek win-win compromise • Admit your wrongs if necessary • Move on after resolution
How to develop it: • Participate in cross-functional projects • Ask for feedback from your teammates • Observe good collaborators and imitate • Play team sports
Self-assessment: • Do people want to work with you? • Are you sought out for important projects? • Does your team function better because of you?
What it includes: • Working effectively with different profiles • Contributing positively to team dynamics • Sharing information and credit • Managing disagreements constructively • Advancing the collective, not just yourself
Key behaviors:
In meetings • Prepare in advance • Listen before speaking • Build on others' ideas ("Yes, and...") • Keep your contributions concise
In projects • Clarify roles and responsibilities • Proactively communicate on progress • Ask for help when needed • Help others without being asked
In conflict • Attack the problem, not the person • Seek win-win compromise • Admit your wrongs if necessary • Move on after resolution
How to develop it: • Participate in cross-functional projects • Ask for feedback from your teammates • Observe good collaborators and imitate • Play team sports
Self-assessment: • Do people want to work with you? • Are you sought out for important projects? • Does your team function better because of you?
Conclusion
Soft skills are not innate. They develop with deliberate practice and regular feedback. Start by identifying your biggest weakness among these 5 skills. Focus on it for 30 days. The return on investment is huge: better relationships, more opportunities, and a career that takes off.