Hard Skills Versus Soft Skills: What’s the Difference?
A few weeks ago, I led the Decision Making Workshop for the’ You Grow Girl’ program. The workshop focused on introducing young girls to the importance of developing their decision-making skills. We discussed everything from values, to effective strategies used in making decisions that were in line with those values.
Decision-making is considered a soft skill. It plays a critical role in our work, in our extracurricular activities, and in our relationships. It is NOT a subject we take in high school (at least not as far as I am aware) and yet without a good understanding of how to make effective decisions, decisions in line with our values, we risk setting ourselves up for failure, unhappiness, and disappointment. Yikes.
“I can almost guarantee that if we all spend a little more time exploring the soft skills development in youth, those same youth will be better equipped to navigate the next chapter in their lives.”
— Lei Han
As I explored the wonderful world of soft skills, I also explored the equally wonderful world of hard skills. And what follows is a summary of the two skill groups and a call out to educators, trainers, and coaches: if you are not already doing so while teaching the importance of hard skills, please take the time to share the importance of soft skill development with the young minds you have the privilege to work with, engage with and spend time with.
I recognize that during an already stressful year full of new normals, this may be challenging, but I can almost guarantee that if we all spend a little more time exploring the soft skills development in youth, those same youth will be better equipped to navigate the next chapter in their lives.
Hard Skills
These are specific and can be measured. They are easily defined. They are technical aptitudes or knowledge.
Examples of hard skills
- Computer skills
- Language skills
- Programming skills
- Data Analysis
- Project Management
“Hard skills are skills where the rules stay the same regardless of which company, circumstance or people you work with. In contrast, soft skills are skills where the rules change depending on the company culture and people you work with.”
-Lei Han
Soft Skills
Soft skills are sometimes referred to as ‘people skills.’ or ‘interpersonal skills.’ We demonstrate our soft skills through our work style. Soft skills are often hard to measure. They help us overcome obstacles and they help us develop good, healthy relationships.
Examples of soft skills
- Communication
- Decision Making
- Leadership
- Collaboration
- Adaptability
- Problem Solving
While hard skills may be developed inside the classroom, the gym, and the lab, we need to remember to incorporate soft skill development in those same classrooms, gyms, and labs. When we do so, we are setting our kids and our students up to being effective decision-makers, strong communicators, and inspiring leaders.
Tagged: soft skills, skill development, personal skills, hard skills v. soft skills, youth development, youth program ontario, youth program GTA, youth program Mississauga, resilience
Originally published at https://beatthestreets.ca on October 29, 2020.
