Hello, dear readers!
I’m Joshita D’Cruz, the author -a passionate Clinical Research Professional and a Certified Soft Skills Trainer. With a 10+ years unique blend of scientific expertise and people development experience, I’ve come to deeply understand the value both hard skills and soft skills bring to our personal and professional lives.
In this article, I’d like to take you on a journey — exploring the differences between hard and soft skills, and more importantly, understanding why both are essential in today’s dynamic work environment. Let’s dive in and uncover how mastering both can set you apart and accelerate your growth — not just in your career, but in life!
- What is a Hard skill and soft skill?
- The importance of soft skills?
- Soft skills required for personal and professional?
Let’s get into a story –
In a reputed tech company, two engineers, Nitin and Ayaan, joined on the same day.
Both were brilliant coders — top of their class, excellent at solving complex algorithms, and deeply knowledgeable in their field.
In the first year, Nitin stayed glued to his computer. He delivered perfect code, but avoided meetings, didn’t explain his ideas well, and often ignored feedback.
Ayaan, on the other hand, also wrote great code — maybe not always flawless — but he communicated well, helped teammates, handled feedback gracefully, and even presented updates to clients confidently.
By the end of the year, Ayaan was promoted to Team Lead.
Nitin remained where he was — confused and disappointed.
When Nitin asked his manager why, the manager replied:
“Nitin, your hard skills make you great at your job. But Ayaan’s soft skills make others better at their job. That’s what leadership needs.” (Read that again please)
Hard skills may open the door, but soft skills decide how far you’ll go inside.
Alright, let me break this down for you — now, let’s dive into the key skills
Nitin lacks –
1.Communication skills:
He avoids meetings and doesn’t explain his ideas well.
Effect- Poor communication limits collaboration and creates misunderstandings, even if technical work is excellent.
2.Teamwork & Collaboration:
He works in isolation, not engaging with teammates.
Effect -Teams thrive when knowledge is shared, and trust is built — Nitin didn’t contribute to that environment.
3.Feedback Handling:
He often ignored feedback.
Effect- Being open to feedback is critical for personal growth and continuous improvement.
4.Leadership Potential:
He didn’t show qualities like empathy, collaboration, and adaptability.
Effect- These are essential for managing people, not just tasks.
Ayaan – Why was he Promoted?
- He had both hard skills and soft skills.
- He connected with people, led discussions, and made others better, which is the essence of leadership.
- His presence added value beyond the code — in the team’s morale, cohesion, and success.
Now let’s get to a small activity-
As you’re reading this, I invite you to take a moment to pause and reflect.
Think deeply about the skills you excel at — the ones that come naturally to you — and also be honest with yourself about the areas where you struggle or need growth.
Now, write them down. Awareness is the first step to improvement.
“It becomes clear why some of us don’t get promoted, feel demotivated, struggle to meet deadlines, or find it hard to express ourselves professionally at work. The answer often lies not in our technical (Hard) skills, but the soft skills (Communication skills, Active listening skills, Body language, Assertiveness, influencing skills, Time management, Emotional Intelligence, Confidence, Empathy, Flexibility, Team work, Leadership, stress management and many more) we overlook.”
These challenges usually stem from:
- Lack of communication skills – making it hard to convey ideas, ask for help, or share progress professionally and relationship issues personally.
- Poor time management – leading to missed deadlines and unnecessary stress.
- Low emotional intelligence – causing misinterpretation of feedback or difficulty in handling pressure and workplace and personal relationships.
- Inflexibility and resistance to change – which blocks learning and adaptation in a fast-evolving work environment.
- Inability to collaborate – which isolates us from team support and collective growth.
- Lack of self-awareness and confidence – preventing us from taking initiative or owning responsibilities.
- Soft skills like empathy, adaptability, teamwork, conflict resolution, leadership, and resilience aren’t just “nice to have” — they are the foundation of workplace success.
“Not all of us are aware of what soft skills are, or why they matter. I certainly wasn’t — in fact, 10 years ago, I had never even heard the term “Soft skills”. I thought technical skills and qualifications were enough to succeed, but reality taught me otherwise.”
“I was thrown into the deep end — the corporate ocean — and learned how to swim by making mistakes, missing promotions, facing miscommunication, and dealing with the stress and confusion that come with not knowing how to navigate workplace dynamics.”
“Over time, I realized that soft skills are not just optional, they’re essential. They’re the glue that holds our technical skills together and helps us thrive in teams, lead with confidence, manage challenges, and grow professionally and personally”
Now, let’s talk about where these skills come from. In today’s modern era, the awareness around soft skills development has grown significantly. Unlike a decade ago, students are now proactively participating in training programs that prepare them for the professional world well in advance.
We’re fortunate, especially in our country, to have a wealth of certified professionals who bring both expertise and real-world experience to soft skills training. These trainers help individuals navigate challenges like communication, leadership, emotional intelligence, and teamwork — skills that truly make a difference in the workplace.
However, it’s important to be discerning. While there are many offering such training today, ensure you choose someone with the right credentials, proven experience, and a genuine understanding of the field. Investing in the right trainer can make all the difference in your learning journey.
I would like to end with:
Hard skills might get your foot in the door — but soft skills are what keep you in the room, and help you rise.
Author
– Ms. Joshita D’Cruz
MSc. Biotechnology
Certified International Corporate trainer,
Certified International soft skill trainer,
Certified International Master trainer
(joshitadcruz91@gmail.com)
