HOT TAKE: Soft skills vs Power skills
I was genuinely astonished by a Forbes article I stumbled upon listing "11 essential soft skills" like communication, leadership, and teamwork. It got me thinking, and frankly, a bit vexed.
"Soft skills"? That term always felt like a bit of a misnomer, didn't it? Not to mention some potentially shady, under-the-hood bias poking its head out. As if these vital human capabilities were somehow less impactful, less hard than, say, using a CRM or understanding sales metrics.
It's like calling the foundations of a skyscraper "soft supports."
A major and welcome shift
For decades, I've been in the trenches of revenue engine building, scaling sales teams, and optimizing revenue operations. And I can tell you, hand on heart, the difference between good and great, between stagnating and revenue growth strategies, almost always boils down to these so-called "soft skills."
Which is precisely why I welcome the recent shift in terminology – calling them "power skills." Now that resonates! It's a welcome recalibration of our mindset, acknowledging the immense power these skills wield in individual and organisational success.
Let's be clear: communication, critical thinking, conflict management, and emotional intelligence aren't some fluffy extras. They are the integral aspects of collaboration and working together effectively. They are the bedrock of any high-performing team, the grease in the gears of your sales process optimisation, and the fuel for improving sales efficienc
Think about it
Think about it:
Communication: can you actively listen, articulate complex ideas, and manage interpersonal dynamics? it's fundamental to leadership development and effective sales enablement.
Critical Thinking: How "soft" is it to objectively analyse challenges, identify root causes, and strategise solutions? It's essential for problem-solving and driving strategic issues to a successful close.
Conflict Management: Navigating disagreements constructively and fostering a safe environment for honest dialogue? That's not "soft"; it's a power skill that directly impacts team cohesion and ultimately, your customer retention strategy.
Emotional Intelligence: The ability to understand and manage emotions – both your own and others' – is crucial for building rapport, influencing outcomes, and fostering a positive work ethic. While, yes, it can be weaponised by some, its true power lies in fostering genuine human connection and effective collaboration.
These aren't newly discovered phenomena either; humans have been mastering these inter-human collaboration tools for centuries. The challenge today isn't that they're new, but that we're losing touch with genuine human interaction in a hyper-digital world.
What's more, add python in the list above and isn't this a pretty hot list for AI prompt engineering? Are these newly coined “power skills” the essential ones for capitalising on the major wins with AI?
So, let's ditch the outdated "soft" label. Let's embrace "power skills" and recognise them for what they truly are: the non-negotiable, essential capabilities that drive productivity, enable self-improvement for professionals, and are absolutely critical for building a thriving revenue engine in 2025 and beyond. It’s time to encourage real human interaction and invest in developing these powerful abilities.
