The Myth Of Essential Soft Skills

The 6 Essential Soft Skills to Overperform (to be read with a hint of irony…)

 

Every year, the same articles pop up like clockwork: “The 5, 6, 8 Soft Skills Every Company Wants.” Honestly, reading them feels like flipping through a beach magazine, right next to the horoscope and top 10 detox diets. It’s almost laughable. But it works—just look at the likes and shares these often meaningless articles get, even if they slap on the logo of some institute or company to add credibility.

 

They all give us the same list. Communication? A must. Teamwork? Essential. Time management? Vital. Problem-solving, flexibility, leadership? Absolutely necessary! These are the 6 skills that supposedly make you the employee of the year. Next year, it’ll be a different Top 6, or maybe in the next article you scroll past. Too bad we can’t just download these skills into our brains and always be the perfect employee.

 

But seriously, who decided these six were the best? The article’s writer, HR, CEOs, managers, or maybe even the intern? As if every company, job, and person didn’t have their own unique challenges. It’s the “one size fits all” myth at its finest.

 

These articles make it sound like developing these skills is as easy as buying bread. “Work on your communication,” they say. “Be more flexible.” “Become empathetic,” like it’s a simple recipe. Voilà, now you’re a soft skills expert.

 

The truth is, everyone has a unique mix of strengths and weaknesses. You don’t become super flexible or empathetic overnight. And is the goal really to turn into this ideal “perfect employee”?

 

Wouldn’t it make more sense to focus on your natural strengths? Instead of chasing this idea of being good at everything, why not become the best at what you’re already great at? Because let’s be honest, there will always be someone better in certain areas. Where are you really going to boost your self-confidence? Not by trying to fix every flaw.

 

Everyone has a unique combination of soft skills. This uniqueness is an asset to a team or company. Someone leaves, and someone else with just the right skill set steps in—that could be the perfect match. It’s no coincidence that different jobs require different skills. You wouldn’t expect the same qualities from a sales manager, a mason, a warehouse worker, a luxury hotel receptionist, or a nurse. Imagine the chaos if we did!

 

Take flexibility, for example. In a perfect world, everyone would adapt to every situation like a pro. But in reality, some people thrive in structured environments and struggle in chaos. There are jobs where someone less flexible can do exceptionally well. Think of a quality controller, accountant, airline pilot, judge, or nuclear safety manager. It’s not exactly the time for improvisation!

 

So, about these Top 6 soft skills, maybe we should focus on:

 

•  Knowing your own strengths and weaknesses (your Top 8 and Bottom 3).

•  Finding a job or role that values those strengths, so you can excel at what you’re good at.

•  Becoming the go-to person in your field.

•  Improving where it’s truly needed (like communication or active listening), but without turning into a robot.

 

Above all, don’t fall into the trap of trying to become someone else. Always ask, who benefits from this idea? Like the famous saying goes, “The spot is already taken.”