Consider these two scenarios: You’re on a tight deadline, and a problem has come up. You try to tell your team about the issue, but it’s so technical that no one seems to understand what you’re talking about. You get frustrated, tensions build, time is completely wasted, and you leave empty-handed and stressed out.
Now imagine the same scenario, but where you manage to clearly express the problem using relatable examples, everyone listens and understands, and together, you manage to find a solution. Phew. Everyone stayed calm, and you left feeling supported. What made the difference? It was simply better communication, and that’s an example of a soft skill that everyone can learn.
Soft skills, sometimes known as power skills, are the interpersonal (people) skills that help us navigate workplace dynamics and contribute to personal and overall organisational success. These skills include communication, problem-solving, teamwork, resilience, and empathy.
But how are soft skills different from ‘hard’ skills, like the purely technical skills you might need to do your job? Hard skills are quantifiable, teachable skills that can be demonstrated through your credentials or measurable performance. Soft skills, on the other hand, are the skills that you need to be a better worker. There’s no point being the best technically at your role if you rub your teammates up the wrong way, don’t communicate effectively and cause problems.
Soft skills help improve overall productivity and can also reduce stress and improve mental health. In fact, research published in the Journal of Vocational Behavior and other studies shows a positive correlation between emotional intelligence (EQ), a key component of soft skills, and mental well-being. Essentially, having a higher EQ lets people manage their emotions more effectively, leading to reduced stress and anxiety.
Let’s look at how developing specific soft skills can help create a less stressful work environment.
Communication Skills
Miscommunication is one of the most common sources of workplace stress. If messages are unclear or expectations aren’t properly set, frustration can mount quickly.
Imagine, for example, receiving an ‘ominous’ message from your manager last thing on a Friday, just saying ‘we need a chat on Monday’. You’d worry about that all weekend, wouldn’t you? The manager could have communicated better here. If they’d said what the chat was about, in this case, something innocuous, you’d have had your weekend saved.
Developing clear and effective communication skills helps build trust, reduce misunderstandings and minimise stress. If people feel comfortable speaking out and confident they are being ‘heard’, they contribute to a positive, supportive work environment – one that’s more difficult to be stressed in.
So, how can you be a better communicator? Start by practising active listening, being mindful of tone, and ensuring clarity in conversations, both in person and digitally. These can go a long way in reducing stress. When communication flows smoothly, teams work together in harmony, and the workplace becomes more relaxed and productive as a result.
Empathy and Emotional Intelligence Skills
Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, is essential for stress reduction in interpersonal relationships. When we practise empathy, we help create an environment of trust and support, reduce feelings of isolation and promote a sense of community.
A study by the American Psychological Association found that workplaces that emphasise empathy experience lower levels of employee burnout and higher job satisfaction.
Consider this example. One of your team seems unusually quiet and withdrawn during a project meeting. Instead of pressing them for an update, you privately check in with them afterwards. You find out they’re having a family health crisis, so you offer flexible work hours and temporarily redistribute key tasks to help out. By taking these actions and expressing genuine concern, you’re supporting your team in their hour of need. It shows great empathy and will help prevent potential burnout while reinforcing their sense of belonging and commitment to the business. Great work.
By responding to situations with empathy, you can de-escalate conflicts and create meaningful connections with your people. That leads to better mental health, of course. Emotional intelligence, the soft skill which encompasses empathy, self-awareness and emotional regulation, plays a crucial role in managing stress effectively. Better yet, it’s a skill which we all inherently possess. It just might need some… fine-tuning.
Problem-solving and Teamwork Skills
When faced with challenges, some people thrive, yet others seem to fall apart. The ability to approach problems methodically can help prevent people from becoming overwhelmed. Strong problem-solving skills empower people to break down complex issues into manageable steps, which reduces anxiety and provides a clear path forward.
Teamwork, too, is vital. Collaborating with others not only effectively distributes workloads but also brings diverse perspectives to the table, which makes problem-solving easier. When teams face challenges together, the burden feels lighter, and your people gain confidence, knowing that they don’t have to face the challenges alone. It’s a sense of shared responsibility which can significantly reduce workplace stress.
Let’s say that your marketing team faced a sudden drop in engagement. How would you tackle that problem? Well, you’d break it down into steps. First, analyse data to identify trends, then come together to brainstorm ideas as a group. Each team member takes responsibility for testing new strategies, and progress is shared regularly. By working together, you end up improving engagement and reducing stress because you know you have each other’s support.
Time Management Skills
Remember the panic of having to do your homework on the school bus? Even as adults if you have poor time management skills, you’re likely to still get stressed about deadlines.
Having a constantly full in-tray or project management tool is a recipe for anxiety. Developing strong time management skills can help with that. By prioritising tasks effectively, setting realistic deadlines, and tempering expectations, you can avoid the panic that comes with last-minute rushes.
Simple strategies like creating task lists, setting boundaries with meeting times and breaking up larger projects into smaller steps can provide a sense of control over your workload. When people feel organised and on top of their responsibilities, stress levels naturally decrease.
Building Resilience
We all face setbacks from time to time. How we respond to them can make all the difference. Building resilience—the ability to bounce back from adversity—is another crucial soft skill that can protect our mental health and reduce stress.
Remember a time when you were passed over for a promotion? It probably left you feeling discouraged and unmotivated. Instead of dwelling on the disappointment, you probably got over it by focusing on building your skillset and seeking feedback. Over time, you regained confidence, handled challenges in a positive way, and grabbed a subsequent chance. You see, that’s how setbacks should be viewed: as learning opportunities rather than failures. Doing so strengthens resilience and reduces stress.
It isn’t about ignoring negative feelings but learning how to process and move past them. Techniques such as reframing negative thoughts, maintaining a growth mindset, and practising self-care can help build personal resilience. In the workplace, leaders who show resilience and support their team during challenging times help create an environment where they can navigate difficulties without becoming overwhelmed by them.
Soft Skills in Leadership
Soft skills also play a crucial role in leadership. Leaders who demonstrate strong communication, empathy and resilience really set the tone for a supportive and productive workplace.
By providing constructive feedback and actively listening to their teams, leaders create a culture where people feel valued. This is especially important in remote or hybrid work environments, where clear communication and trust are essential for maintaining connections and reducing misunderstandings. When leaders embody these skills, they not only reduce workplace stress but also inspire their teams to thrive.
The Link Between Soft Skills and Mental Health
The connection between developing soft skills and mental health seems clear. Soft skills training not only equips people with the tools to navigate workplace challenges but also strengthens their ability to manage their emotions and relationships effectively.
By putting effort into enhancing communication, empathy, problem-solving, time management, and resilience, you can gain more control over your environment. This, in turn, lowers stress and improves your overall well-being.
April is Stress Awareness Month, and there’s no better time to focus on enhancing these essential skills. And what’s more, they are skills that come naturally to you, so upskilling shouldn’t be too difficult for you. You can find useful short eLearning courses on all of these ones, but there are other ways to enhance soft skills, too. Workshops, mentoring, daily practice – whichever way works for you, investing in your soft skills will pay dividends in both your productivity and mental health.
That tight deadline scenario from the beginning? It could have gone two ways. In the first version, poor communication led to heightened stress, frustration and burnout. The other? Soft skills transformed the situation into one of calm collaboration and shared purpose.
Soft skills in the workplace aren’t just nice to have. They’re crucial for reducing stress and enhancing overall well-being. Developing your and your teammate’s soft skills can make a real difference, creating happier, healthier people and a more productive workplace.
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