Creating a positive team culture with soft skills

Find helpful resources for managers and recruiters to help build soft skills that benefit your organization.

Imagine that you’re hiring a software engineer. You’ll likely want to target some hard skills, like proficiency in specific coding languages. But beyond that, it’s also important to find someone with the right combination of soft skills. For example, you may seek a software engineer who excels at communication and collaboration — two soft skills that can help them thrive in a team environment. 

When hiring, it can be helpful to define the desired soft skills for each open role. For instance, time management may be especially important for a journalist who is constantly working on deadline. Meanwhile, adaptability may be a particularly essential soft skill for a start-up executive who wears many hats. 

By keeping soft skills in mind when interviewing, you can help ensure you hire the best candidates possible and position your organization for success. Read on to explore soft skills training resources from LinkedIn. 

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Was sind Soft Skills? 

Soft Skills sind Eigenschaften, die Mitarbeiter:innen helfen, im Job erfolgreich zu sein. Starke zwischenmenschliche Fähigkeiten können beispielsweise auf das Potenzial von Kandidat:innen hinweisen, gut mit anderen interagieren und positiv zum Team beitragen zu können. Diese sehr übertragbaren Eigenschaften prägen die tägliche Arbeitsweise der Mitarbeiter:innen.

Bei der Bewertung von Soft Skills können Sie wertvolle Fragen beantworten, wie: Wie kommuniziert diese:r Kandidat:in mit Kollegen? Wie effektiv können sie mehrere Prioritäten gleichzeitig jonglieren? Passen sie sich leicht an neue Arbeitsabläufe an?

Soft skills vs. hard skills

Wondering how to clearly distinguish between soft skills and hard skills?
Let’s explore some key differences:

Soft skills examples

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Teamwork

Your employees’ ability to work effectively with others — both within familiar team settings and cross-functionally — can dramatically shape project outcomes and workplace relationships.

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Work ethic

Are your employees willing to give every project their best shot? Do they take initiative? Work ethic goes a long way — especially during unanticipated setbacks and other stressful situations.

10 soft skills that can drive business success

• Communication: Sharing and absorbing information productively, openly, and respectfully

• Teamwork: Working effectively with other team members

• Time management: Working efficiently and productively, especially when faced with deadlines and multiple priorities

• Problem-solving: Thinking critically about a problem (and working toward a solution)

• Creativity: Devising inventive, outside-the-box solutions

• Leadership: Guiding and mentoring others

• Interpersonal skills: Interacting positively with others

• Work ethic: Being dedicated to a broader mission and the work it entails

• Adaptability: Evolving with change and adjusting to new circumstances

• Attention to detail: Identifying and accounting for every last detail

How to assess a candidate’s soft skills

Incorporating a soft skill assessment into your interview process can help you hire the most qualified candidates. You may consider asking questions that explore certain soft skills, such as these behavioral interview questions.

Active listening can also help you uncover valuable insights about candidates. When detailing their hard skills or providing personal anecdotes, for example, candidates might indirectly spotlight soft skills like curiosity, teamwork, or leadership. By listening closely and asking the right questions, you can confidently choose the best person for the job.

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Soft skills training

Looking to develop your employees’ soft skills? The right training can yield countless benefits. Though many soft skills directly align with intrinsic personality traits, training and experience are often necessary for further development. 

You may consider implementing a teamwide training program, either in person or online. These target a number of soft skill areas, including communication and collaboration.

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LinkedIn soft skills training resources

Today, soft skills training is the #1 priority for learning and development leaders. Expanding access to valuable training opportunities can benefit business leaders and employees alike — especially as workplaces across the board continue to evolve at record speed. Discover how LinkedIn can help elevate your team’s soft skills.

Ready to put soft skills to work?

Find candidates who have the soft skills you need.

Explore LinkedIn Talent Solutions
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