Soft skills: what they are and how to develop them

What are soft skills and how might they help your success at work? Read on to discover the most valuable professional soft skills and what you can do to improve yours.

What are soft skills? 

Soft skills are the personality traits, behaviours, and interpersonal skills that we use to interact with other people. In the workplace, they represent our ability to work effectively and harmoniously with others, and it’s for this reason they are exactly the type of skills that employers look for.

While traditional workplace skills in areas like business and management are important, soft skills, while often overlooked, are crucial to career progression. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, soft skills like analytical thinking remain the most sought-after core skill among employers, with seven out of 10 companies considering it essential in 2025. This is followed by resilience, flexibility and agility, along with leadership and social influence.

Soft skills are not usually tied to specific professions, rather they relate to our personalities and, as such, they are highly transferable skills. Although they are less tangible than hard skills they can still be learned and developed, and employers will value any qualifications you have that demonstrate a willingness to improve them.

Why are soft skills important? 

Soft skills are vital to employers, so much so that the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 found that AI and big data top the list of fastest-growing skills, followed closely by networks and cybersecurity as well as technology literacy. Complementing these technology-related skills, creative thinking, resilience, flexibility and agility, along with curiosity and lifelong learning, are also expected to continue to rise in importance over the next five years.

As well as helping your chances of getting hired, your soft skills will also help you retain employees who work for you.

Effective communication under high stress, empathising or encouraging a team member who might be struggling, and working collaboratively to meet a deadline are all examples of soft skills that carry the highest importance to any organisation. 

Soft skills are also uniquely human. In a workplace and job market changing at high speed because of technological advancement, they are the type of skills that cannot, thus far, be replicated by artificial intelligence (AI). This will only increase their importance in the future. 

By understanding what soft skills are and discovering how you can develop your soft skills, you will strengthen your CV or resume, which is especially useful if you’re thinking about changing roles or careers.

To get you started, we’ve put together a list of soft skills below and how you can develop them.

The most important soft skills

Creative thinking 

The World Economic Forum’s Future Of Jobs Report placed creative thinking in the top five skills on the rise in 2025-2030. Contrary to popular belief, creative thinking isn’t just important for creatives, it’s an essential skill that helps anyone think in ways that will find innovative solutions to solve problems for your organisation.

As repetitive working tasks are increasingly automated, it’s the employees who can use creative problem solving who will be highly valued as they can not only complete the work but also think about how to improve the process itself.

How to be more creative

Learning to approach your work in a more creative, even unorthodox, way is something that you can learn to do.

Simple things like keeping an open mind when confronted with ideas rather than immediately shutting them down, or utilising creative techniques like mind maps, role-playing, or provocations, can be extremely helpful.

With FutureLearn’s partner-led courses taught by diverse academic institutions and organisations, you can learn how to solve everyday problems using creativity to gain a competitive edge in the workplace.

Resilience and flexibility

Resilience and flexibility are the abilities to embrace change, recover from setbacks, and tackle challenges with a positive, resourceful attitude.

In any workplace, unexpected problems are inevitable. Those with a resilient and flexible approach can stay calm under pressure, adapt quickly, and find practical methods for stress management.

In today’s constantly evolving work environment, being able not only to adjust but also to bounce back and view challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles is a highly valued asset for employers.

How to strengthen your resilience and flexibility

Learn from others. Observe colleagues who remain composed and adaptable under pressure, or ask for their advice on how they handle change and setbacks.

Reframe challenges. When faced with a difficult situation, look for the positives — think about what you can learn or how overcoming the challenge can showcase your problem-solving abilities.

Keep practicing. Each time you navigate change or recover from a setback, you’re strengthening your resilience and flexibility.

Building these skills takes practice, but the effort pays off. Being resourceful, curious, and persistent will help you respond to challenges more effectively over time.

Discover how to boost your resilience and flexibility in the workplace on an expert-led online course.

Leadership and social influence

Leadership and social influence are the abilities to inspire, guide, and positively impact others. Whether you’re managing a team, leading a project, or simply contributing ideas that drive change.

In the workplace, the key principles of effective team leadership aren’t just about having authority; they’re about earning trust, communicating effectively, and motivating others toward a shared goal. Those with strong social influence can foster collaboration, resolve conflicts, and help teams perform at their best.

In today’s interconnected work environment, being able to lead with empathy and build strong relationships is truly one of the most in-demand skills.

How to lead more effectively

Observe effective leaders. Pay attention to colleagues or mentors who inspire others and note how they communicate, listen, and motivate.

Work on active communication. Practice clear, respectful, and empathetic communication to build trust and credibility with your peers.

Take initiative. Volunteer to lead a small project or support others in theirs to gain hands-on experience in motivating and guiding a team.

Like any skill, leadership and social influence can be developed with consistent practice and self-awareness.

Discover how to enhance your leadership and social influence with an expert-led online course.

Communication

Demonstrating effective communication and strong interpersonal skills at work is based on your ability to converse productively with others. If you are able to speak to people clearly and politely, while at the same listening empathetically to what colleagues, customers or clients have to say, you will be more productive and achieve better results.

Successful communication involves verbal, non-verbal and written skills, coupled with an understanding of active listening. 

How to improve communication skills

Communication is a key aspect of almost all jobs and is utilised every day, so learning how to communicate effectively is a crucial skill.

You can take steps to improve your communication by focusing on the basics, like simplifying your message or doing a quick check of how your body language might be affecting your communication skills. Plus, make sure you’re fully engaged when you’re listening to others as this will lead them to be more attentive when you’re speaking. 

If you feel your interactions with colleagues – from senior directors to your direct reports – could be improved, consider taking one of our courses. They’re designed to transform your communication skills and teach you how to navigate the modern workplace. As well as boosting your personal effectiveness, you’ll gain a better understanding of work matters and employee issues, simply thanks to your improved ability to communicate and absorb information.

In addition to these soft skills, the World Economic Forum’s Future Of Jobs Report states the top 10 core skills are complemented by technological literacy, empathy and active listening, curiosity and lifelong learning, talent management, and service orientation and customer service.

To find out more about how you can improve your soft skills to thrive in today’s demanding work environments, view our full range of soft skills courses.