Soft skills training is often reserved for leaders and top executives. But it’s not just bosses who want to up their emotional intelligence to thrive in the workplace—workers are also looking for the same kind of in-person learning and development opportunities, according to a new study from Deloitte.
When ranking how much they value training in various skills, employees put teamwork at the top (65%), followed by communication (61%), and leadership (56%). More technical skills, such as coding or data analysis for example, come in fourth at 54%.
Despite the hunger for those so-called soft skills, however, only about half of all workers feel their employers value these human-centric qualities more than technical ones, according to the study. But employers that ignore soft skills development do so at their own peril.
“Organizations that overemphasize technical training at the expense of enduring human capabilities—like divergent thinking, emotional agility, resilience—could end up impeding innovation and leaving employees ill-equipped to lead teams, adapt to market opportunities, and fully harness the potential of technology,” Anthony Stephan, chief learning officer, Deloitte U.S., wrote in a statement.
He recommends that to address this issue, CHROs first get as close as possible to how employees are feeling in terms of what they want, while also considering the company’s strategic needs. The most important thing you can do, he emphasizes, is listen and let employees dictate what they need to be successful.
There are all kinds of ways that companies can make sure employees get the kind of human-centric skills training they require. This can involve structured offerings like mentorship programs or more relaxed social events that give folks quality time to interact and connect on a more personal level. And make sure not to leave out the youngest employees. Around 94% of survey respondents said that younger workers in particular need better “human skills” to be successful in today’s workplace. Stephan adds that apprenticeships sit at the heart of developing the soft skills of the next generation.
“Leaders at all levels should be more intentional than ever about teaching and learning from each other—across generations, channels, and locations—in the flow of everyday work.”
Brit Morse
brit.morse@fortune.com
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