Picture this. You’re a manager at a firm, heading into an important meeting you’ve spent weeks preparing for. The brief is flawless, the pitch is airtight, and you’re dressed to impress. But then—your car breaks down, traffic grinds to a halt, or a last-minute emergency keeps you from arriving on time.
In many cases, this could spell disaster: a lost deal, wasted hours, and a dent in your reputation. But not today. Why? Because one of your employees—the one everyone knows as a “people person”—steps in. They set the tone, make the client feel welcome, ask about on-goings in their life, and ease the tension with a well-timed joke. By the time you walk in, the client is smiling, the room is calm, and the meeting is already on track.
That’s the power of soft skills. They turn potential setbacks into opportunities for growth, helping people transform moments of stress or failure into moments of connection and success.
The Changing Talent Landscape
The nature of work is evolving—and so are the skills that define success. Where once technical mastery and efficiency were the primary currencies of value, today’s workplace increasingly rewards emotional depth, adaptability, and human connection. Harvard University’s Division of Continuing Education defines Emotional Intelligence (EI) as “a set of skills that help us recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions as well as recognize, understand and influence the emotions of others.” As such, the modern employee isn’t just expected to execute tasks but to collaborate, communicate, and connect across diverse teams, time zones, and technologies.
According to HR Dive (2025), three in five employers say soft skills are more important than ever, and 60% believe soft skills are more important today than they were five years ago. In parallel, McKinsey (2018) found that the demand for social and emotional skills will grow by 26% in the U.S. and 22% in Europe by 2030, outpacing most technical skill categories. Within this growth, demand for entrepreneurship, leadership, and initiative-taking is expected to surge by over 30%. Thus, while technical skills remain important, it is evident that emotional intelligence is emerging as employees’ enduring advantage.
Building Emotional Skills in the Workplace
Emotional intelligence thrives in environments that nurture connection, feedback, and shared purpose. Organizations that want to strengthen emotional skills among employees must go beyond training sessions and embed these principles into their culture and everyday interactions.
Fisher’s Engagement and Satisfaction Surveys services are designed with this philosophy in mind. Through these, Fisher helps organizations listen to their people—understanding what drives motivation, where emotional barriers exist, and how employees connect with the company’s broader purpose. These insights inform initiatives that foster alignment with company values and mission, ensuring employees not only understand what the organization stands for but also feel personally invested in its goals.
Employers, it’s time to rethink what makes talent truly valuable. Beyond technical ability, employees who demonstrate empathy, communication, and emotional awareness drive stronger teams and better results. Prioritize emotional intelligence, and you’ll build a workforce that’s not only capable but resilient and engaged.
References:
Crist, C. (2025, June 11). 3 in 5 employers say soft skills are more important than ever. HR Dive. https://www.hrdive.com/news/3-in-5-employers-say-soft-skills-are-more-important-than-ever/750424/
Bughin, J., Hazan, E., Lund, S., Dahlström, P., & Wiesinger, A. (2018, May 23). Skill shift: Automation and the future of the workforce. McKinsey Global Institute. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/skill-shift-automation-and-the-future-of-the-workforce
Harvard Division of Continuing Education. (n.d.). How to improve your emotional intelligence. Harvard DCE. https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-improve-your-emotional-intelligence/
