Skills are not personality traits

The term soft skills is often used in practice when it comes to human skills in the context of social interactions. However, soft skills are not personality traits. Because "skills" mean abilities. This distinguishes the term "ability" from personality traits, such as "teamwork" or the traits according to the Big Five personality model. According to studies by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation and the Stanford Research Center, 85% of professional success can be attributed to soft skills.

Why is ability to work in a team is not a skill at all

The fact that "ability to work" is not a skill at all is an obvious contradiction. The only apparent contradiction is resolved when the term is understood as a simplified summary that does not refer to competencies, but to a bundle of personality traits. The "ability to work in a team" is made up of a combination of several personality traits (for example empathy, willingness to communicate, willingness to cooperate, ability to deal with conflict, etc.). Other examples of skills that are not "real" skills, but a bundle of different personality traits: communication skills, adaptability, ability to accept criticism, etc.

Team-oriented action

In our soft skills model, only skills that can actually be observed and measured can be found. In the example, the personality trait "ability to work in a team" is replaced by "team-oriented action."