By Mike Pearson
There’s no doubt that skills-based organisations are on the rise. The shift is clear – businesses are moving away from traditional roles and job titles and instead focusing on the specific skills people bring to the table. It’s an approach that promises agility, innovation, and a competitive edge. But as technical skills take centre stage, what happens to the human side of work?
The irony is that while organisations race to catalogue and quantify their technical capabilities, the skills that make work truly meaningful – empathy, collaboration, adaptability – are at risk of being left behind. And yet, it’s these very qualities that define how we connect, create, and lead.
Imagine walking into a meeting where everyone has mastered the tools and systems but no one knows how to truly listen, or engage with anyone. Or consider the challenges of navigating constant change without adaptability or emotional intelligence. Human skills are not soft; they’re foundational. They’re the glue that holds technical expertise together and turns it into something greater. So why are they so often undervalued?
One reason is measurement. It’s far easier to count certificates and completed courses than it is to assess empathy or resilience. But does that mean we shouldn’t try?
Forward-thinking organisations are beginning to track human skills. They’re focusing not just on what people know, but how they show up each day and the impact they have on those around them.
Going Back to Basics
In today’s fast-paced world, essential human skills are often overlooked. Many of us take them for granted or cut corners in our daily interactions to save time. Yet, these basics are the foundation of meaningful connection and collaboration:
- Camera Etiquette: Keeping your camera on helps build connection and engagement, creating a more human and interactive experience for everyone. There’s nothing worse than talking to just a name on a screen!
- Introducing Yourself: A thoughtful introduction, whether in person or online, sets the tone for genuine connection.
- Non-Verbal Communication: Eye contact, tone, pace, and facial expressions speak volumes. Even subtle gestures on video calls can convey clarity and warmth.
- Chatting During Discussions: Chat features can add value if used thoughtfully, but overuse risks becoming a distraction.
- Using Humour Wisely: Humour, when well-timed, builds rapport. It’s all about reading the room and knowing your audience.
- Listening and Responding: Active listening involves replaying key points and asking questions to ensure understanding.
- Saying No and Sharing Actions: Setting clear boundaries and outlining actionable steps strengthens trust and clarity.
- Collaborating with Intention: Understanding how colleagues prefer to work improves teamwork and respect.
- Building Ideas Together: Inviting contributions and building on others’ ideas sparks creativity and ownership.
Human Skills and Technology in Tandem
Embedding these skills into organisational frameworks requires intentionality. It’s not enough to mention collaboration in a set of company values and hope it sticks. Human skills need to be practised, modelled, and developed at every level. This means weaving them into performance conversations, leadership programmes, and team dynamics, ensuring they are seen as integral to success, not just optional extras.
The challenge for senior leaders and HR teams is to create a workplace where human and technical skills are not in competition, but in partnership. It’s about recognising that the most effective organisations are those that balance both. Technical skills may build the structure, but human skills breathe life into it.
At Bailey & French, we’ve seen first-hand how powerful this balance can be. It’s what drives high-performing teams, builds trust, and supports resilience in an ever-changing world. And it’s now a necessity for organisations that want to thrive.
The question is no longer whether human skills matter; it’s how we make sure they’re valued and developed as intentionally as technical ones. That’s where the real work begins – and where real transformation happens.
If you’re ready to explore how to bring human skills to the forefront of your organisation, we’d love to continue the conversation.