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WHAT ARE HUMAN SKILLS?
Let's begin by defining what are human skills.
What are Human skills? They are the skills that empower us to express ourselves and easily connect with others. Think of skills such as communication, collaboration, empathy, and emotional awareness.
These skills are the key to achieving our full potential.
Without human skills, we struggle to understand ourselves and others. To express our emotions and voice our needs. To earn trust and resolve conflicts.
To build positive relationships–––leaving us feeling lonely and isolated.
Great human skills unlock the incredible power to achieve more success and fulfillment in our lives. And that power lies within each of us.
This is your invitation to unlock your human power.
WHY LEADERS NEED HUMAN SKILLS?
Human skills to unlock your team's potential
What kind of a leader are you? How often do you pause to recognize your team's hard work? Or reflect on the loyalty and commitment they show you or your organization? In my decades-long experience advising Fortune 500 companies, I’ve noticed that in the daily rush of tight deadlines, many leaders often overlook those around them. This lack of social awareness, a vital human skill, can be detrimental and often results in a disengaged team.
To illustrate this point––let me share with you a story about a successful business executive–– who, like many of us, often grabbed a coffee on his way to work from his favorite coffee shop.
Despite finding the overly chatty brunette barista annoying, the executive appreciated the great coffee and quick service. So, to avoid small talk, he kept his eyes fixated on his phone as he ordered.
On a particular hectic morning, he was in such a rush, that he only realized something was wrong with his drink long after he had left. The first sip was dark and bitter, not the creamy cinnamon almond latte he always ordered. Fuming, he stormed back to the coffee shop and when he explained the mix-up to the manager, he was met with a calm response: the café didn’t offer the fancy coffee he'd come to expect. The executive was puzzled he had been ordering that drink daily for almost a year. Perplexed, he scanned the menu only to find that the manager was right his beloved cinnamon almond latte wasn't listed. It was only then that it dawned on him that the brunette barista had been making his special drink all along, even though it wasn’t part of the official menu. What was worse was that he had never taken the time to even say hello, much less thank her despite her consistently going above and beyond for him.
As a leader, you might find this narrative all too familiar, as it often mirrors our own experiences. In the race to meet quarterly targets and keep the stakeholders happy we can easily overlook the needs of our teams and take their hard work for granted. Or stay distracted by our phones while they are trying to share their insights and concerns with us.
The good news is that it’s never too late to become a better leader. One who works to make their team feel seen heard and understood. One who takes the time to not just know their names but also their stories and the values that matter to them. One who never takes their efforts for granted or waits until it’s too late to express their gratitude. Great leaders recognize that building a foundation of loyalty and respect starts with demonstrating those very qualities toward their team. This journey this pursuit, this desire towards greater leadership is only possible when we refine and strengthen our human skills.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN CONNECTION
Are you feeling unfulfilled at work?
If so, this could be due to a lack of genuine connection. Often, we overlook the fact that our fulfillment at work is deeply rooted in the relationships we cultivate with our colleagues. Take a moment to reflect on this—and as you do, allow me to tell you a story.
On a cold winter evening, as she hurried to catch a train after a demanding day at work, a well-dressed businesswoman felt a forceful tug on her expensive wool coat. Surprised, she quickly turned to find a young girl in a school uniform standing behind her. The woman’s eyes widened in dismay as she noticed a tear in her coat, and her immediate reaction was anger. She sternly reprimanded the girl for the damage done. The young girl, visibly shaken and shivering in the cold, apologetically explained that she had lost her wallet and desperately needed help to get home. Still consumed with rage, the woman coldly asked the girl why she hadn’t just politely asked. With tears streaming down her face, the girl revealed that she had been waiting for hours, politely pleading with everyone who passed by, but not a single person had even stopped to acknowledge her presence. Touched by the girl’s heartfelt plea, the woman hesitated for a moment before reaching into her handbag and handing over the fare for the subway. As the young girl threw her trembling, cold arms around the businesswoman in appreciation, the woman felt a lump in her throat. Despite the visible damage to her coat, she never repaired the tear and kept it as a personal reminder to never go through life so fast that someone had to tug at her to get her attention.
When you think about it–––in our highly competitive work environments, the relentless chase for personal success can often lead us to speed through our days, neglecting to forge meaningful connections with our colleagues or even get to know them on a human level. This absence of deeper relationships creates barriers to teamwork, reduces productivity, and undermines our personal ability to build trust, gain influence, and become more successful in our careers. Most importantly, it undermines our ability to attain happiness and fulfillment in our lives.
As a leading humanitarian who has worked in diverse cultures across the globe, I’ve observed a fundamental truth: that true fulfillment in life isn’t measured by our financial success but rather by the meaningful relationships we build with others. This inherent need for connection lies at the heart of the human experience. Believe it or not, this longing for connection extends to our professional relationships as well. Unfortunately, many of us lack the essential human skills needed to foster these deeper connections. So, if you want to achieve success and fulfillment in your personal and professional life, consider strengthening your human skills.