Playing ‘hardball’ is tough, right? It’s supposed to be serious, difficult, dangerous and most definitely not for the weak of heart. “Hey! We play hardball here! Get used to it!!” Softball on the other hand–that’s supposed to be easier, gentler and more forgiving. We play ‘softball’ when we’re in it more for the fun than the game, not for serious competition. Right?
Hmmm. Why then do they call them “soft skills” when referring to the intangible skills of human dynamics and interactions, or emotional intelligence and the ability to stay calm and compassionate when an angry client or upset employee is yelling at you?
It seems to me that when it comes to business, politics and life, the real “hardball” game is with people. That’s where the real skills are necessary. That’s a level of play that is far more difficult, volatile and dangerous than what we traditionally call the “hard” skills. When will we learn that people skills are not the soft skills--they’re the only ones in the end that count the most! When it comes right down to it, it is only through people that profitability and dividend returns can be achieved long-term. It’s not the skill of investment, or sales, or engineering that makes the money, it’s the application of those skills by a person that effects the bottom line. The most important skills we can learn are people skills.
