The L&D Playbook for Soft Skills Development
Soft skills will make or break your workforce.
Ask any L&D or HR leader which skills are must-haves, and they’ll mention “soft skills” like collaboration, emotional intelligence, and adaptability. But let’s get one thing straight: calling them “soft” is a disservice.
These skills are the difference makers that make teams thrive and leaders shine. Maybe you’ve heard other terms like power skills, durable skills, or people skills.
Here at Hone, we call them “universal skills” because everyone needs them to thrive in the workplace. Ignore their importance, and your business will feel the impact.
But here’s the problem:
Only 15% of companies believe they can effectively pinpoint the gap between current skills and future needs. We’re here to change that.
Check out our resource bundle with the game-changing tools and insights you need to diagnose these gaps, secure buy-in for upskilling, and learn from peers who have conquered these challenges.
The skill gaps are large, but the investment is small.
Less than half of employees
strongly agree they have the skills they need to be exceptional at their current job.
83% of companies see gaps in
these skills among their employees — especially in critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, and communication.
74% of organizations offer professional development for their employees but only 35% offer soft skills training.
The bottom line: Companies that invest in soft skills training outperform those that don’t.
85% of job success depends on universal skills (or soft skills), like effective collaboration, emotional intelligence, and adaptability.
Soft skills training can increase productivity by 12% and deliver a 250% return on investment.
Businesses that extend leadership training to all employees are 4.2x more likely to outperform those that don’t in revenue growth, operating margin, and return on equity.
Everything you need to diagnose skills gaps and get buy-in for upskilling
The Universal Skills Diagnostic Workbook
Tired of guessing what skills your team needs? Our practical guide helps you pinpoint essential skills through a step-by-step diagnostic exercise. Talk directly to stakeholders, identify skill gaps, and build training programs that make a real impact.
Listening Session Deck Template
Don’t waste time preparing for listening sessions with stakeholders — we’ve taken care of it for you. This template includes ready-to-use slides and expert guidance for conducting effective skills gap listening sessions. Dive deep into direct conversations, uncover critical insights, and align your training programs with real business needs.
Executive Pitch Deck Template
Securing buy-in for skills development initiatives is often an uphill battle. This template arms you with powerful slides and data to effectively persuade stakeholders on the critical need for investing in universal skills. Break through skepticism, align training with strategic goals, and champion your team’s growth with a compelling pitch that commands attention and support.
Building the Business Case for Universal Skills Training: Tips From L&D and HR Leaders
Curious how other HR and L&D leaders have conquered the challenge of gaining buy-in? This tip sheet delivers firsthand insights from your peers who have navigated the challenges of securing investments in universal skills development. Uncover strategies to refine your pitch and position universal skills development as a cornerstone of organizational advancement.
Download The L&D Playbook for Soft Skills Development!
Get the bundle of resources for identifying universal skills gaps and gaining approval for upskilling efforts, plus example learning paths and additional insights from industry experts.
