from knowledge to awareness
Beneath the rhetoric surrounding transversal skills and workplace dynamics lies, in truth, a complex and multifaceted world made up simply of people. Human beings who live, work, interact, adapt and sometimes merely survive.
In today's world, the role of purely “hard” knowledge has become relatively marginal. This shift, however, may have started long ago.
The true focus now revolves around our mindset and skillset, which form the backbone of success, performance, tangible results and, above all, quality of work.
The key words? Soft skills.
From psychosocial skills to soft skills
Today's working environment is marked by rapid, relentless—even compulsive—change, where technological innovation and automation are dramatically reshaping professional dynamics.
This opening, while necessary, carries a hint of tired rhetoric, especially considering that as early as the 1960s, the need to rely on psychosocial skills was already emerging. Over time, these have come to be recognised and labelled as soft skills.
According to the Business School of the Italian media group
Il Sole 24 Ore, companies are no longer looking for employees with a fixed set of technical skills, but rather for individuals who can collaborate, communicate and adapt. Nothing extraordinary on the surface—these competencies are rooted in fundamental and universal human needs.
These “soft” skills are now a true differentiator and added value. A predictor of success.
While technical know-how is a baseline, transversal competencies are far from guaranteed.
Soft skills as strategic skills
Broadly speaking, soft skills can be defined as the combination of abilities, knowledge and behaviours that enable us to operate effectively within a professional environment.
Critical thinking, resilience, leadership, teamwork, problem solving and effective communication are among the most in-demand skills today.
At least, that’s what emerges from the World Economic Forum, Reuters, Multiverse, Michael Page Italia, the Agenda Digitale, and even Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), which has formally included them in public selection criteria. A significant cultural shift, without a doubt.
The know-how and the know-how to be have become a true strategy and prerequisite that can genuinely make a difference.
Perhaps that difference has always been there—we just hadn’t noticed it yet.
After all, some forms of knowledge take time to mature into universally accepted truths—absorbed, understood, and truly embraced. It’s in the nature of progress.
Transversal competencies as a top priority
Setting everything else aside, according to the World Economic Forum in its update of "The Future of Jobs Report 2025", soft skills are an absolute priority for companies worldwide.
The study highlighted some particularly striking findings:
- 94% of companies consider soft skills to be more important than technical skills. What a discovery!
- The most sought-after skills are: critical thinking, creativity, empathetic leadership, and change management. Easier said than done!
- Soft skills are strategic for tackling the evolution and dominance of new technologies. An undeniable truth.
- Interpersonal communication, the ability to build effective relationships, and problem-solving are almost mandatory skills. They always have been!
REFERENCES
World Economic Forum (2025). The Future of Jobs Report 2025. World Economic Forum.
Harvard Business Review – www. hbr.org
McKinsey & Company (2023). The Future of Work: How Jobs, Skills, and Workplaces Will Change - www.mckinsey.com