Soft vs Hard Skills in Project Management

Hard skills are teachable and quantifiable skill. E.g. computer programming, language proficiency or ability to swim fast. Soft skills are not quantifiable and are more subjective. E.g. communication, leadership and motivation.

 

Soft skills are also known as interpersonal skills or peoples skills.

While hard skills have their due importance in any employment, employers are increasingly looking for applicants that possess certain amount of soft skills too. 

This is especially true when recruiting for management positions. A person that have strong soft skills is far better adept to lead or manage a team of players that may have higher hard skills than himself. This also emphasis the fact that to get elevated to the management positions from within the organization, polishing the soft skill are as important as improving on the hard ones.

References:

(a). https://www.batimes.com/articles/5-key-soft-skills-for-it-business-analysts.html

(b). https://www.thebalancecareers.com/hard-skills-vs-soft-skills-2063780
(c). https://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/soft-skills