Softly, softly task force

To run a business and be successful in life requires skill, knowledge and plenty of time. It takes 6 years to qualify as a solicitor (The Law Society, 2021), 6 years as a vet (British Veterinary Association, 2021), 10 years to qualify as a GP (NHS, 2021) and 15 years to complete training to practise specialist cosmetic surgery (National Careers Service, 2021), while a brain surgeon requires 18 years of training and study (Study Medicine Europe, 2019).

While these timescales may lead to an individual being able to practice in their chosen field, having hard skills (knowledge) does not necessarily make them a guaranteed success, as they still have to be able to deal with people. We have all come across an individual who is technically competent but has poor interpersonal skills. It is this that the art of soft skills training seeks to correct.