5 Soft Skills Clusters – Soft Skills Development Framework
Soft Skills Clusters
This is a BETA version. The list is a work in progress. Some definitions, behavioral indicators, and commentary on the specific soft skills cluster pages are incomplete, but I decided to post the list anyway hoping that it will be helpful to you all the same. I typically add a definition and commentary each day.
In order to facilitate training, development, practice, and application across various areas of life—not just career development—I have developed a simple framework (The 5 Soft Skills Clusters) that includes key behavioral indicators:
Decision Making & Problem Solving Skills
Teamwork & Collaboration Skills
Self-Management & Professionalism Skills
Leadership, Influence, & Persuasion Skills
NOTE: Many soft skills fit into multiple clusters. For example, conflict management is part of teamwork, leadership, problem solving, and communication. If you find yourself thinking, “This skill could be or should be part of a different cluster,” you are probably right.
Definition of Soft Skills
Soft skills are personal abilities that improve human performance and facilitate effective interactions amongst people. (Duncan, 2013)
- Soft skills are also known as: character skills, character strengths, interpersonal skills, noncognitive skills, people skills, performance values, and power skills.
- Introductory video series on soft skills: What Are Soft Skills and How Can They Give You A Competitive Advantage?
- To suggest edits or additions please let me know on LinkedIn or use the contact page.
- Sources are either cited (linked to) throughout or listed at the bottom of this page.
communication skills
Detailed definitions, behavioral indicators, and tips on the Communication Skills cluster page.
Active Listening
Communication
— Verbal (Oral) Communication
— Nonverbal Communication
— Written Communication
Negotiation
Public Speaking
Rapport
Storytelling
decision making & Problem Solving Skills
Detailed definitions, behavioral indicators, and tips on Decision Making & Problem Solving Skills cluster page.
Creativity
Critical Thinking
Decision Making
Innovation
Problem Solving
Resourcefulness
teamwork & collaboration skills
Detailed definitions, behavioral indicators, and tips on the Teamwork & Collaboration Skills cluster page.
Collaboration
Cooperation
Dependability
Diversity
Teamwork
Team Oriented
Team Player
self-management & professionalism skills
Detailed definitions, behavioral indicators, and tips on the Self-Management & Professionalism Skills cluster page.
Adaptability
Attitude
Character
Character Strengths
Compassion
Concentration
Conscientiousness
Curiosity
Creativity
Diligence
Emotional Intelligence (EI, EQ)
Empathy
Enthusiasm
Flexibility
Focus
Grit
Growth Mindset/Fixed Mindset
Initiative
Integrity
Optimism
Organizational skills
Perseverance
Persistence
Personal Responsibility
Resilience
Self-Control
Self-Discipline
Self-Regulation
Time Management
Work ethic
leadership, influence, & persuasion skills
Detailed definitions, behavioral indicators, and tips on the Leadership, Influence, & Persuasion Skills cluster page.
Conflict Management
Conflict Resolution
Delegation (Sharing Leadership & Authority)
Influence
Leadership
Leadership Agility
Persuasion
Selling
Talent Management
Team Building
miscellaneous terms related to soft skills
Detailed definitions and tips on the Related Terms page.
Action step
Active Learning
Behavioral Indicators
Character Education (Character Development)
Coaching
Competitive Advantage
Customer Service
Deliberate Practice
Determination
Ethics
Executive Functions
Fail-Forward
Global Competence
Goal setting
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
Mentoring
Motivation
Networking
Noncognitive skills
People skills
Performance values
Personal Branding
Personal Development
Personal Effectiveness
Personality
Philosophy
Professional Development
Pro-Social Behavior
Positive Youth Development (PYD)
Self-Efficacy
Self-Improvement
Self-Reflection
Social Responsibility
Social Emotional Learning
Volition
Willpower
Youth Development
Sources:
- Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory: An Introduction
- Comparative Analysis of Soft Skills (Michigan State University)
- Critical Thinking Community
- Curious About Curiosity
- Emotional Intelligence Consortium
- Emotional Intelligence Glossary of Terms
- FindYouthInfo.gov
- Heckman Equation
- How Children Succeed: Q & A with Paul Tough
- Leading In The Heat Of Conflict
- MDRC
- Mentor
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary
- The Resilience Research Centre
- The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance
- Three Kinds of Empathy
- University Of Michigan Center For Research On Learning And Teaching
- VIA® Institute On Character
- Wikipedia
- Categories: ArticlesProfessionalSoft SkillsTeenYoung Adult