These soft skills mentioned such as, teamwork, communications, and leadership are developed well before college. They start in childhood and are carried into our adulthood. To suggest that universities have failed may be a little strong although they may help or add training to enhance workplace effectiveness. These soft skills develop from our friendships, play (games, sports) in early childhood with our families and playmates.

Today’s generations now attending college/university seems to lack many of the social graces, friendliness, optimism, personal habits, and language skills associated with success in the workplace. These again are soft skills we bring into adulthood to re-enforce and embellish.

There was another study done about the same time by several Japanese psychologists on the lack of social skills with males who spend large amounts of time on the computer and playing video games.

Andrew, you are right on both notes, these skills should be easy to introduce into a university curriculum and yes in general academia and Corporate America have left it up to the individual to developed these skills on their own.

My experience shows me that these skills are basic developmental skills from birth, thus trying to teach soft skills in the university might present a challenge. I do feel that these courses can be taught as an introduction courses to the problem and they are. These soft skills are so personalized based on each person’s life experiences and belief systems, teaching each individual in a class setting would be prohibitive.

Much like the quote of Vince Lombardi, “Leaders are not born, they’re made.” We have learned that we cannot make a leader by teaching leadership, teamwork, ethics, integrity and most of the other identified soft skills. They must be developed. If we could teach these soft skills then the problem would have been solved years ago with the numerous management and supervisory training courses offered.




So, the individual must be responsible and accountable to develop their lack of soft skills with the support and help of academia and the business world.

teach marketing (and some other courses) at a college. The course outlines all list communication skills, personal skills and interpersonal skills as things that students must be able to demonstrate as a core competency.

The reality is that we are asked to evaluate knowledge and application of concepts NOT spelling and grammar! As a result, I see many incoherent essays and research papers.

A few of the students are incredibly articulate but for the most part, they are not given the opportunity to develop the skills that are necessary for success in the workplace. They can even opt-out of group work if they feel that it may negatively impact their grades!

From a young age, we teach students to focus on tasks that can be graded. As a result, they don't focus on the skills that are not "measured". In the workplace, success is determined by not only getting the job done, but by coaching, developing your team, demonstrating leadership and being able to communicate your vision and strategies...things that are not easily measured.

Nikole makes a valid point about parents encouraging their children to be entrepreneurs. Those students that have had some experience running a small business (lawn care, dog sitting, etc) seem to understand how important relationship building, consumer-focus, leadership and commitment is to business success.