Power skills: soft skills with energy

Are power skills and soft skills the same? Are they different? Is there anything that sets them apart? In reality, power skills are the soft skills we’ve always known, but the term has evolved to define them more clearly and to emphasise their importance among the capabilities every entrepreneur should possess. Let’s start at the beginning.

What are soft skills?

When we use this term, we are referring to** “soft skills”** (their literal translation). They describe the interpersonal competences and personal attributes that enable you to get along well with colleagues, integrate into a team and collaborate effectively, or uphold ethical standards in the performance of your role (and do so with greater effectiveness). Some examples of soft skills include:

• Problem-solving and conflict resolution

• Assertive communication

• Ability to work as part of a team

• Time management

• Emotional intelligence

• Adaptability

• Resilience

• Curiosity

• Attention to detail

• Creativity

• Agile, flexible and participative leadership

Why call them power skills?

The term gained popularity when several experts in human resources and corporate talent pointed out that “hard skills” (technical knowledge, languages, work experience) are, in fact, “soft” in nature, as they require constant updating, become obsolete and can be learned relatively easily.

By contrast, acquiring and developing “soft” skills is far more challenging, which is why the shift towards the term “power skills” took place. Beyond avoiding confusion, this expression better captures their essence: they are the capabilities that enable both a project and its team members to grow, becoming drivers of change.

The importance of power skills

You may have the best car in the world, but it will not move without fuel or electricity. Power skills are that energy:** they “power” projects and give them dynamism.** Many ideas have the right infrastructure or technology (the traditional “hard” side), yet fail to progress because their leaders do not give sufficient importance to these soft skills, which are the true driving force behind everything.

Power skills are the fuel not only for your venture, but for your professional journey as well: they allow you to** make the most of everything you have learned through **courses or at university. To put them into practice, you can start by:

• Building strong relationships with other team members, based on transparency and trust

• Communicating effectively

• Maintaining curiosity and optimism

Benefits of power skills

• Gaining access to new opportunities and building connections (through networking, listening attentively to your team’s ideas, or clearly communicating what you are seeking)

• Pivoting when necessary

• Facing challenges and persisting in the face of frustration

• Managing failure

• Drawing inspiration from others’ successes

• Believing in and practising continuous learning

This is how you stand out in an increasingly automated and digitalised environment. In any project, it is important to stay up to date with developments affecting your sector, but equal attention must be given to continually developing and refining your power skills, as they are essential to keeping an idea alive.

Sources: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelwells/2024/02/19/soft-skills-vs-power-skills-is-there-a-difference/ https://smowl.net/es/blog/power-skills/

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