If you've got the vocational skills, you're of little help without the human skills. The soft skills, or rather real skills, can't replace vocational skills, but amplify the things you've already been measuring.

For instance, a team member with all the traditional vocational skills is th...

• Adaptability to changing requirements
• Authenticity and consistent behavior
  
• Bouncing back from failure
• Coach-ability
• Collaborative mindset
• Compassion for those in need
• Competitiveness
• Emotional intelligence

• Design thinking
• Fashion instinct
• Map making
• Judging people and situations
• Strategic thinking

• Artistic sense and good taste
• Conflict resolution instincts
• Creativity in the face of challenges
• Critical thinking instead of mere compliance
• Dealing with difficult people
• Diplomacy in difficult situations
• Empathy for customers, co-workers and ...

• Ability to deliver clear and useful criticism
• Assertiveness on behalf of ideas that matter
• Body language (reading and delivering)
• Dispute resolution skills
  
• Inspiring to others
  
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership

Organizations know how to measure vocational skills. They know how to measure typing skills for example. However, they are less able to measure passion or commitment.

Organizations hire and fire based on vocational skill output. But, getting rid of a negative thinker or a bully is much m...

Specific vocational skills are essential - coders should be able to code, salespeople should be able to sell. But, we also need soft skills. By only focusing on the seemingly essential skills, we've reduced the value of the skills that actually matter. 
What separates thriving organizati...

• Crisis management skills
• Decision making with effectiveness
• Delegation for productivity
• Diligence and attention to detail
• Facilitation of discussion
• Goal-setting skills
• Innovative problem-solving techniques
• Lateral thinking
• Meet...