Soft skills come centre stage in training
You have set your AI policy, installed your AI tools of choice and have trained the team in how to operate the tech (they use AI anyway). Now what?
Soft skills have now become hard skills. According to the latest OECD – OCDE 2025 report, adaptive problem solving is one of the core skills that AI can’t hand you. We will need to combine traditional thinking skills with the new tech to improve our own productivity and that of our teams. This means spending more time leading, managing through coaching and communicating with our team members.
The recent Association Leadership survey by Mavence and ESAE – European Society of Association Executives points to three major areas for professional development and training.
1. Leadership and people management: Delegating, giving feedback, and motivation through developing and coaching others on the job.
2. Strategic thinking and vision: The ability to see the bigger picture, look beyond the close horizon of this week and next week and project that vision to the team.
3. Communication skills: Active listening, writing, presenting, negotiating and influencing those around us. The ability to set the tone, structure clear concise messages that cut through – whether in meetings, presentations or through written memos, policy briefings and external communications.
These areas are almost a mirror of our training catalogue. But we continue to innovate and experiment with new approaches. This is no time to stand still.
Listen to our podcast and join the conversation
Anna Koj (Mavence Recruitment), Helen Dunnett (leadership coach) and myself, Andrew Manasseh (Formative Communications) got together to chat. You can tune in here on Spotify
Part 1: The evergreen skills that we still need to bring to the office. Leadership, people management, vision, communication skills… and more.
Part 2: What’s getting in the way? The paradox that the cheaper the tech, the more we don’t save any time.
Part 3: What does good look like? And for this we want to hear from you. Join us for an audience with us at The Nine on 4th November from 19.00. Registration details to follow.
Keep tuned!
