There is a lot of emphasis on developing and exhibiting soft skills at workplace.  Employees are hustled from one training to the next in the hope that they develop the desired soft skills.  However, the following introspection is very much needed:

1. Do we get enough opportunity to practice our soft skills?
2. In a fast paced, stressful environment, is soft skills valued vis-a-vie “Hard Skills”*.
3. Is it tangible and rewarding?

Soft skills have many benefits.  The workplace environment is far better; it promotes team work, communication, work ethics etc.But does it get the credit it truly deserves?  Do our bosses always see that?  Most often than not, people are hired or promoted based on "hard" skills.  Wasn’t it the case with that ‘arrogant psychotic jerk’ who was promoted, while other deserving candidates were over looked?Maybe a few tips will help…

1. Speak up – keep you manager informed of your contributions.
2. Checklist – maintain a checklist of your deliverables and achievements
3. Be patient and consistent – the effects of soft skills may not be apparent right away. The pay-off takes time.

* Hard skills are technical or functional skills that are directly related to a job, for example, engineering, accounting, etc.