16 Jul The Overlooked Soft Skills That Can Make or Break Warehouse & Office Employee Performance
Technical skills will always be essential for getting the job done. But, in today’s workplace, soft skills are becoming just as valuable. Whether in a warehouse or office setting, these human skills directly impact how well employees perform, how long they stay with the company, and how smoothly operations run. Yet many employers still overlook these critical abilities when hiring and training their teams.
To help you understand what you need to look for, this article will delve into the most overlooked soft skills you should prioritize when hiring and training employees. It’ll also include strategies you can implement to improve overall employee performance.
Skills Gap in Modern Workplaces
Most employers focus on the technical side of a role. When hiring warehouse and office workers, they tend to look for people who can operate equipment or those who have software skills, respectively. Although these are vital for a successful employee, companies may fail to test whether someone can stay calm under pressure. They rarely pay attention to specific soft skills that can make or break employee performance.
Employers who ignore underrated soft skills may potentially create workplaces filled with people who can do basic tasks but struggle with daily challenges that actually affect performance. This causes them to spend time fixing problems instead of focusing on higher-value tasks.
What exactly are soft skills you, as a leader, need to pay attention to? The following are some examples you can consider focusing on:
1. Emotional intelligence
This skill is all about how employees understand their own feelings. It includes the ability to read other people’s emotions accurately. In warehouses, this helps workers notice when a coworker is frustrated or stressed. It can create less chances for mistakes or accidents to happen. Meanwhile, in offices, employees with strong emotional intelligence can sense when a client is unhappy. People who have this skill can easily adjust their approach to prevent small problems from becoming big conflicts.
2. Self-regulation
Self-regulation is the capacity to control your reactions and stay calm under pressure. When orders pile up in your warehouse or equipment breaks down, employees with this skill tend to focus on solutions instead of getting overwhelmed or angry. They keep working steadily even during stressful periods. In your office, they handle difficult customers and tight deadlines without losing their professional attitude. You won’t have to worry about these employees making poor decisions when stress levels rise.
3. Situational awareness
Workers who pay attention to what’s happening around them are vital for efficient overall performance. Individuals with good situational awareness tend to notice when someone is rushing unsafely. They are skilled in adjusting their movements to prevent accidents and often encourage others to do the same. Moreover, they notice when the mood is tense. This helps them adapt their behavior or approach to the specific situation at hand.
4. Active and constructive communication
Active and constructive communication means listening carefully and responding in ways that help solve problems and build relationships. This is different from just being polite or friendly. Warehouse workers use this skill when training new employees or discussing safety concerns with supervisors. On the other hand, office workers need it when collaborating on projects or explaining complex information to clients. The key to this soft skill is listening to understand, not just waiting for their turn to talk.
5. Digital literacy
Contrary to popular belief, digital literacy goes beyond knowing how to use basic computer programs. It includes understanding how different systems connect to one another. It also includes being comfortable learning new technology within a short span of time. Both warehouse and office workers need this soft skill as more and more facilities digitalize their systems. From automation to cloud technology, this is vital for any new or tenured hire.
Read more: You Gotta Have It… Skills Every Employee Should Have
Tips and Strategies to Assess and Develop Transferable Skills
Whether you’re looking to improve your staff’s critical thinking or time management skills, the important thing is to use best practices to drive development. The following are some tips and methods you can use to develop the soft skills your people need to succeed.
1. Utilize Different Interview Techniques
Standard interview questions rarely reveal how candidates handle real workplace situations or interact with others under pressure. Employers must move beyond asking “Tell me about yourself” and start using interview methods that actually test underrated skills in action. Some of these techniques are:
a. Behavioral Interviews
Ask candidates to describe specific situations where they use the skills you need.
- Start questions with phrases like “Tell me about a time…” or “Describe how…” since these will give them the opportunity to paint a picture.
- Listen for detailed examples that can showcase emotional intelligence and self-regulation.
- Pay attention to how they explain their thought process and what they learned from the experience.
b. Group Interview Dynamics
Bring multiple candidates together for group discussions. Watch how they interact with each other, observing how they contribute to the conversation and who listens actively to others’ ideas. This can give you insight into their communication skills and situational awareness. Notice how candidates adjust their communication style based on the group dynamic. This approach reveals teamwork and communication patterns that may not be visible in one-on-one interviews.
c. Roleplaying and Simulations
Create realistic workplace scenarios for candidates to “handle” during the interview process. For warehouse roles, simulate a safety concern discussion or an equipment problem explanation. For office positions, see how the interviewee responds to an upset customer call or explains a complex process to a confused client. Observe how candidates use active and constructive communication. Take note as well whether they stay professional under pressure.
2. Design Programs That Build Soft Skills
New employee orientation typically focuses on company policies and job procedures, but it should also actively develop the underrated skills that lead to long-term success. Building structured programs that target these specific skills can help your employees practice these abilities in a supportive environment before facing high-stakes situations. These programs create consistent skill development across your entire workforce. Some examples of programs you can implement are as follows:
a. Mentorship Programs
Pair new employees with experienced workers who demonstrate strong soft skills. Train mentors to model emotional intelligence, active communication, and situational awareness during daily interactions. You can also schedule regular check-ins where mentors provide feedback on soft skill development and help new employees navigate workplace dynamics.
Make sure mentors understand they are teaching interpersonal skills, not just technical tasks. This will ensure all your employees possess the necessary soft and technical skills they’ll need for their roles.
Read more: 3 Traits of Mentors That Business Leaders Can Learn From
b. Feedback Cycles
Implement structured feedback sessions every two weeks during the first three months of employment. Focus these conversations on soft skill development by asking specific questions about communication challenges, stress management, and workplace relationships. Provide concrete examples of soft skill successes and areas for improvement. Create action plans that help employees practice specific skills before the next feedback session. This will create a more organized and structured approach to improving employee performance.
3. Offer Appropriate Training Modules
Another strategy to improve skills such as active listening is to provide appropriate training programs and modules to all employees. Most workplace training focuses on technical skills and safety procedures, but employees also need dedicated time to develop and practice soft skills.
To accomplish this, create specific training sessions that target the overlooked skills your workplace needs most. Make these sessions interactive and practical so employees can immediately apply what they learn to their daily work situations. It’s also important to provide valuable materials and resources that can help professionals expand their abilities.
4. Build Soft Skill Development into Company Culture
Creating a workplace culture that values and develops different skills requires consistent effort from leadership. It needs clear integration into all company processes. Make skill development a priority by recognizing and rewarding employees who demonstrate strong interpersonal abilities. Ensure that managers model the soft skills they expect from their teams and provide ongoing opportunities for skill practice and improvement throughout the workplace.
Moreover, integrate the importance of both soft and technical skills by emphasizing them in productivity metrics. Define expectations and establish specific standards for the skills you value. Help employees understand exactly what good skills look like in their particular role and how these connect to their success and advancement opportunities.
Develop a strong team with the right partner.
Warehouse and office employees require specific skill sets to achieve their responsibilities. To ensure efficiency within your operations, you need to hire top talent that can keep up with your company’s needs. This is where Masis Staffing comes in.
With our years of experience and expertise, we can offer you tailored solutions to your staffing needs. Want to learn more about our services? Contact us today!