Business Education

Employees Have These Skills You’re Probably Overlooking in Your Business

In current conversations about emerging technologies like AI, workplace experts consistently highlight the critical role of human skills. However, eager to embrace the latest state-of-the-art tech, some companies may be undervaluing these essential qualities – characteristics that can be exceptionally valuable.

A recent Deloitte survey of 1,000 employees found that only 52% believed their companies prioritized “human skills” over technical skills. This perspective contrasts sharply with employees’ personal views: 95% described human skills as “always important” and “timeless,” with 87% identifying qualities like adaptability, leadership, and communication as essential for career growth.

Many employees also expressed a preference for employers to prioritize skills such as “teamwork and collaboration” over technical competencies like “AI integration and data analysis.” Without this emphasis on human skills, respondents worry it may have long-term effects. Specifically, 94% are concerned that future workers might lack the “necessary human skills” for the workforce.

While tech investments are clearly a priority for companies (average tech budgets increased to 5.49% of revenue in 2023 from 4.25% in 2022), there’s a notable gap in implementation. A survey by Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that while AI adoption is growing, it remains far from widespread among employees. Additionally, 70% of respondents in Deloitte’s survey reported being trained on new technology, only to see it quickly become obsolete. Consequently, employees want more interpersonal development, like mentorship and shadowing, along with a stronger focus on human skills.

How to Identify Human Skills

Since employees and employers alike value such skills and they can be mutually beneficial to both people and businesses, it’s important to identify individuals who possess these traits. Here are some ways small businesses can pinpoint critical abilities, such as communication, collaboration, and negotiation skills in their employees:

Communication Skills

Observe how employees communicate with customers, clients, and colleagues. Do they speak clearly, actively listen, and express themselves well?
Review email and written communications. Are they well-organized, concise, and appropriate in tone?
Look for employees who are comfortable presenting information to groups, articulating ideas, and engaging in discussions.

Additionally, take note of employees who can explain complex topics in simple terms and tailor their communication style to the audience.

Collaboration Skills

Watch how employees interact and work with others on team projects or tasks.
Do they contribute ideas, support their teammates, and share information freely?
Observe if they are able to compromise, resolve conflicts, and work towards shared goals.
Take special notice of employees who volunteer to help others and can take direction as well as provide it.

Also, pay attention to their personal disposition. For instance, if they demonstrate empathy, patience, and respect when collaborating.

Negotiation Skills

Evaluate how employees handle discussions around budgets, timelines, and other work-related terms. Do they prepare thoroughly, listen actively, and propose mutually beneficial solutions?
Identify individuals who can remain calm under pressure, make concessions when appropriate, and reach satisfactory agreements.
Look for employees who can effectively communicate their position, understand the other party’s perspective, and reach a compromise.

You should likewise keep an eye on their tactics. For example, if they are persistent yet flexible in their negotiation approach.

By observing these behaviors in day-to-day work, small business owners and managers can get a sense of which employees possess strong communication, collaboration, and negotiation skills. These soft skills or “human skills” are essential for success in many roles and can be just as important as technical expertise.

Want to Accomplish More?

Do you want your company to grow faster and earn more while you spend more time with your family doing all the things you started your business to do?

We can make that dream a reality. Give us 30 minutes and we will show you how to get your life back. Skeptical? Good! Put us to the test.

You can call us for your free appointment at 480-636-1720, or, if you prefer, send us an email. You can also visit us at Waters Business Consulting Group to learn more about us and the services we offer.

Like this article?

The Two Key People that Can Tell You if a New Hire will Work Out

August 21, 2020 No Comments

There are two people in your life who can tell you almost instantly whether a job candidate is the right hire — and neither of them is on your interview panel. A resume can look perfect on paper, yet still miss the intangibles that determine whether someone will actually fit. Find out who these two key people are and how to put their instincts to work.

John Waters Talks Breaking the Mold on the Vivid Ventures Podcast

September 16, 2026 No Comments

.elementor-widget-text-editor{font-family:var( –e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif;font-weight:var( –e-global-typography-text-font-weight );color:var( –e-global-color-text );}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:var( –e-global-color-primary );}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap, .elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-default .elementor-drop-cap{color:var( –e-global-color-primary );border-color:var( –e-global-color-primary );} John Waters sat down with Matt Nguyen and Trevor Jensen of Vivid Ventures for a wide-ranging conversation about what actually separates growing businesses from stagnant ones, and the episode is live now. Titled “The ‘What If?’ Mindset: How Great Businesses Break the Mold,” the episode brings together John’s 40 years in business and 17 years of entrepreneurial consulting with Matt and Trevor’s own experience working with contractors, service businesses, and product companies. The premise of the conversation is simple to state and hard to practice: most business owners run their companies the way they’ve always run them, and that habit is often the very thing holding them back. John, Matt, and Trevor spend the better part of 44 minutes pulling that idea apart, looking at where “the way you’ve always done it” quietly caps growth, and what it looks like to ask a different question instead. What They Get Into The conversation moves through several threads that will sound familiar to anyone who has hit a plateau they can’t quite explain. John talks about the gap between companies that grow and companies that stall, and why that gap usually has less to do with market conditions than with what’s happening inside the business itself. From there, the discussion turns to financial literacy, not as an abstract virtue but as a practical skill that changes how owners make decisions day to day. There’s a good stretch on team building and the kind of organizational structure that lets a business run without the owner holding every piece together personally. That naturally leads into systems and processes, and the case John makes for building operational visibility so that delegation becomes possible instead of theoretical. He also draws a clear line between reactive management, where the business runs you, and proactive planning, where you set the direction on purpose. One of the more useful parts of the episode is how John applies this questioning approach across very different kinds of businesses, from contractors to service firms to product companies, showing that the “what if” mindset isn’t industry-specific. The conversation closes with a look at leadership and infrastructure as a business scales, plus a segment on how technology and AI fit into modern business optimization, and the value of leading indicators over lagging ones when it comes to steering decisions. Why It’s Worth a Listen This episode is a good fit for anyone who has felt the friction of outgrowing their own systems, whether that’s a founder still doing too much personally, an operator trying to build a team that can actually take work off their plate, or a leader who wants a clearer read on where the business is headed before the numbers force the conversation. John’s style throughout is direct and grounded in what he’s actually seen work, not theory for its own sake. You can listen to the full episode, “The ‘What If?’ Mindset: How Great Businesses Break the Mold,” on the Vivid Ventures podcast: Listen on Spotify. Want to Accomplish More for Your Business? Do you want your company to grow faster and earn more while spending more time with your family doing everything you started your business to do? We can make that dream a reality. Give us 30 minutes, and we will show you how to get your life back. Skeptical? Good! Put us to the test. You can call us for your free appointment at 480-636-1720, or, if you prefer, send us an email. You can also visit us at Waters Business Consulting Group to learn more about us and the services we offer.

Tips for Holding Employees Accountable without Being Rude or Micromanaging Them

October 13, 2023 No Comments

Holding employees accountable is essential to good leadership, but push too hard and you risk turning into a micromanager who kills morale instead. The trick is holding your team to clear standards without making them feel watched or controlled. Here are practical ways to build real accountability while keeping trust and motivation intact.