8 min read

The Power of Soft Skill Evaluations in the Workplace

Soft skills are essential personal attributes like communication, teamwork, and adaptability that keep workplaces running smoothly and teams working well together. RefHub helps Australian businesses assess these skills through structured reference checks and practical evaluation tools to support better hiring and development decisions.

Hello, and welcome. If you are an HR professional, a hiring manager, a recruiter, a talent acquisition specialist, a business owner, a team leader, or even a job seeker in Australia, you have likely heard the term "soft skills." But what exactly are they, and why do they matter so much?

Think about a workplace like a well-oiled machine. You have the cogs and gears, which are the technical skills—the ability to code, to design, to write reports, or to operate machinery. But what about the oil that keeps everything running smoothly, preventing friction and breakdowns? That oil is the soft skills. It is the way people interact with one another. It is their ability to listen, to communicate clearly, to work as a team, and to solve problems together.

For too long, technical skills have been the main focus in hiring and promotions. We look at résumés and see degrees, certifications, and years of experience. We give tests to see if a person can do the job from a technical standpoint. And while that is certainly important, it is only half of the story.

You might hire someone who is a technical genius, a real whiz at their job. But if they cannot communicate with their colleagues, if they are difficult to work with, or if they shut down under pressure, what good is their genius? The technical brilliance will only go so far before the friction starts to cause problems. Soon, morale drops, projects get delayed, and the entire team's productivity suffers.

This is where the power of soft skill evaluations comes in.

What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills are the personal attributes that a person has. They are not about what a person knows, but about who they are and how they interact with others. Think of them as people skills.

Some common soft skills include:

Communication: This is more than just talking. It is about listening, understanding non-verbal cues, and being able to explain complex ideas in a simple way. It is about being clear and concise, whether you are writing an email or leading a meeting.
Teamwork Skills: This involves working well with others to achieve a common goal. It includes being able to share credit, to give and receive constructive feedback, and to support your teammates. A person with good teamwork skills is not a lone wolf; they are a valuable part of the pack.
Interpersonal Abilities: These are the skills you use to interact with people every day. They include empathy, conflict resolution, and the ability to build and maintain relationships. Someone with strong interpersonal abilities can read a room and adapt their approach to different personalities.
Problem-Solving: This is not just about finding a solution. It is about being able to think creatively, to stay calm under pressure, and to work through challenges logically.
Adaptability: The Australian workplace is constantly changing. A person who is adaptable can handle new technologies, different work methods, and unexpected situations with a good attitude.
Leadership: This does not just mean being a manager. It means taking initiative, inspiring others, and guiding a team toward a goal, no matter what your role is.

Why Do Soft Skill Evaluations Matter?

When you make soft skills a part of your hiring and talent development process, you are making a smart business decision. You are not just guessing if a person will be a good fit; you are getting a clearer picture.

Think about a jigsaw puzzle. You have all the pieces, which are your employees. If you only look at the colors and shapes of the pieces (the technical skills), you might think they all fit together. But when you look at the little nubs and indentations (the soft skills), you see which pieces truly connect and which ones will leave a gap.

Soft skill evaluations help you find the people who will not just do the job, but who will also make the team stronger. They will help you find the people who will fit into your company culture and who will contribute to a positive work environment.

Here are some reasons why soft skill evaluations are so important:

Better Hiring Decisions: By evaluating soft skills, you move beyond what is on paper. You get a sense of a person's character and how they will interact with your current employees. This can help you avoid a bad hire, which can be very costly in terms of time, money, and team morale.
Increased Productivity and Collaboration: When your employees have strong communication and teamwork skills, they work together more effectively. They are more likely to share ideas, to help one another, and to solve problems as a group. This can lead to faster project completion and better results overall.
Reduced Employee Turnover: People do not just leave jobs because of the salary. They often leave because they do not get along with their manager or their colleagues, or they feel that their contributions are not valued. By hiring people with good soft skills, you create a more supportive and enjoyable work environment, which can make people want to stay.
Improved Customer and Client Relations: Many jobs involve dealing with people outside of your company. Employees with good interpersonal abilities can build stronger relationships with clients, handle complaints with grace, and represent your brand in a positive way.
Identify Future Leaders: You might have a technically skilled employee who is great at their job. But if you want to promote them to a leadership role, you need to know if they have the soft skills to manage a team. Do they listen? Do they inspire others? Do they handle conflict well? Soft skill evaluations can help you identify people with leadership potential.

How to Evaluate Soft Skills

So, how do you actually measure something like "communication" or "teamwork"? You can't give a test with right or wrong answers. You need to use different methods.

Here are some ways to evaluate soft skills:

Behavioral Interview Questions: Instead of asking, "Are you a good team player?" which will always get a "yes," ask questions that require a person to talk about a past experience. For example, you can ask, "Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with a coworker. How did you handle it?" or "Describe a project where you had to work with a difficult person. What was the outcome?" This gives you a story to listen to, and you can get a better sense of how they really act.
Reference Checks: This is where a company like RefHub comes in. Many companies just call references to confirm employment dates. But a proper reference check is a golden opportunity to ask about soft skills. You can ask a previous manager, "How did this person handle stress?" or "Can you give me an example of their communication style?" RefHub helps make this process more structured and reliable. By using a platform that focuses on detailed, structured questions, you get a much clearer picture of a person's soft skills from those who have worked with them.
Situational Judgment Tests: These are short tests that present a person with a series of workplace scenarios. The person then has to choose the best course of action from a list of options. This can show you how they think about problems and how they would react in certain situations.
Peer Reviews and 360-Degree Feedback: For current employees, peer reviews are a great way to get a full picture of their soft skills. A person's manager might see one side of them, but their colleagues who work with them every day see a different side. 360-degree feedback includes input from managers, peers, and direct reports, which gives a very well-rounded view.
Workplace Simulations: This is where you have a candidate perform a task that is similar to what they would do on the job. For example, if you are hiring for a customer service role, you could have them role-play a situation with a difficult customer.

The Australian Context

Australia's workforce is unique, and soft skills are especially important here. We have a culture that values teamwork, open communication, and a "can-do" attitude. Companies in Australia are often looking for people who can fit into this culture and contribute positively.

Whether you are in a bustling city like Sydney or Melbourne, or in a regional area, the ability to work well with others is a currency that is worth more than gold. A strong team is a happy and productive team.

Consider the mining industry, for example. While technical skills are a matter of safety, the ability to communicate clearly and to trust your team is what keeps everyone safe. Or think about the startup scene. Teams are often small, and everyone has to wear many hats. A person's ability to be flexible and to help out wherever they are needed is absolutely essential.

The need for soft skills is universal, but the Australian workplace places a high value on them. RefHub understands this need and has built its services to help Australian businesses get a clear picture of a person's soft skills.

What if a person is lacking in a soft skill?

The good news is that soft skills are not set in stone. Unlike a person's height, they can be developed and improved. When you use soft skill evaluations, you are not just looking for a perfect person. You are also identifying areas where a person might need some help.

If you find that an employee is lacking in a soft skill, such as communication, you can provide training or coaching to help them get better. This is not just good for the employee; it is good for the company as a whole. Investing in your people's soft skills is one of the best investments you can make.

Learning and Development (L&D) specialists play a big part here. They can design training programs, workshops, or mentoring initiatives that help employees build their interpersonal abilities. For example, a workshop on "Active Listening" or a team-building activity that focuses on conflict resolution can have a huge impact.

RefHub and Soft Skill Evaluations

RefHub is a company that understands the importance of soft skills in the Australian workplace. They provide a structured way to conduct reference checks that go beyond just confirming dates. The platform asks questions that are designed to get real, honest feedback on a person's communication, teamwork skills, and other key soft skills.

This gives you a much richer and more reliable picture of a candidate. Instead of just a quick phone call, you get detailed information that helps you make a better hiring decision. You can also use this information for internal promotions and talent development. It is a win-win situation for everyone.

By making soft skill evaluations a part of your process, you are investing in the long-term success of your business. You are building a team that is not just skilled, but also harmonious, productive, and strong.

If you are looking to learn more about how to assess soft skills and to find the right people for your team, please visit our page on https://www.refhub.com.au/assessments-landing-page to learn more about our assessment tools.

Ready to build a stronger team in Australia? Take the first step by putting the power of soft skill evaluations to work for your business. Contact us today to learn how RefHub can help you find the right people, the first time.

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