This episode explores the underdevelopment of soft skills in the workplace and how organizations can better cultivate them. Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist, argues that current workplace practices primarily focus on individual results, neglecting the importance of collaboration and leadership skills. Against this backdrop, he critiques the current state of soft skills development as a "C-minus," highlighting the tendency for these skills to be deprioritized during economic downturns. More significantly, the discussion pivots to the origin of the term "soft skills," revealing its unintended negative connotation stemming from the US Army's classification of skills in the 1960s. Grant proposes practical solutions, such as rethinking job interviews to include skill demonstrations and implementing a "corporate lattice" instead of a traditional hierarchy to foster innovation. For instance, he details his experience using the "rotten apple" sales pitch in interviews to assess creativity and problem-solving abilities. Ultimately, the episode emphasizes the need for organizations to measure and reward the impact of employees on others, promoting a culture of collaboration and continuous growth, and concludes by highlighting the importance of asking insightful questions rather than simply providing answers.
