There's No Such Thing as "Soft Skills" in Engineering

Send us Fan Mail

Engineering outcomes don’t happen in isolation—and understanding how engineering systems and organizational systems shape those outcomes is critical for effective engineering leadership.

In this episode of ENGINEERING CH∆NGE®, I challenge one of the most persistent, misleading and, quite frankly, aggravating phrases in engineering: “soft skills.”

There is nothing soft about teamwork, communication, and other people-centered professional competencies that determine whether engineering work succeeds.

Using a systems lens, this episode examines how engineering outcomes are produced through interactions among people, across roles, and between organizations and the communities they serve. It also explores how narrow definitions of merit obscure the very contributions that hold teams, projects, and systems together. (More to come on this in Episode 32).

Through real-world examples and personal reflection, I make the case for eliminating the term “soft skills” altogether and replacing it with a more accurate understanding of what engineering work actually requires, and thus, what our organizations should recognize and value.

In this episode:

• Why the term “soft skills” fails to describe critical engineering capabilities
• How people, relationships, and context shape engineering outcomes
• What traditional definitions of merit overlook
• Why expanding what we value strengthens engineering systems

If this conversation resonates with you, follow ENGINEERING CH∆NGE® and leave a five-star review to help more engineers and leaders join the conversation.

Visit the ENGINEERING CH∆NGE® podcast website to learn more and to request a free copy of my new brief, Engineering for Society.

Support the show

ENGINEERING CHΔNGE® is a registered trademark held by Dr. Yvette E. Pearson for producing and providing podcasts.