Why Emotional Intelligence Skills Are Core Competencies, Not Soft Skills

Emotional Intelligence Series

For years, we’ve been dividing workplace skills into two broad categories: “hard” and “soft.” The hard skills are typically seen as technical abilities—things like coding, data analysis, or financial modeling. They’re tangible, measurable, and often tied directly to specific job functions. Then there are the so-called “soft” skills—communication, teamwork, adaptability, and, notably, emotional intelligence (EQ). These are often described as the “people” skills, and they’re typically considered less concrete, harder to measure, and, unfortunately, less essential.

But here’s the thing: labeling emotional intelligence and other interpersonal abilities as “soft” inherently diminishes their value. It implies they’re secondary or optional, when in reality, they’re anything but. Emotional intelligence, in particular, is not just a nice-to-have. It’s a core competency, essential for effective leadership, team collaboration, conflict resolution, and overall business success.