Welcome to the office!: Helping formerly-remote Gen Alpha employees succeed with Soft Skills Training

By Shelley Brown, CHRE, FHRPA

The demand for soft skills training and business etiquette training has increased significantly over the past two years. Companies have implemented policies requiring employees to return to the office. However, many employees have fallen out of the habit of being in the office. There is a lack of office etiquette. Then, newer generations like Gen Alpha are coming into the office for the first time with a lack of soft skills. Many of this cohort's first job experiences were remote.

This has created situations in the office where coworkers speak too loudly on phone calls, employees leave clutter around the office, and uncomfortable situations arise, such as inappropriate conversations, awkward greetings, or overly long emails. Companies also face challenges with employees who are unsure about whether proper office attire is suitable to wear during virtual meetings.

In this blog, as an experienced HR consultant, I will discuss the importance of soft skills training, what is included in a typical session, and how it can help your employees acquire the necessary soft skills they are lacking. We’ll discuss:

What are soft skills in business?
10 examples of soft business skills
5 reason why soft skills are important in business
What are hard skills vs soft skills? What’s the difference?
Can soft skills really be taught?
What is soft skills training?
Why Gen Alpha needs soft skill training
What is included in soft skills training workshops?

What are soft skills in business?

Soft skills in business are personal attributes and interpersonal abilities that influence how effectively people interact, communicate, and work with others. These skills are not technical or job-specific but are essential for effective communication, collaboration, and problem-solving in any workplace. Soft skills are transferable across roles and sectors.

What are some examples of soft business skills?

Here’s a list of 10 of the most commonly sought-after soft skills by employers:

Communication: The ability to clearly express ideas, listen actively, write effectively, and tailor messages to different audiences.
Teamwork: Collaborating with others, respecting diverse opinions, and contributing to group success.
Leadership: Inspiring and guiding teams, making decisions, and taking responsibility for outcomes, even without being in a leadership position.
Adaptability: Adjusting to changes in priorities, technology, or environments with a flexible and open mindset.
Emotional intelligence: Understanding your own emotions and those of others to build strong relationships and manage conflict effectively.
Problem-solving: Thinking critically and creatively to analyze situations and find practical, effective solutions.
Time management: Prioritizing tasks, meeting deadlines, and managing workload efficiently.
Conflict resolution: Addressing disagreements constructively, staying calm under pressure, and helping others reach common ground.
Work ethic: Being dependable, self-motivated, and committed to quality and consistency.
Creativity: Bringing new ideas, innovation, and fresh approaches to business challenges and opportunities.

Why are soft skills important in business?

Soft skills are important in business because they directly impact how individuals work with others, solve problems, and contribute to a productive and positive workplace. While technical skills help you do the job, soft skills help you do it well, with others, under pressure, and in ever-changing environments.

Soft skills can be the glue that brings everything together and helps employees work effectively together. It can lead to:

Better communication: Strong communication skills help team members share ideas, avoid misunderstandings, and build trust with colleagues and clients.
Stronger teamwork and collaboration: Businesses rely on teams. Soft skills like empathy, cooperation, and active listening ensure teams function smoothly and productively.
Increased customer satisfaction: Interpersonal skills improve how employees interact with clients and customers, leading to better service, stronger relationships, and repeat business.
More creative problem-solving and adaptability: In a rapidly changing business environment, the ability to think critically, adapt, and stay calm under pressure is essential for success.
A positive workplace culture: Employees with strong soft skills contribute to a respectful, inclusive, and supportive work environment, which boosts morale and reduces turnover.

What are hard skills vs soft skills? What’s the difference?

Hard skills and soft skills are both essential for success in the workplace, but they serve different purposes. Hard skills are technical, teachable abilities that are specific to a job or industry. These include things like coding, copywriting, video editing, accounting, or using specialized tools. Hard skills are typically acquired through education or certifications and can be clearly measured.

In contrast, soft skills are personal attributes and social abilities that influence how someone interacts with others and manages their work. Unlike hard skills, soft skills are more difficult to quantify and are typically developed through life experience and interpersonal interactions.

Can soft skills really be taught?

Even though they are harder to quantify, soft skills can be taught, although the process is different from learning technical or hard skills. Unlike memorizing facts or mastering software, developing soft skills involves self-awareness, practice, feedback, and time.

For example, skills like communication, leadership, or emotional intelligence can be improved through training programs, coaching, role-playing exercises, mentorship, and real-world experience. People can learn how to give and receive constructive feedback, manage conflict, lead teams, or adapt to change more effectively.

Businesses invest in soft skills courses and development because these skills play a major role in collaboration, customer satisfaction, and leadership potential. In short, soft skills are learnable and essential for long-term success in the workplace.

What is soft skills training?

Soft skills training is a type of professional development focused on improving personal and interpersonal skills that affect how individuals interact, communicate, and work with others. Unlike technical training, which teaches job-specific tasks, soft skills training helps people build abilities like communication, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.

This training can take many forms, including workshops, seminars, online courses, coaching sessions, or role-playing exercises. It often involves real-world scenarios, self-assessments, and feedback to help individuals recognize their strengths and areas for growth. Soft skills training is valuable in nearly every workplace, as it enhances collaboration, improves customer service, supports leadership development, and creates a more positive and productive work environment.

Why Gen Z and Gen Alpha need soft skill training

Gen Z and Gen Alpha are entering the work environment with less in-person experience than previous generations. They grew up using tech, and many started their careers online.

New employees, like students and entry-level employees, have lower compensation, but they’re greener than ever in areas such as working with people and even email etiquette, resulting in miscommunication and overall lower productivity, which can have a negative impact on the culture.

Soft skills training is exceptionally important for new employees entering their first jobs after school in order to bridge the gap between academia and the workplace.

Many new graduates lack practical experience in applying these skills in a professional setting. The workplace demands strong interpersonal and professional (soft) skills.

The AugmentHR soft skills training modules help new employees learn how to navigate the workplace

dynamics, understand professional communication, and build effective relationships.

What is included in soft skills training workshops?

Soft skills training courses can be delivered in many formats and customized to meet an organization's specific requirements. Workshops can be personalized to address specific issues through micro learning. Training can also be catered to specific groups such as management, specific departments or all employees.

Soft training programs can have different focal points. Here’s an example of some of the teambuilding programs we offer:

Helping Hands: This is a philanthropic employee engagement and team-building program. Participants will build a prosthetic hand that will be sent to one of 60 countries and given to an amputee in need. This is ideal for those who want to support corporate social responsibility.

Big Picture: This is a creative team-building program. Teams collaborate and communicate to create an interconnected multi-tile piece of art reflecting your team’s vision and values. This is ideal for reinforcing communication, teamwork, alignment, and process management.

Solar Buddy: Participant will build a renewable energy-powered light that will be gifted to a child living in energy poverty.

Get more information about AugmentHR Training & Development Services.

H2: A Final Word on Soft Skills & Business Etiquette Training for Gen Alpha

As employees return to physical offices and younger generations like Gen Alpha enter the workforce with limited in-person experience, the demand for structured soft skills and business etiquette training continues to rise. A lack of these skills can lead to communication breakdowns, poor collaboration, and diminished workplace culture. By investing in comprehensive soft skills training, organizations can bridge generational gaps, improve day-to-day interactions, and build stronger, more cohesive teams. Soft skills training prepares employees at all levels to succeed and thrive in a modern business environment.

Author Shelley Brown, CHRE, FHRPA is a HR veteran and lead trainer of AugmentHR’s soft skills training program. Shelley was granted the Human Resources Professional Association Fellow Award in recognition of her 30 year career both leading functions in multi-nationals and coaching businesses as a sought-after HR consultant.