Organizations continuously strive to meet ambitious strategic objectives while navigating the impact of technological disruption, economic uncertainty, and shifting workforce dynamics. An often overlooked factor in this pursuit is the strength of an organization’s soft skills. Speakers You Need, LLC, also known as The SyN Learning Institute, aims to address this challenge.
SyN recognizes that technical expertise is critical. However, an organization’s ability to thrive and grow may often depend on communication, emotional intelligence, collaboration, and leadership. Even well-crafted strategies can face significant challenges without these skills. In addition, with today’s landscape driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies, one must remain mindful of the human element in business.
Indeed, AI has introduced tools that can automate complex processes, streamline decision-making, and enhance efficiency. However, it cannot fully replace the emotional, relational, and critical thinking abilities required to lead teams, manage conflict, and inspire collaboration across organizations. The SyN Learning Institute emphasizes that soft skills are key contributors to an organization’s success.
Technical skills provide the “what” of a job. Meanwhile, soft skills like communication, adaptability, leadership, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and teamwork influence “how” those responsibilities are carried out—how ideas are shared, how teams collaborate, and how conflicts are resolved. In essence, effective soft skills can help create the connective tissue within organizations. They align departments, empower employees, and drive results that support broader strategic objectives. Research indicates their direct impact on organizational performance and success.
Studies conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center suggest that as much as 85% of professional success may be attributed to soft skills, while only 15% is linked to technical knowledge. Organizations that foster strong interpersonal abilities often experience improvements in leadership effectiveness, employee morale, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
Unfortunately, soft skills have been deprioritized in many organizations, as technology becomes the primary focus of business operations. The younger workforce, shaped by digital communication, enters professional environments without fully developed abilities to communicate, lead, or collaborate effectively. A study by Deloitte Insights reveals that 92% of companies believe soft skills are critical. LinkedIn’s data reinforces this, with nearly 90% of respondents observing that unsuccessful hires are frequently associated with insufficient soft skills.
Rocky White, founder and CEO of Speakers You Need, has observed this shift over the years. He offers insights into the role soft skills play in organizational performance, leveraging his experience working with companies of all sizes and across industries. “Even if your team is highly skilled, they’re likely to struggle with achieving optimal results if they lack soft skills like effective communication and collaboration,” he remarks.
The seasoned professional argues that soft skills are important for aligning individuals with their organization’s mission and objectives, and the emotional intelligence component of soft skills highlights their significance. White states that emotional intelligence allows employees to navigate difficult situations without ego. With this, they remain focused on the objectives and respond to challenges with greater maturity and understanding.
White points to a scenario within organizations, where technical professionals sometimes struggle to communicate their ideas to colleagues in marketing, sales, or leadership. “Goals can’t always be achieved, productivity may decline, and innovation can stall when collaboration breaks down. Soft skills often bridge these gaps,” he supplies.
Speakers You Need has made it its mission to help organizations bridge the soft skills gap through targeted training programs. Decades of experience have positioned the firm as a leader in designing interactive workshops that provide employees with the skills to excel in communication, leadership, teamwork, and emotional intelligence. SyN delivers dynamic, engaging sessions that encourage active participation, shifting away from traditional training models that rely on lectures and passive learning.
The training process encompasses collaborative discussions, real-world scenarios, and problem-solving exercises, where participants are encouraged to reflect on their behaviors, identify areas for growth, and develop new strategies for success. In other words, SyN creates environments where everyone can share ideas, learn from one another, and build the skills needed to enhance organizational success.
The impact of these programs has been notable. Organizations that have partnered with Speakers You Need report positive feedback and the company’s exclusive model of a money-back guarantee helps alleviate concerns some organizations may have with outsourced training. Participants praise the training as “among the most remarkable they’ve experienced” and highlight its potential for immediate applicability to their day-to-day operations. Decision-makers have also recognized the value of these sessions, bringing SyN back for additional training across multiple departments. These partnerships include every branch of the US Military, the Corps Engineers, as well as Fortune 500 companies.
Following its success in contributing to organizations’ soft skills development, The SyN Learning Institute is set to introduce a new publication titled “Own It.” This initiative reflects the company’s dedication to promoting personal accountability and professional growth. It challenges individuals to take responsibility for their roles within organizations, families, and communities, focusing on themes such as communication, critical thinking, and organizational alignment.
The launch of “Own It” is timely, as organizations adapt to an AI-driven world, where human connection, emotional intelligence, and effective communication have become increasingly crucial. Speakers You Need aims to continue helping organizations develop their talent pool through comprehensive training programs and other innovative initiatives while working to represent their mantra, “When You Seek to Help Others, You Help Yourself.”
Published by Drake M.
