Hm. I think that I'm a little offended that in that nice chart, the indication is that I, a Family Doc, require significantly less "social skills" than a management analyst or financial manager. I am not sure I would want my financial manager or even an economist sitting with my family when someone gets a diagnosis of cancer or has to make a decision about a medication they can't afford. It's an interesting article, but I'm not sure that the categorization of careers is accurate.
Also dentists have to carry on both sides of the conversation the whole time, I think they have 2x social skills. Just saying.
Social skills are EXTREMELY important in EVERY profession and activity. That, by our actions, this is clearly not understood is the MAIN reason we have so many problems in our country with each other, and with our disastrous relations with other countries. This is ESPECIALLY true with the people we have in executive, policy-making, and leadership positions in business, finance, economics, politics, government, diplomacy, education, military, law enforcement, foundations, non-profits, NGOs, think tanks, universities/academia, and the list goes on. "Profits over People" is the "leadership mantra" in our country (and look what that way of thinking is doing to us domestically and internationally), and that way of thinking is causing, and increasing in even greater numbers, extremely serious problems that are getting rapidly worse than they already are. This is causing social DESTRUCTION instead of the desperately needed social DEVELOPMENT and IMPROVEMENT that is so crucial for a healthy, successful democracy. PEOPLE are the "foundation" to everything, and without a strong "foundation", nothing of any value can be built to last, if built at all. That the Google researchers underestimated the importance of people in deciding who would be best as managers (thinking technical expertise would be the best indicator), is just the tip of the tip of the iceberg as to how out of touch with reality, and each other, we are. The solution - put REAL leaders in leadership positions.
2
More good news that "soft skills matter" and pay off when combined with technical expertise. Review the Dale Carnegie precepts!
1
Excellent article with regard to the importance of soft skills in the workplace. We need to educate our children about the importance of both academics and effective social interaction. Employers demand this from individuals that they hire.
1
Don't bite your friends
4
Social interaction is subtle and not explicitly taught, however it’s very noticeable when there’s a deficit. Some of us avoid eye-contact, don’t get when they are talking too much or understand what an eye roll means. Working with kids with social communication deficits is incredibly rewarding. It is also a wake-up call about neurodiversity. As much as I help kids to relate to others in a more conventional manner, we do need to see the value of different ways of thinking and operating in this world. As the highly regarded engineer (with autism) Temple Grandin remarked, ‘you need to have the different kinds of minds working together’ to solve complex problems. Social ease cannot be taught but social proficiency can and should.
6
Thanks for your views and for helping those kids. As someone on the spectrum, I have to agree that teaching the hidden code has got to help even if we will never get it intuitively.
1
The good news is we don’t have to choose between social skills and science and technology. Afterschool programs provide a valuable space for youth to continue developing skills after the bell rings, in a more flexible environment, in both of these areas. It's no wonder parents nationwide value these programs and want more. The latest research demonstrates why: afterschool programs improve positive social behavior and attitudes, while programs focused on science, technology, engineering and math increase interest and ability in these subjects. The question is why we aren't investing more in afterschool programs as a nation. For every child in a program, 2 are waiting to get in.
2
Bank tellers require math skills?! Tool and die makers? Accountants have more math skills than computer scientists? Do you have any idea what mathematics is? The math skills axis in your graph should be logarithmic.
2
'plays well with others' works in a structured world with clear goals and no major changes - such as preschool. What about today's world, with vast changes coming in all areas, such as driverless auto's, information tech in medicine completely changing the structure (we hope!), our education system being remolded? In situations where the pie is being carved up differently, the knives come out and playing well with others ends up getting the small slice at best. This article is ideal social fantasy, laying over a view of what the world should be and ignoring what the world is. Go 'play well' with Russia and Syria.
3
The throw away line "social skills are rarely emphasized in traditional education" was certainly news to me as an educator for 30 years. Traditional schools especially Pre-K through the middle school years are all about social ineraction. Working in groups, cooperating with your peers, project based learning the list goes on. In the mid-90's the co-operative learning movement with a specific skill set documented by Johnson and Johnson was a very popular trend in education, which unfortunately ran amok of the gifted and talented folks.
The thesis that success with social skills is critical for many in the work place is certainly valid but commenting that these skills are not taught in traditional schools is ludicrous.
The thesis that success with social skills is critical for many in the work place is certainly valid but commenting that these skills are not taught in traditional schools is ludicrous.
2
'Works and Plays Well with Others'. Ah, yes, that fine old Orwellian standby from report cards written when old George was hardly cold, is back - with a vengeance. Just about everybody who's had to deal with school bureaucrats and hidebound teachers knows what that entry really means - ability to conform without question, the push for 'harmony' - in the Chinese sense of the word.
If the past is any guide to the present, they must still be using it to reward bullies who prove useful for policy enforcement and punish those who dare think a harmless, peaceful independent thought. I still remember the time my mother was called in by my kindergarten teachers, a dodgy pair of aging damsels who gave an all too literal meaning to the word 'sauerkraut'. They told her that they were concerned because I wasn't just rolling around or playing with blocks (having been bored with those by the end of the first week) like many of the other children. What was I doing? Reading books. In isolation? Actually, no - I was happily reading aloud to any classmates curious enough to join me. But it wasn't what the vast majority were doing, so something had to be wrong.
Granted, that was many years ago. But if any of that dodgy mentality persists today, that would explain a lot of the preference for robot-like work and unquestioned conformity that do seem to characterize a lot of the culture these days.
"What's past is prologue." - William Shakespeare
If the past is any guide to the present, they must still be using it to reward bullies who prove useful for policy enforcement and punish those who dare think a harmless, peaceful independent thought. I still remember the time my mother was called in by my kindergarten teachers, a dodgy pair of aging damsels who gave an all too literal meaning to the word 'sauerkraut'. They told her that they were concerned because I wasn't just rolling around or playing with blocks (having been bored with those by the end of the first week) like many of the other children. What was I doing? Reading books. In isolation? Actually, no - I was happily reading aloud to any classmates curious enough to join me. But it wasn't what the vast majority were doing, so something had to be wrong.
Granted, that was many years ago. But if any of that dodgy mentality persists today, that would explain a lot of the preference for robot-like work and unquestioned conformity that do seem to characterize a lot of the culture these days.
"What's past is prologue." - William Shakespeare
6
Grossness54
The joys, the joys of school, as George Orwell, writes in one of his essays. Bad form to tell one's parents that the headmistress is a hypocritical odious power-abuser and to keep a stiff upper lip at all times. He came away on a train feeling a failure. Curious, Grossness 54, that you should mention his awful time of it which is enough to set one's hair on fire in the reading of his recollections.
On a return home last evening, a friend told me her young son age 9 had thrown a tantrum about going to his new day school, and I remember when he just came for an evening where the two of us played cards, an abc match of chess, and then with a sigh of relief on my part, he was in communication with his video games, while I took a deep breath being out of practice looking after our young ones.
Attention-deficit, not enough reading, let teachers ban all electronic gadgets and phones in the class-room, for it is nearly incomprehensible that one day we would have students confronting the teacher with the computer. Teach our young ones to sit still for an hour, and leave it up to them to decide whatever we are attempting to instill in their young heads.
The joys, the joys of school, as George Orwell, writes in one of his essays. Bad form to tell one's parents that the headmistress is a hypocritical odious power-abuser and to keep a stiff upper lip at all times. He came away on a train feeling a failure. Curious, Grossness 54, that you should mention his awful time of it which is enough to set one's hair on fire in the reading of his recollections.
On a return home last evening, a friend told me her young son age 9 had thrown a tantrum about going to his new day school, and I remember when he just came for an evening where the two of us played cards, an abc match of chess, and then with a sigh of relief on my part, he was in communication with his video games, while I took a deep breath being out of practice looking after our young ones.
Attention-deficit, not enough reading, let teachers ban all electronic gadgets and phones in the class-room, for it is nearly incomprehensible that one day we would have students confronting the teacher with the computer. Teach our young ones to sit still for an hour, and leave it up to them to decide whatever we are attempting to instill in their young heads.
1
What's missing here is also presumption that if one plays well with others, the others will play well and fairly, too. This is often not the case with minorities who are tokenized in the workplace. If they fail to do enough brown-nosing for each white person they encounter, including subordinates, the minority is labeled "difficult" when it's the majoritarians demanding more respect than they deserve, and 'playing' unfairly. The field is not level and it never has been.
4
No mention of sales or consulting in the article or on the chart?
2
Good point, David Price. My father used to sell the Brooklyn Bridge at lunch with a few martinis during his career in advertising. He loved people, he loved life, and he knew that everyone had a story to tell. How to sell one's house, how to introduce a new product on the market, or How to succeed in Business without really Trying, all involve capital people skills.
3
Miss Ley: Good comment. "How To Succeed...", a good musical, and truly informative for those willing to be entertainingly informed!!! People are crucial to the success of everything, regardless of any efforts made to the contrary.
What chances at redemption have those who have already been brought up with the notion that social skills are not so important?
Talking from personal experience, once I started my professional life I was forced to put a strenuous amount of effort in being social in a way that I particularly was not. It has worked so far, but it is still a challenge at times. Despite that I do not want to give up my efforts. However, any suggestion is well appreciated since I cannot reincarnate and attend a modernised middle school again.
Talking from personal experience, once I started my professional life I was forced to put a strenuous amount of effort in being social in a way that I particularly was not. It has worked so far, but it is still a challenge at times. Despite that I do not want to give up my efforts. However, any suggestion is well appreciated since I cannot reincarnate and attend a modernised middle school again.
2
Ricardo, unless people have something to hide, they usually like to talk about themselves. One can spend an hour listening to a stranger on a park bench, only to have the person tell you that you are a great conversationalist. There's an amusing book that you might enjoy called 'Heavenly Manners' by the British author Quentin Crisp and what he calls The Art of Crisperanto. Here is one of his quotes: 'To say what we think to our superiors would be inexpedient; to say what we think to our equals would be ill-mannered; and to say what we think to our inferiors is unkind. Good Manners occupy the terrain between fear and pity'.
4
In play, you don’t anticipate an end product, which steers you away from the problem-solving paradigm and towards a problem-finding one.
Whether it is in my classroom or in a corporate setting, what makes work playful is some independence from the teacher or boss, drawing upon imagination (which a robot can’t do), and a challenge, so that the activity is stimulating rather than boring.
Whether it is in my classroom or in a corporate setting, what makes work playful is some independence from the teacher or boss, drawing upon imagination (which a robot can’t do), and a challenge, so that the activity is stimulating rather than boring.
7
The best manager is the one who made time for one-on-one meetings, helped employees work through problems and took an interest in their lives.
Great manager of men are often the ones who follows Sanatana Dharma comprising of spiritual laws which govern the human existence. Sanatana Dharma is to human life what natural laws are to the physical phenomena. Just as the phenomena of gravitation existed before it was discovered, the spiritual laws of life are eternal laws which existed before they were discovered by the ancient rishis (sages) for the present age during the Vedic period. Sanatana Dharma declares that something cannot come out of nothing and, therefore, the universe itself is the manifestation of the Divine being, a value system that has spiritual freedom as its core. Any pathway or spiritual vision that accepts the spiritual freedom of others may be considered part of Sanatana Dharma.
Great manager of men are often the ones who follows Sanatana Dharma comprising of spiritual laws which govern the human existence. Sanatana Dharma is to human life what natural laws are to the physical phenomena. Just as the phenomena of gravitation existed before it was discovered, the spiritual laws of life are eternal laws which existed before they were discovered by the ancient rishis (sages) for the present age during the Vedic period. Sanatana Dharma declares that something cannot come out of nothing and, therefore, the universe itself is the manifestation of the Divine being, a value system that has spiritual freedom as its core. Any pathway or spiritual vision that accepts the spiritual freedom of others may be considered part of Sanatana Dharma.
2
I don't think the lack of growth in bank tellers jobs has much to do with their lack of social skills as much as technology change. Besides they don't require math skills other than arithmetic.
4
It begins with Sputnik (1957).
The US high school movement (1910-40) led the world by preparing kids for responsible community leadership (Thorndike).
Two world wars contested social & governmental forms.
Physics, American management, and social cohesion decided WW2.
[Dewey & Thorndike; Inquiry & conformity.]
Success made us confident -- until Sputnik (10/4/1957).
19 days later, we tried to launch a Vanguard rocket; it failed 8 of 11 tries.
The next year, NASA and EDC were formed.
NASA wanted the best people for science and engineering.
EDC's role: create a curriculum to deliver science education. Money poured in and science education became big business. Science/math went mainstream.
NASA sought excellence through competition. That meant drawing from an oversupply. The best and brightest were drawn into science. That stripped social leadership resources from communities. How could they compete?
I recall two young sons of a former BU history professor who proudly displayed their knowledge of planetary physics, reciting distance, mass, escape velocities, etc.. It seemed a little extreme but it was a sign of the time.
7 years after NASA (1965), EDC developed Head Start to meet needs of children.
3 years later (1969), WIC was setup to help women and infants.
In 1975, Vietnam forced US from Saigon largely due to Xuan Pham An, who probably didn't know much about physics, but certainly understood people and community.
In the long run, spirit always conquers the sword. (Napoleon)
The US high school movement (1910-40) led the world by preparing kids for responsible community leadership (Thorndike).
Two world wars contested social & governmental forms.
Physics, American management, and social cohesion decided WW2.
[Dewey & Thorndike; Inquiry & conformity.]
Success made us confident -- until Sputnik (10/4/1957).
19 days later, we tried to launch a Vanguard rocket; it failed 8 of 11 tries.
The next year, NASA and EDC were formed.
NASA wanted the best people for science and engineering.
EDC's role: create a curriculum to deliver science education. Money poured in and science education became big business. Science/math went mainstream.
NASA sought excellence through competition. That meant drawing from an oversupply. The best and brightest were drawn into science. That stripped social leadership resources from communities. How could they compete?
I recall two young sons of a former BU history professor who proudly displayed their knowledge of planetary physics, reciting distance, mass, escape velocities, etc.. It seemed a little extreme but it was a sign of the time.
7 years after NASA (1965), EDC developed Head Start to meet needs of children.
3 years later (1969), WIC was setup to help women and infants.
In 1975, Vietnam forced US from Saigon largely due to Xuan Pham An, who probably didn't know much about physics, but certainly understood people and community.
In the long run, spirit always conquers the sword. (Napoleon)
3
I find it odd that the finance people are at the top of the pile for both math skills and social skills according to your chart. There's probably something wrong with your measures. And by the way, what about greed as a contributor to high income in some groups?
9
High finance people have almost no social skills beyond "frat-bro".
Social skills are not only learned in kindergarten. They are learned throughout life. If schools, at all levels, stopped putting so much emphasis on academic content tests, and more attention to the development of the student as a whole, things would be much different.
10
The two key assumptions underlying the last policy easing decisions by the European Central Bank (ECB) are still being tested.
The first assumption was that the ECB's purchase of the euro area government securities would improve the banks' balance sheets by holding up the prices of bonds, which is the main asset class held by the banking sector.
Improved balance sheets and negative interest rates on bank deposits were then supposed to make banks more willing to lend to businesses and households to spend and invest.
Here is an interim report on all of these points.
The yield on Germany's benchmark ten-year government bond was 0.55 percent last Friday, exactly where it was at the beginning of this year. For many people, this single piece of data may be enough to make definitive conclusions about the ECB's policy effectiveness. I don't agree with that.
So, let's look a bit further. Surprisingly, the same bond yields in France are also unchanged since the beginning of the year; they are down 40 basis points in Italy, but they show a slight (6 basis points) increase in Spain.
That's enough now, because Germany, France, Italy and Spain account for nearly 80 percent of the euro area economy.
The first assumption was that the ECB's purchase of the euro area government securities would improve the banks' balance sheets by holding up the prices of bonds, which is the main asset class held by the banking sector.
Improved balance sheets and negative interest rates on bank deposits were then supposed to make banks more willing to lend to businesses and households to spend and invest.
Here is an interim report on all of these points.
The yield on Germany's benchmark ten-year government bond was 0.55 percent last Friday, exactly where it was at the beginning of this year. For many people, this single piece of data may be enough to make definitive conclusions about the ECB's policy effectiveness. I don't agree with that.
So, let's look a bit further. Surprisingly, the same bond yields in France are also unchanged since the beginning of the year; they are down 40 basis points in Italy, but they show a slight (6 basis points) increase in Spain.
That's enough now, because Germany, France, Italy and Spain account for nearly 80 percent of the euro area economy.
Fiorazali A Millar, perhaps your thoughts on the latest policy of the European Central Bank might receive more attention if you were to submit these to the London Financial Times.
2
My 'social capacity' tops out at about 25 hours per week, yet often by Thursday these hours are used up in meetings or by the 'socially skilled' who just can't perform without constant attention.
We must be careful not to confuse immaturity with skillful communication.
We must be careful not to confuse immaturity with skillful communication.
9
Reply to James B: We must be careful not to confuse a need of replenishing personal energies by social surroundings with immaturity.
I am an introvert like you, James, I also max out at 20-25 hours in a week on social interaction. Let's not forget, however, that others may be different; extroversion is not a sign of immaturity, but a way of existing (due to mutational differences in the past history of our species, I reckon.)
I am an introvert like you, James, I also max out at 20-25 hours in a week on social interaction. Let's not forget, however, that others may be different; extroversion is not a sign of immaturity, but a way of existing (due to mutational differences in the past history of our species, I reckon.)
8
The ability to sit down and do your work should be the goal of all mature, adult workers. Just because you are an extrovert doesn't mean that the world should bend to your needs for interaction. And it should be made clear to you. If you can't do your job because you need a lot of hand holding, perhaps this isn't the job for you.
2
I have a fundamentally different take on these questions of automation, the obsolescing of human labor and the qualities and characteristics that as a consequence we might expect to prevail in some future where all or most work is performed by software and hardware.
All these analyses assume a limit to automation as their point of departure -- that automation is incapable of immense and subtle flexibility, cooperation – even empathy. To me, these are merely more sophisticated response criteria that we haven’t yet advanced far enough to make real. But we advance by plateaus of sophistication, stabilizing one then building on it to the next plateau, always significantly more sophisticated than the last – then that becomes the plateau on which we build the next level, and so on. I see a lot of sophistication today, and the intervals between the plateaus to be narrowing. We have the potential to become VERY sophisticated fairly fast.
So, rejecting Ms. Miller’s premises as they relate to the lead we persist in burying, what we learn in preschool may or may not be crucial at work in that fully realized future (that may not be that far off); but it would be important during interim steps until software became very sophisticated. My problem with the whole question is that we need to figure out how human beings are going to survive in a world utterly alien to today’s, where we trade labor for the ability to consume; and I distrust distractions from pursuing that understanding.
All these analyses assume a limit to automation as their point of departure -- that automation is incapable of immense and subtle flexibility, cooperation – even empathy. To me, these are merely more sophisticated response criteria that we haven’t yet advanced far enough to make real. But we advance by plateaus of sophistication, stabilizing one then building on it to the next plateau, always significantly more sophisticated than the last – then that becomes the plateau on which we build the next level, and so on. I see a lot of sophistication today, and the intervals between the plateaus to be narrowing. We have the potential to become VERY sophisticated fairly fast.
So, rejecting Ms. Miller’s premises as they relate to the lead we persist in burying, what we learn in preschool may or may not be crucial at work in that fully realized future (that may not be that far off); but it would be important during interim steps until software became very sophisticated. My problem with the whole question is that we need to figure out how human beings are going to survive in a world utterly alien to today’s, where we trade labor for the ability to consume; and I distrust distractions from pursuing that understanding.
2
The increased emphasis on social skills in the workplace is disastrous for people with Asperger's. Aspies are physiologically incapable of picking up on non-verbal communication and therefore can't develop the social skills that neurotypical people do. I'm not referring to basic social skills such as being polite and cooperative; an Aspie can learn those.
In my experience as a software technical writer, the skills to understand social subtleties were essential. As an Aspie, I couldn't understand the social dynamics of the workplace. I therefore suffered harsh consequences, even though my technical and writing/information design skills were superb.
90% of people with Asperger's are unemployed or underemployed, even when they are talented. This emphasis on social skills is why.
In my experience as a software technical writer, the skills to understand social subtleties were essential. As an Aspie, I couldn't understand the social dynamics of the workplace. I therefore suffered harsh consequences, even though my technical and writing/information design skills were superb.
90% of people with Asperger's are unemployed or underemployed, even when they are talented. This emphasis on social skills is why.
11
I am sorry for this but I don't see any way around it. We are becoming as people less able to communicate and interact well, in general, without Asperger's intervening. Thus the fall off in jobs for those with poor social skills or those who won't go along with the politics of jobs requiring they do. I always used to say, it won't be the job that changes, it will have to be me.
2
If businesses are savvy about hiring, they shouldn't be avoiding individuals on the autistic spectrum, who are often quite ethical and hardworking, and, while often socially awkward, are rarely socially nasty. Businesses should instead be avoiding the charming sociopaths who look great in interviews but make life miserable for everyone but their superiors as they work their way through the ranks.
When people talk about poor social skills, they often conflate two very different things.
When people talk about poor social skills, they often conflate two very different things.
5
In her Oct.16 The Upshot column, " performing surgery, driving cars or serving food — they still lack one distinctly human trait. They have no social skills." Claire Cain Miller described the jobs that hit hardest are the jobs that don't require social skills.
The article made points of why you don't need to go to high school nor colleges and get a job.
The article did not mention the reason why the jobs that do not require social skills are harder to get. First, illegal immigrants or any non-english speaking foreigner it is impossible to outsource them in none social skills job. If the USA did not have any immigrants labor who are willing to get paid less and earn a visa. The minimum wage in the USA would be very high. It also does not benefit any company and will bring down the economy to extremely low.
Social Skills are not something that a person could have without learning. If men/women have the social ability to help them achieve a higher ranked job. It is from all the years in schools. With no training from school, it is harder to achieve a high ranked position.
The article made points of why you don't need to go to high school nor colleges and get a job.
The article did not mention the reason why the jobs that do not require social skills are harder to get. First, illegal immigrants or any non-english speaking foreigner it is impossible to outsource them in none social skills job. If the USA did not have any immigrants labor who are willing to get paid less and earn a visa. The minimum wage in the USA would be very high. It also does not benefit any company and will bring down the economy to extremely low.
Social Skills are not something that a person could have without learning. If men/women have the social ability to help them achieve a higher ranked job. It is from all the years in schools. With no training from school, it is harder to achieve a high ranked position.
1
Yesterday, I received a deluge of articles in 'Le Monde' (The World) sent by an elderly French matriarch on advancing technology and the computer-era where the drones are taking over. She is excited and enthusiastic, and refers often to one of her favorite authors, Jules Verne.
'Humans need to learn how to use these tools to their benefit and not let them take over, and in praise of modern technology, but in America we also need how to communicate better and there is a lack of People Skills', was my brief response to a general lack of manners; the latter which I am going to spend the rest of my life acquiring, and it has nothing to do with addressing an Archbishop, or eating an artichoke.
A timely article by Claire Miller, and some of the most boorish people I have met are from royalty. It is a skill that can be acquired from the cradle if one is fortunate, and I continue to meet and be on good terms with people of all different cultures and backgrounds. We can start by teaching our children to send a handwritten thank-you note and join them.
Sending this to my friend in Paris, who may enjoy reading what she knows already very well, with a smile of appreciation to Ms. Miller for this reminder.
'Humans need to learn how to use these tools to their benefit and not let them take over, and in praise of modern technology, but in America we also need how to communicate better and there is a lack of People Skills', was my brief response to a general lack of manners; the latter which I am going to spend the rest of my life acquiring, and it has nothing to do with addressing an Archbishop, or eating an artichoke.
A timely article by Claire Miller, and some of the most boorish people I have met are from royalty. It is a skill that can be acquired from the cradle if one is fortunate, and I continue to meet and be on good terms with people of all different cultures and backgrounds. We can start by teaching our children to send a handwritten thank-you note and join them.
Sending this to my friend in Paris, who may enjoy reading what she knows already very well, with a smile of appreciation to Ms. Miller for this reminder.
3
This explains the old adage that it is the C student who is most likely to succeed. EQ, not IQ.
4
Both, Lew Street, both, as the saying goes 'One does not exclude the other'. Yours, trying to sharpen problem-solving skills, with hard work and feeble results.
1
According to the graph, the social skills of computer scientists have grown; however, in my dealings with computer scientists (IT "specialists") where I work, I find that they have no social skills at all and are down right rude and even hostile.
9
It's rare to find good interactions with technical staff in many environments where staff has been cut back and/or replaced with so-called skilled worker visas (H1b, L1, B1). As a result, people who can cross the void are in demand.
Personally, I'm in meetings most of every day due to being able to communicate detailed technical information clearly and tactfully. If I wasn't, I'm sure I would have been replaced in my job long ago.
Personally, I'm in meetings most of every day due to being able to communicate detailed technical information clearly and tactfully. If I wasn't, I'm sure I would have been replaced in my job long ago.
2
My current IT team of two are the friendliest and most approachable IT people I've ever met. I also treat them very well, because I know they are rarer than hen's teeth.
Oh damn, I'm too old for preschool and it wasn't invented yet when I was a little tyke.
5
Understand, Common Sense, one of my earliest memories was lying in the cradle and wondering if lying was my destiny. What a life!
2
Am I the only one reading this article who remembers Robert Fulghum's "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten"?
I came across it at a used bookstore recently (mine got packed away in a box a few years ago) and I was amazed at how perceptive this little tome was.
Should be required reading for MBAs and MIT grads. In fact, everyone!
I came across it at a used bookstore recently (mine got packed away in a box a few years ago) and I was amazed at how perceptive this little tome was.
Should be required reading for MBAs and MIT grads. In fact, everyone!
15
No you are not the only one! That book came to mind the moment I saw the title of the article. As a college counselor I have been tempted to use it in session with student's but have refrained - hmmm . . . maybe it is time to dust it off!
6
I realized the truth of this article years ago, when I saw that the only real path to salary growth in any job was to be in management. It may seem like a cruel joke to those with crummy managers at their jobs, but, in general, management people are selected because they can deal with people effectively. Middle management is brutal because you get criticized from each side of the company's employee divide, but once you get in the executive suite, you only have to deal with the shark-like attitudes there. Aren't humans wonderful?
12
A friend is spending a temporary term in middle management and does not like this, a new experience, one that she could do without. Chipper up, I tell her, you will have a far better understanding of your colleagues on your return to a position where your skills can be far better used, and will be more compassionate and open-minded. Humans are extraordinary, and one can learn something new every day. The Executive Suite can afford to be more affable and get others to do the ax-cutting work on occasion, while keeping in mind that if one has the misfortune of pressing the toes of the Mail Room, one is in for a difficult time.
Amazing.
So what the article is REALLY saying is that pretty much the old-fashioned school curriculum produces the most well-rounded individual equipped to manage and capitalize on the current economic labor market.
English to be able to communicate clearly. Math for understanding logic and symbolic thinking. Science for an understanding of the world. Music and Art for appreciation of human creativity. Drama for social skills and public speaking. Sports and physical education for recreation, exercise and team building.
Who'da thunk it?
But I vociferously object to all this mashing of students together during class for "collaboration." Some kids and people just DO NOT FIT a "cookie cutter mold" and should not be marked down or forced to change just to conform to some high-minded idea of "sociability." Some of these lone wolves have been the most productive to society, and should not be denied opportunity simply because they are unique.
So what the article is REALLY saying is that pretty much the old-fashioned school curriculum produces the most well-rounded individual equipped to manage and capitalize on the current economic labor market.
English to be able to communicate clearly. Math for understanding logic and symbolic thinking. Science for an understanding of the world. Music and Art for appreciation of human creativity. Drama for social skills and public speaking. Sports and physical education for recreation, exercise and team building.
Who'da thunk it?
But I vociferously object to all this mashing of students together during class for "collaboration." Some kids and people just DO NOT FIT a "cookie cutter mold" and should not be marked down or forced to change just to conform to some high-minded idea of "sociability." Some of these lone wolves have been the most productive to society, and should not be denied opportunity simply because they are unique.
8
Whatdathink? You have just described 'The Renaissance Man'. One can be a loner and highly attuned to sociability, without being social by nature.
2
The article does mention that women have increased their numbers in jobs traditionally held by men. Maybe it was because of social skills but, unfortunately, they do not get paid the same so the social skills must not have helped them much.
5
"Someday, nearly all work could be automated, leaving humans to revel in never-ending leisure time."
What is this assertion based on? The link is to an article that is as unconvincing as this article. Where is the evidence that technology has increased leisure time today? Why would "someday' be any different?
What is this assertion based on? The link is to an article that is as unconvincing as this article. Where is the evidence that technology has increased leisure time today? Why would "someday' be any different?
9
"Someday" when machines can do all the work, people won't need to do any. But it's not "leisure" when you don't get paid for anything.
There's no question that more and more work will be automated. What's needed is a way to pass the BENEFITS of this transition to the masses. Government social programs will need to expand, and this will be called 'socialism' by some. I prefer to call it "taxing the robots." The capitalists won't be able to complain, because that's the only way consumers will be able to buy their products.
There's no question that more and more work will be automated. What's needed is a way to pass the BENEFITS of this transition to the masses. Government social programs will need to expand, and this will be called 'socialism' by some. I prefer to call it "taxing the robots." The capitalists won't be able to complain, because that's the only way consumers will be able to buy their products.
2
You can bet that humans will still be making cheap crap for Walmart to ship around the planet for the foreseeable future.
1
yes, manipulative exploitation - oh, sorry, I meant "social skills" - is/are definitely increasingly important at "work" (retention of paycheck for compliance)
9
It reminds this typist of a conversation with a colleague in the mail room about the importance of apple-polishing around the holiday season, preferably with a bonus. We had a good laugh on this reality.
Ah... installing Polish character set and menu language on the company iPads... such joy. "'Tis the season to be jolly."
In the previous post I referred to "apple-polishing". If that was unclear, I apologize.
1
hmm... all my friends have superb social skills, but those who are not my friends have zero social skills.
6
Once again, the Times has researched the universe, overlooked the obvious, and concluded with the devious. Social skills bloom in the womb, are fostered by kindly and attentive parents, and given a fine tuning by caring teachers who get like a 2 to one reward every time they give a good kid a break. These are, of course, those who passed when given the chance to gobble the marshmallow. So likely it's nature but nurture still plays a role.
But then hormones complicate things still further. Most kids are still more likely to play with their peers, and do. The dwindling few, who have been thus far preselected to make it in a competitive economic system, plunge into calculus and hard science. They go on to selective schools, graduate with great grades in tough majors, and go on to compete for positions in the real world. At this point they come up against the Great Wall of Political Correctness/Affirmative Inaction. Do you think they really worry about feel good pieces in the Times? Would you?
But then hormones complicate things still further. Most kids are still more likely to play with their peers, and do. The dwindling few, who have been thus far preselected to make it in a competitive economic system, plunge into calculus and hard science. They go on to selective schools, graduate with great grades in tough majors, and go on to compete for positions in the real world. At this point they come up against the Great Wall of Political Correctness/Affirmative Inaction. Do you think they really worry about feel good pieces in the Times? Would you?
6
So, what you're saying is - it takes a Harvard professor to teach seven-year-olds.
3
The Harvard Professor is the most likely person to have a fit at breakfast because the coffee is cold, and throw a childish tantrum.
Will teach the coffee servers a lesson, and this emotional outbreak will forever make them make sure the coffee is hot.
Hot social skills are not always kind and complimentary. A good manager knows when to be angry. Look at the God of both the New and Old Testaments. "I am a mean and jealous God," are his first words of self-introduction, as if on a computer dating site. He makes no bones about His intentions, attitude, and propensity to punish the infidels. Those are social skills also, at their finest.
Hot social skills are not always kind and complimentary. A good manager knows when to be angry. Look at the God of both the New and Old Testaments. "I am a mean and jealous God," are his first words of self-introduction, as if on a computer dating site. He makes no bones about His intentions, attitude, and propensity to punish the infidels. Those are social skills also, at their finest.
Andrew, this 'coffee-pourer' here joins the great American Agnostic, Robert Ingersoll, in asking what does God have to do with this? If I were to count the times I have been lifted by the collar, and nearly set out the door by an angry boss, I would rich. I once worked for a man, who was red in the face because I had the misfortune of being late in the morning to greet him at the office. He would shout and exclaim that he was not running the head of a school. It was when working for this shouter by nature that I understood his silence was far more ominous than explosive fits. A little smile on his part, his coming to my desk and saying 'I am here to help you and you are here to help me. This is known as the two-way street. I could fire you but it would be inconvenient. I just wanted to remind you that certain adjustments can be made as to your annual bonus'.
It worked wonders, and after a few years, I was able with some effort to lower the temperature in our Office, and his work was finer than ever. He had a liking for iced coffee.
It worked wonders, and after a few years, I was able with some effort to lower the temperature in our Office, and his work was finer than ever. He had a liking for iced coffee.
Once again, we are presented with truths that - puzzlingly - are so obvious one has to wonder why an entire article has been written on the subject.
The idea that this needs to be spelled out in a NY Times article causes me to shudder.
The idea that this needs to be spelled out in a NY Times article causes me to shudder.
8
I guess times have changed, but I quit working as a software engineer in 2009 because I finally got fed up with trying to communicate with coworkers thoroughly lacking in social skills.
12
Sadly, this message is often taken as we should spend more time teaching the factual knowledge in order to emphasize social skills. That's a big problem. Since without the factual knowledge you don't have anything except hollow self-confidence.
2
This article is beyond hilarious for those who grew up learning manners at a primary age. Why go to such elaborate "nothingness" to explain basic etiquette taught between the ages of 3 - 7?
Could it be that America or Global Corporate corporations screwed up when "greed" over rode "ethics" for those who paid the price (people of color; quick to be fired) professionals downsized for this generation who supposedly is smarter, quicker and trained in so-called math, science and technology but lacking social skills?
Deming was absolutely correct in his thesis of economic advantages. So many companies did not listen, although the Japanese and Chinese (to some extent) prioritized and benefit in astronomical proportions. Today his theories are successful to such a point that this author has the audacity to quote him.
This article is a waste of time for those taking the time to actually use their higher education to deconstruct it to make them feel adequate. Social skills are something to be learned at an early age, to learn them after becoming an adult is a sad fact.
Therapists (overburdened as they are) will hopefully charge an extra hundred dollars an hour for the unsocialized brat that comes to his office because he/she feels slighted.
Could it be that America or Global Corporate corporations screwed up when "greed" over rode "ethics" for those who paid the price (people of color; quick to be fired) professionals downsized for this generation who supposedly is smarter, quicker and trained in so-called math, science and technology but lacking social skills?
Deming was absolutely correct in his thesis of economic advantages. So many companies did not listen, although the Japanese and Chinese (to some extent) prioritized and benefit in astronomical proportions. Today his theories are successful to such a point that this author has the audacity to quote him.
This article is a waste of time for those taking the time to actually use their higher education to deconstruct it to make them feel adequate. Social skills are something to be learned at an early age, to learn them after becoming an adult is a sad fact.
Therapists (overburdened as they are) will hopefully charge an extra hundred dollars an hour for the unsocialized brat that comes to his office because he/she feels slighted.
2
It would appear that the jobs that require scheming, manipulative and imperious personality traits are on the upswing, while those that require personal dedication to quality and craftsmanship are on the loosing side of this great march towards the future. Interpersonal skills are always necessary when a position that serves no real or productive purpose other than pursuit of financial gain or grabbing market shares becomes available. It is exactly what one would expect in a society increasingly devoted to cost-cutting, consumerism , economic exploitation and environmental degradation. The elitist attitude of the author reduces the importance of the working class and elevates the so called movers and shakers into godlike status. Heaven help those who don't play well with ( a select group of ) others, in this alternate realty. The emotional intelligence scam that has been popular of late among a certain breed of consultancy rip-off artists is here transmuted into yet another new form of pseudo feminist malarky. Can we please give this writer their participation award and ask them to leave the room.The sensitivity in this piece is suffocating. I need some fresh air.
15
Reply to Stig of New York: you are saying essentially the same thing as the author of the article, except the author calls this phenomena a good thing, and you call it a bad thing. The right judgement is to not judge the phenomena for moral quality, but to accept it as a new status quo. And then work with it.
You are saying workers get squeezed out. The article said that. You are saying manipulative people skills help some to get high salaries. The article said that.
I wish you'd read Wendy Morris's opinion. She identifies the plight of the hard working worker with the elasticity of the supply-demand curve where the hard working worker's work is farmed out to foreign countries or redesigned to be done by automatons. THERE is the meeting ground between your bitterness and the article author's enthusiasm. You agree both that workers are losers, and that is so because their work is done cheaper by other means.
Which of two shirts would you buy? one that was of superior quality, and cost $4, or one that was of equal quality, and cost $23? Employers are facing the same situation. Hire local USA workers to make shirts and spend a lot of money on salaries, or get Chinese and Asian workers make an equally good job at it, at pittance wages?
Capitalism is not about ethics, it's about making money. Much like you'd rather buy a good shirt for $5 than one at $33.
Greed is pervasive among humans. You can't call a capitalist's greed bad and your greed good.
You are saying workers get squeezed out. The article said that. You are saying manipulative people skills help some to get high salaries. The article said that.
I wish you'd read Wendy Morris's opinion. She identifies the plight of the hard working worker with the elasticity of the supply-demand curve where the hard working worker's work is farmed out to foreign countries or redesigned to be done by automatons. THERE is the meeting ground between your bitterness and the article author's enthusiasm. You agree both that workers are losers, and that is so because their work is done cheaper by other means.
Which of two shirts would you buy? one that was of superior quality, and cost $4, or one that was of equal quality, and cost $23? Employers are facing the same situation. Hire local USA workers to make shirts and spend a lot of money on salaries, or get Chinese and Asian workers make an equally good job at it, at pittance wages?
Capitalism is not about ethics, it's about making money. Much like you'd rather buy a good shirt for $5 than one at $33.
Greed is pervasive among humans. You can't call a capitalist's greed bad and your greed good.
2
One word: Montessori.
3
Nice article. As a math teacher, the age old question is always, "when will I use this stuff?" I tell my classes, "possibly never." But then I tell them what it does provide is opportunity, and it might not be immediate. Tough sell, but at least this article provides some support.
4
Paul, I think you are short-selling the importance of mathematics.
I know way too many people who are going to be facing miserable retirements because they can't comprehend mathematics: Understanding inflation. How to interpret the divergence of two lines on a graph. Understanding how variance affects high-risk and low-risk funds, and how to build a base that will cover both.
At work there is the addiction to pretty graphs by upper management who are totally unable to interpret what they are seeing, and they are the decision-makers for the company. The inability to understand correlation when trying to measure their direct reports' works. The implications of regression towards the mean.
Outside work the list goes on forever: The mathematics behind a camera lense, and what that means for advanced photographers. Which size box of biscuits is the best buy. Cooking. One of my more humiliating experiences was working as a mechanic when I realized I did not have a solid grasp on fractions relative to one another - e.g., ordering wrenches in a drawer, and knowing which way to go when finding the right fit. Calculating calories to lose a certain amount of weight in a certain amount of time. Calculating how to drop a tree. How many hours to drive home for Thanksgiving - e.g., what time do I need to leave based on different traffic conditions?
There is not a day goes by when mathematics does not play a part in my life.
I know way too many people who are going to be facing miserable retirements because they can't comprehend mathematics: Understanding inflation. How to interpret the divergence of two lines on a graph. Understanding how variance affects high-risk and low-risk funds, and how to build a base that will cover both.
At work there is the addiction to pretty graphs by upper management who are totally unable to interpret what they are seeing, and they are the decision-makers for the company. The inability to understand correlation when trying to measure their direct reports' works. The implications of regression towards the mean.
Outside work the list goes on forever: The mathematics behind a camera lense, and what that means for advanced photographers. Which size box of biscuits is the best buy. Cooking. One of my more humiliating experiences was working as a mechanic when I realized I did not have a solid grasp on fractions relative to one another - e.g., ordering wrenches in a drawer, and knowing which way to go when finding the right fit. Calculating calories to lose a certain amount of weight in a certain amount of time. Calculating how to drop a tree. How many hours to drive home for Thanksgiving - e.g., what time do I need to leave based on different traffic conditions?
There is not a day goes by when mathematics does not play a part in my life.
8
Oh, I definitely agree, math is useful everyday. But synthetic division? complex numbers, factoring a difference of two cubes? My honors students eat it up. My non-honors students, despite my "high entertainment" value of singing in class, providing hip videos of applications, etc., still ask the question for topics similar to those I mentioned which are required by common core curriculum. Many of these students have no interest or confidence in their math abilities. Many of the skills you mentioned we taught years prior and never fully understood...and there lies much of the problem. The non-honors math class is filled with grade level requirements but abilities ranging from 5th grade to 11th grade. Thanks, though, for the words of affirming the need for mathematics.
1
I got a teaching credential/ed degree at an institution whose basic approach to learning was constructivism: the theory that learning is social, interative, and best done in small groups with frequent "touch-base" lectures from the teacher _when the students had progressed to the point where they were ready to absorb the information based on their own explorations._
They taught us well, and then asked us to try to implement it in the public schools as best we could because there was little room for it in the mass-production model of public education.
And they were right. So, we've rediscovered constructivism, and my question is: fine. Who wants to pay for it? And who wants to redefine how educational achievement is defined?
Last time? Nobody.
They taught us well, and then asked us to try to implement it in the public schools as best we could because there was little room for it in the mass-production model of public education.
And they were right. So, we've rediscovered constructivism, and my question is: fine. Who wants to pay for it? And who wants to redefine how educational achievement is defined?
Last time? Nobody.
3
onz upon a time -- there was a little paperback book entitled "Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." (Talk to your elders, writers, -- you just might learn something of interest!!)
4
Val in Brooklyn, NY to What me worry in nyc.
Onz upon a time, not that long ago--and even more relevant now ...
Don't you just love Robert Fulghum?! Don't you just love that book?!
I had the pleasure and honor of seeing this wonderful human being and glorious writer-educator at a book signing years ago, in Chicago. (Part of the profits of one of his books went to Habitat For Humanity. It just increased my esteem for him). As you say, sounds Mr. Fulghum might just be able to pass a few things on to Ms. Miller.
Submitted 10-18-15@8:37 p.m.
Onz upon a time, not that long ago--and even more relevant now ...
Don't you just love Robert Fulghum?! Don't you just love that book?!
I had the pleasure and honor of seeing this wonderful human being and glorious writer-educator at a book signing years ago, in Chicago. (Part of the profits of one of his books went to Habitat For Humanity. It just increased my esteem for him). As you say, sounds Mr. Fulghum might just be able to pass a few things on to Ms. Miller.
Submitted 10-18-15@8:37 p.m.
2
The author lost me at the beginning of the piece when it is stated that " social skills are rarely emphasized in regular education." Has this author been hiding under a rock? Teaching social / emotional learning skills is the buzz word of the day in education. It has been packaged like it is something new, but upon a closer look you will see the same cooperative learning strategies and structures that teachers have been using for years. Social skills have been and continue to be taught in public schools across the nation.
10
Who on earth would want to choose to be a financial manager, or mgmt analyst? I understand if you have no choice, but really? No offense meant, of course.
When I owned a successful small business, I learned valuable, crucial skills and knowledge from a couple of great management people. One was a consultant in my field who had about 200 regular clients and decades of experience and studies and statistics. The other was a national lecturer on staff management, and client presentations.
One of the best books I read was Social Management, Social Style. There is fine information out there and thank god for the people who present it.
So what do you do, Fred?
One of the best books I read was Social Management, Social Style. There is fine information out there and thank god for the people who present it.
So what do you do, Fred?
1
"Women seem to have taken particular advantage of the demand for social skills. The decline in routine jobs has hit women harder than men. Yet women have more successfully transitioned into collaborative jobs like managers, doctors and professors."
this is where the author lost me. she perpetuates the old myths of "hard" traits as masculine and "soft" ones as feminine without offering any evidence to support the claim. Furthermore, all jobs are routine and deming's hierarchical social skill map is a joke. So many things wrong with this piece
Sometimes i think they just change the jargon and keep up the old nonsense because they got nothing else to sell.
this is where the author lost me. she perpetuates the old myths of "hard" traits as masculine and "soft" ones as feminine without offering any evidence to support the claim. Furthermore, all jobs are routine and deming's hierarchical social skill map is a joke. So many things wrong with this piece
Sometimes i think they just change the jargon and keep up the old nonsense because they got nothing else to sell.
10
It may be that women have leveraged their advantage in social skills to transition successfully to collaborative jobs. Those skills seem not to include negotiation of salary. (Oops! Did I just guess why they are "succeeding"?)
3
"Why What You Learned in Preschool Is Crucial at Work"
First, people of my age (50s or older) did not go to preschool because there few very few preschools way back then.
Second, while there surely are things we that learn when we are the age of a preschooler (not necessarily at preschool) that are useful to know, it is sad commentary on our political system that the main reason we need the skills of toddlers is because MOST American politicians are incapable of working at a higher level.
No one illustrates the mind of a preschooler in an adult body more than Donald Trump.
First, people of my age (50s or older) did not go to preschool because there few very few preschools way back then.
Second, while there surely are things we that learn when we are the age of a preschooler (not necessarily at preschool) that are useful to know, it is sad commentary on our political system that the main reason we need the skills of toddlers is because MOST American politicians are incapable of working at a higher level.
No one illustrates the mind of a preschooler in an adult body more than Donald Trump.
11
Ironically, although the article has a fair bit of explicit or implicit relevance to education, the job of "teacher" does not appear on the graph. This begs the question "Where does 'teacher or educator' fit on this two-dimensional grid?" (there are several "blobs" for which labels are missing.)
I think it belongs well up into the northeast part of the northeast quadrant. The need for social skills is obvious. The thinking skills required are very high order, organized and precise. That doesn't equate with "mathematical," but rather with "logical." The author seems to equate "mathematical" with "skilled at arithmetic," which is a serious misunderstanding of what mathematical skills are all about.
I think it belongs well up into the northeast part of the northeast quadrant. The need for social skills is obvious. The thinking skills required are very high order, organized and precise. That doesn't equate with "mathematical," but rather with "logical." The author seems to equate "mathematical" with "skilled at arithmetic," which is a serious misunderstanding of what mathematical skills are all about.
13
Everyone has "social skills" by dint of being in society. Let's be clear about what traits we're selecting for in the modern workplace. "Sociability" is an empty concept in itself.
4
I recently had a discussion with our very gifted wonderful music teacher at our German Saturday School. She said she would loose it if she heard one more time that we need to emphasize on STEM. "It should be STEAM, there need to be arts in there". Arts, by its nature, is always vague, always open to interpretation, and two people may like the same piece of art for different reason. Learning about art, but also history, sociology, the languages and culture makes one realize that not everything is either 1 or 0, black or white. It makes you realize that sometimes there is more than one truth, sometimes not one truth at all. And still you have to go on, come to decisions, defend them, seek advice, help to align people for a common goal.
16
Kindergarten can be similar to a parochial school: All responses are encouraged, disliked, approved and remain for years to come. It is such a training that no child is left behind, but encouraged and encourage to do the Right thing. Although there are several avenues given each and every avenue is encouraged so that the Right thing can be established. Yet as the person moves on, somewhere somehow others may have different rules: which rule to follow through, and perhaps that is where you learn to be your pwm, reach out and touch or deny depending upon the teacher. We must learn to stop, go, by, and stand depending on our direction and our protection. And yet, What happens in second and third grade when students learn Cursive! If you do not know cursive/laterality, you will not print and perhaps be chastised and from that day on, your life will change and you will be different ... for no other reason ... right handed is not the only rule and when you learn to Right you READ from the Left to the Right!! and remember swearing to our flag we put the right arm on the left arm covering the heart: why?
I have heard that kids are not being taught cursive anymore.
3
Yes we all need to be able to analyze, synthesize and communicate. And be civil and get along with people at work, even if we don't like them
Taking history, art, English, psychology and philosophy classes help in the development of these abilities. So do chemistry, math and physics. Everyone should have a good mix of all of these disciplines.
And sometimes in some jobs you have to have exceptional writing and communication skills. In others, you have to know how to do differential equations, Fourier analysis, determine strength of materials and dynamic loads, and having a back ground in literature and social sciences is not enough.
And to be truly successful, we ultimately have to have the knowledge, judgment and creativity to solve real world problems. For most challenging problems, that takes smarts and lots of experience.
People have been looking for short cuts, and new work and educational approaches forever. I don't think there are any beyond hard work and life experience.
Some people are idea people, some detail people. You need both. And this trend toward group projects may be ok for a project or two, but if it mushrooms as a standard approach, it will end when enough people get tired of carrying the non-performers, which happens in many of these endeavors.
Figure out what people can do, and give them that assignment. Pay people accordingly.
Taking history, art, English, psychology and philosophy classes help in the development of these abilities. So do chemistry, math and physics. Everyone should have a good mix of all of these disciplines.
And sometimes in some jobs you have to have exceptional writing and communication skills. In others, you have to know how to do differential equations, Fourier analysis, determine strength of materials and dynamic loads, and having a back ground in literature and social sciences is not enough.
And to be truly successful, we ultimately have to have the knowledge, judgment and creativity to solve real world problems. For most challenging problems, that takes smarts and lots of experience.
People have been looking for short cuts, and new work and educational approaches forever. I don't think there are any beyond hard work and life experience.
Some people are idea people, some detail people. You need both. And this trend toward group projects may be ok for a project or two, but if it mushrooms as a standard approach, it will end when enough people get tired of carrying the non-performers, which happens in many of these endeavors.
Figure out what people can do, and give them that assignment. Pay people accordingly.
9
The article and graph misrepresent the data.
"Jobs that require both socializing and thinking, especially mathematically, have fared best in employment and pay, Mr. Deming found. They include those held by doctors and engineers. The jobs that require social skills but not math skills have also grown; lawyers and child-care workers are an example. The jobs that have been rapidly disappearing are those that require neither social nor math skills, like manual labor."
While doctors and lawyers have enjoyed modest job growth (green dots), indicated by job share change levels of +0.26 and +0.36, respectively, engineers (+0.10) and child-care workers (+0.15) have done "about the same" (grey dots) according to the graph. Laborers lost jobs (-0.72), but at a greater rate than secretaries (-1.65) or accounting clerks (-0.93), jobs requiring greater math and social skills.
Computer scientists recorded the greatest increase in job share at +2.25.
Job categories with change greater than +0.25:
Computer scientists +2.25, math skills 94, social skills 67;
RN aides +1.37, math 22, social 58;
RN +0.87, math 61, social 77;
Health techs +0.55, math 53, social 56;
Accountants +0.50, math 95, social 60;
Management analysts, +0.41, math 81, social 88;
Financial managers +0.40, math 98, social 98;
Lawyers and judges +0.36, math 40, social 99;
Vocational counselors, math 19, social 90;
The correlation between job growth and social skills seems tenuous. Perhaps there is a better explanation.
"Jobs that require both socializing and thinking, especially mathematically, have fared best in employment and pay, Mr. Deming found. They include those held by doctors and engineers. The jobs that require social skills but not math skills have also grown; lawyers and child-care workers are an example. The jobs that have been rapidly disappearing are those that require neither social nor math skills, like manual labor."
While doctors and lawyers have enjoyed modest job growth (green dots), indicated by job share change levels of +0.26 and +0.36, respectively, engineers (+0.10) and child-care workers (+0.15) have done "about the same" (grey dots) according to the graph. Laborers lost jobs (-0.72), but at a greater rate than secretaries (-1.65) or accounting clerks (-0.93), jobs requiring greater math and social skills.
Computer scientists recorded the greatest increase in job share at +2.25.
Job categories with change greater than +0.25:
Computer scientists +2.25, math skills 94, social skills 67;
RN aides +1.37, math 22, social 58;
RN +0.87, math 61, social 77;
Health techs +0.55, math 53, social 56;
Accountants +0.50, math 95, social 60;
Management analysts, +0.41, math 81, social 88;
Financial managers +0.40, math 98, social 98;
Lawyers and judges +0.36, math 40, social 99;
Vocational counselors, math 19, social 90;
The correlation between job growth and social skills seems tenuous. Perhaps there is a better explanation.
8
We have only to look at the outrageous success of Donald Trump to understand how crucial group dynamics can be. No matter what he says, he charms Republican voters, and America's highest paid news media pundits are powerless to rebut or defuse any of his talking points. So let' start helping young students learn these crucial social skills immediately.
2
Great points in this article. As long as men are constrained by gender roles, they will continue to fall behind. If anger is the only emotion that you allow yourself display to others, especially if there's no football game to feel joyous, sad, or scared about, look out! You are already boxed in and losing at life.
1
It seems to me that to get a decent pay, one must master the art of sucking up and kissing azz. That's what it boils down to, really, in my opinion.
People with money like to surround themselves with yes-men and yes-women. If the person has no money, he or she can get a position in which she or he decides who gets hired and paid, retained or fired, and the decision hinges on the infravisor's (as opposed to the supervisor's) ability to be pleasant, pleasing, kind, and very, very, very, very, very.
You see, smarts and skills and diligence don't pay any more because productivity has become a secondary importance. Any productive work can be measured all kinds of ways these days at the work place that will render it good or bad, regardless the inherent value of productivity of a task performed of an employee's quality and throughput of work.
It used to be said, "all I ever needed to know I learned in kindergarten." If you say that now, you get fired, your paper won't be published, your editor will slash your submission. You now have to say, "why what you learned in preschool is crucial at work." A bit wordier, a bit less easy to roll off your tongue. This masochistic tendency will look good on your performance record. Well done. You won't get a promotion, but a tiny raise and continued employment may be still in the medium-term employment forecast for ya, young lady.
People with money like to surround themselves with yes-men and yes-women. If the person has no money, he or she can get a position in which she or he decides who gets hired and paid, retained or fired, and the decision hinges on the infravisor's (as opposed to the supervisor's) ability to be pleasant, pleasing, kind, and very, very, very, very, very.
You see, smarts and skills and diligence don't pay any more because productivity has become a secondary importance. Any productive work can be measured all kinds of ways these days at the work place that will render it good or bad, regardless the inherent value of productivity of a task performed of an employee's quality and throughput of work.
It used to be said, "all I ever needed to know I learned in kindergarten." If you say that now, you get fired, your paper won't be published, your editor will slash your submission. You now have to say, "why what you learned in preschool is crucial at work." A bit wordier, a bit less easy to roll off your tongue. This masochistic tendency will look good on your performance record. Well done. You won't get a promotion, but a tiny raise and continued employment may be still in the medium-term employment forecast for ya, young lady.
7
Nah, the workplace is more like High School. Preschool is all raw and fresh, the kids get to be kids, because they're kids. By HS its all different. Its about conforming, about finding a clique to belong to. Its about aligning with people to either make gains, or avoid being spotted...much like HS. The break room is the workplace form of the cafeteria. Where we strategize where and with whom to sit. Where being welcomed to sit with the cool kids/adults is major victory.
Work is where the nerdy kids, the unpopular kids can now rule over the ones who would not have been their friends in school. Where the still pudgy guy who never got picked, but was picked on, can now run the fantasy sports league and be popular. Where the weird, unpopular girl is now the HR manager and lords over everyone - because now she's a certified "people person". But she still doesn't understand how to talk to people, and still is seeking to be popular, but now she is because she's needed by the staff. There are the former jocks in management who rely on their lousy sports team analogies as their primary management skills. Or the less then studious kids who got by with cheating, or borrowing other peoples work - who still do the same at work. Or the HS tattle-tales, who we now refer to as those who will throw anyone under any passing bus to brown nose the manager/s.
The characters are all the same, just not always played by the same actors we knew in high school. Often things get flipped.
Work is where the nerdy kids, the unpopular kids can now rule over the ones who would not have been their friends in school. Where the still pudgy guy who never got picked, but was picked on, can now run the fantasy sports league and be popular. Where the weird, unpopular girl is now the HR manager and lords over everyone - because now she's a certified "people person". But she still doesn't understand how to talk to people, and still is seeking to be popular, but now she is because she's needed by the staff. There are the former jocks in management who rely on their lousy sports team analogies as their primary management skills. Or the less then studious kids who got by with cheating, or borrowing other peoples work - who still do the same at work. Or the HS tattle-tales, who we now refer to as those who will throw anyone under any passing bus to brown nose the manager/s.
The characters are all the same, just not always played by the same actors we knew in high school. Often things get flipped.
23
Nailed it.
"Even as technology eliminates some jobs, it generally creates others. Yet to prepare students for the change in the way we work, the skills that schools teach may need to change. Social skills are rarely emphasized in traditional education."
I somehow feel you have missed the point. It IS technology that is killing social skills. People don't need to--or want to- interact on a personal level and so therefore things will never improve. So long as there are gadgets to help us with our impersonal communication, things will never improve.
Apparently, those of us who grew up and went to school in the Devonian period when there was NO preschool ( has anyone correlated the number of high school dropouts with the number of children forced to spend their early years in PRESCHOOL?) apparently weren't very successful in life because we lacked social skills. Really?
I somehow feel you have missed the point. It IS technology that is killing social skills. People don't need to--or want to- interact on a personal level and so therefore things will never improve. So long as there are gadgets to help us with our impersonal communication, things will never improve.
Apparently, those of us who grew up and went to school in the Devonian period when there was NO preschool ( has anyone correlated the number of high school dropouts with the number of children forced to spend their early years in PRESCHOOL?) apparently weren't very successful in life because we lacked social skills. Really?
6
Mr. Autor's use of "virtuous" to describe those in our society who possess both technical skills and empathy seems misguided at best. A social worker who sensitively counsels a troubled client or an English teacher who inspires her class—regardless of whether either possesses mathematical skills—surely personifies virtue. To suggest otherwise, is to betray a certain lack of virtue.
6
Mr. Autor's use of the word does not mean the social worker or the English professor do not personify virtue (common definition).
He is referring to the idea that there is a 'sweet spot' on a line between the two poles of technical skill and empathy, and if you can hit that you will be successful in the work place. You will live the 'good life'. He's using the word virtuous in an adapted Aristotelian manner.
He is referring to the idea that there is a 'sweet spot' on a line between the two poles of technical skill and empathy, and if you can hit that you will be successful in the work place. You will live the 'good life'. He's using the word virtuous in an adapted Aristotelian manner.
Don't think much of that graph. A lot of assumptions there that may not hold
It was the one for auto mechanics that stuck out for me: Mechanics who don't work well with others are generally not very good mechanics in my experience - and they don't engender happy customers, either.
The truth of the matter is that cars can now last for 200k miles, sometimes far longer (over 300k). You don't need so many mechanics as a result.
I don't know how many other job categories also were affected by changes that have nothing to do with analytic versus social skills.
It was the one for auto mechanics that stuck out for me: Mechanics who don't work well with others are generally not very good mechanics in my experience - and they don't engender happy customers, either.
The truth of the matter is that cars can now last for 200k miles, sometimes far longer (over 300k). You don't need so many mechanics as a result.
I don't know how many other job categories also were affected by changes that have nothing to do with analytic versus social skills.
6
I beg to differ. Low skilled jobs often rely more heavily on social skills than higher level pay where the expertise of the job as well as the higher pay and social position associated with that position insulate that person in ways low paid jobs do not.
Take for instance customer service representative. It's not just the clients who require expert handling just to keep one's job and meet tight quotas on q/a scores. It's the idiot supervisors and management that they have to negotiate. These people have little to no management abilities and push their ineptness on those they supervise to figure out how to make up for it.
Then there are one's fellow reps all vying for a miniscule percentage point higher in performance to hopefully make the cut from temp to contract. Crowded into unusually small cubicles so everyone sees every little thing turns up the heat to a full roiling boil figuratively but physically too. The resulting cutthroat behavior among employees makes Amazon look like vacation. Even more insulting is those who brown nose to management become management from not how well they manage or lead explaining why management is so poor.
The exhaustion from nonstop industrial use of social skills of course goes uncompensated. So take your snobby notions of social skills and stuff 'em where if you did have good social skills in the first place, you might not have said something so offensive, rude, and just plain biased by social class, education and compensation.
Take for instance customer service representative. It's not just the clients who require expert handling just to keep one's job and meet tight quotas on q/a scores. It's the idiot supervisors and management that they have to negotiate. These people have little to no management abilities and push their ineptness on those they supervise to figure out how to make up for it.
Then there are one's fellow reps all vying for a miniscule percentage point higher in performance to hopefully make the cut from temp to contract. Crowded into unusually small cubicles so everyone sees every little thing turns up the heat to a full roiling boil figuratively but physically too. The resulting cutthroat behavior among employees makes Amazon look like vacation. Even more insulting is those who brown nose to management become management from not how well they manage or lead explaining why management is so poor.
The exhaustion from nonstop industrial use of social skills of course goes uncompensated. So take your snobby notions of social skills and stuff 'em where if you did have good social skills in the first place, you might not have said something so offensive, rude, and just plain biased by social class, education and compensation.
14
"Children move from art projects to science experiments to the playground in small groups, and their most important skills are sharing and negotiating with others."
These observations are wonderful, but I would go further and include persuasion and SELLING. In order for students to learn and workers to earn, they need to be sold or persuaded to make the effort and to listen to the advice they get.
I believe that part of the problem is that marketing and media have replaced direct sales and persuasion, over the years. So, it is hard to get students and workers to listen.
This reminds me of the classic Arthur Miller play, "Death of a Salesman".
I suggest Daniel Pink's book, "To Sell is Human". In addition to the wonderful advice given in this essay, I would add something about selling.
This could be a eureka, aha moment for schools and the workplace: Bring back SELLING...
www.SavingSchools.org
These observations are wonderful, but I would go further and include persuasion and SELLING. In order for students to learn and workers to earn, they need to be sold or persuaded to make the effort and to listen to the advice they get.
I believe that part of the problem is that marketing and media have replaced direct sales and persuasion, over the years. So, it is hard to get students and workers to listen.
This reminds me of the classic Arthur Miller play, "Death of a Salesman".
I suggest Daniel Pink's book, "To Sell is Human". In addition to the wonderful advice given in this essay, I would add something about selling.
This could be a eureka, aha moment for schools and the workplace: Bring back SELLING...
www.SavingSchools.org
1
The sad thing is that this is the sort of revelation that makes news.
4
Interesting that it's assumed these skills have to be taught in schools.
5
Is this true world-wide, or only in the helicopter-attachment-mommy everybody-must-have-a-trophy self-esteemed out Acela corridor? I mean, is it only because so many workers and customers these days want to be emotionally coddled?
1
I have a hard time with the concept that jobs requiring social skills pay higher, but can accept that people with good social skills get paid more than those who don't. Is this causation vs. association. Unfortunately for many, I find that good social skills are often (not always), correlated with smarts, depth, even looks. The reality is that those companies that truly discriminate in hiring and are able to screen for attitude, intellect, edge, and very importantly as one writer noted - the ability to communicate with precision, good grammar and spelling - in writing and verbally, are a much better bet for success. Recently I stopped hiring from my industry, one noted for less than stellar intellects, and one steeped in those who trade on shallow relationships and favors. I started hiring based upon the above from outside. Our culture is transformed to one where people actually respect each other, get along, have maturity, accountability and more. As a result our customers get taken better care of and our metrics are improving. Elite companies like Amazon, Goldman, Apple and others are able to select from the best pools and do so. Of course they compromise and make mistakes. But overall those companies that require and hire those who do well in arenas, thrive relative to those that ignore the interactive abilities or the cognitive. Sadly, society is full of those on the average and below intellect, who also are socially clueless. Their prospects are limited.
3
Good social skills are associated with good looks for a very good reason. If you look good the world treats you better and so there's this positive feedback loop that happens. I know, I was normal looking for eight years of my life and those were the years I had the best social skills. Once I stopped looking normal people became very stand offish with me and I experienced disability based discrimination at job interviews again and again.
4
For all the warm and fuzzy stuff, two of the most important people skills are the ability to communicate through reading and and writing. And you can say all you want about the importance of being able to bring people together and etc., but you can't be a manager if you don't understand the fundamental concepts of the job. It is not that one is more important than the other, they are both critical with emphasis on both.
10
This article notes social changes in both the nature of work and education, but the reasons are still poorly understood. One is certainly the economic pressure and opportunities that globalization and the internet have created; all types of labor and educational credentials are being cheapened and undercut while costs for education and resources are supercharged. Union protections for humans and political decisions can help lower social anxiety and improve the national economy instead of creating boom and bust cycles and political instability. There is no clear path from educational training to a well paying job, and investments today may be worth little tomorrow. On the other hand, challenging problems are rarely solved by the lone genius; groups have to work together, which is nothing new. What is newer is the attempt to educate culturally and linguistically diverse students in ways that promote trust and collaboration instead of obedience and competition. Many students are also highly stressed. My daughter is getting a master's degree in a newish field, that of school psychologist, not guidance counselor. Children that formerly were in special schools for emotional, behavioral, and medical/mental illness conditions are now in public schools, and most teachers are being trained in social-emotional learning techniques. The complexity of the world is in the public schools;doing well on tests is small beer.
7
There needs to be more attention put towards creating buffers or facilitators between those with STEM and social skills. For example, leaders in both federal and corporate organizations with good social skills ignored the demands of a work environment dominated by technology, former State Department and OPM executives along with a plethora of corporations ignored warnings from IT employees and loss millions of records of personnel information as a result of hackers. We need to teach both sides to reach a meeting of the minds or else our public, private and national security will be at greater risk.
5
Reply to the how-why: I fear that your accurate depiction of how things unfold and your accompanying gentle warnings will fall upon deaf ears.
You say that good-natured, personable managers with excellent people skills ignored the advice of engineers and programmers, who foresaw and indicated the impending doom of one kind or another. You say this sort of disaster must be avoided by such-and-such action or policy.
Whereas the reality is that the good-natured managers and people-persons who sit at the top of the corporate ladder and decision-making totem pole, know that disasters are necessary or at best immaterial to the healthy continuation of their careers. What, twelve astronauts died in a horrible, tragic fire-ball accident? Yes, they feel the loss, and engineers are tasked to iron out the problem. Ten years later the martyred astronauts will be remembered as national heroes, the engineers will still have their jobs, and the good-natured people-skilled managers will keep on having their party uninterrupted.
In other words, the American society is so strong in its institutions, cultural-anthropological structures, and economic superconductors, that no blimp presented in recent history has created an irrecoverable problem. And the cost of recovering problems is added to the value of the GNP, so a monetary crisis, an oil crisis, a banking crisis, a mortgage crisis will never harm nobody.
The party at the top must go on. That is the highest order imperative.
You say that good-natured, personable managers with excellent people skills ignored the advice of engineers and programmers, who foresaw and indicated the impending doom of one kind or another. You say this sort of disaster must be avoided by such-and-such action or policy.
Whereas the reality is that the good-natured managers and people-persons who sit at the top of the corporate ladder and decision-making totem pole, know that disasters are necessary or at best immaterial to the healthy continuation of their careers. What, twelve astronauts died in a horrible, tragic fire-ball accident? Yes, they feel the loss, and engineers are tasked to iron out the problem. Ten years later the martyred astronauts will be remembered as national heroes, the engineers will still have their jobs, and the good-natured people-skilled managers will keep on having their party uninterrupted.
In other words, the American society is so strong in its institutions, cultural-anthropological structures, and economic superconductors, that no blimp presented in recent history has created an irrecoverable problem. And the cost of recovering problems is added to the value of the GNP, so a monetary crisis, an oil crisis, a banking crisis, a mortgage crisis will never harm nobody.
The party at the top must go on. That is the highest order imperative.
4
Idea for a film called "Edu-World":
A society in which the culture of education as known today has totally encroached on society. What is ostensibly prized in "Edu-World" is a combination of social skills and high cognitive ability, but what has actually occurred is the total triumph of the culture of education, which is to say society reflects totally the culture of the educational system.
Which means society prizes sports, shallow entertainment of the school show variety, all writing becomes journalism in reflection of the safe and confined world of the school newspaper, and the high intellects are primarily mathematical/technological types which leads to no critique of the system itself but rather constant reinforcement of it by technological gadgetry not to mention surveillance technology of every stripe--in fact all knowledge is confined to computer and computer is in control of Edu-World Administrative Authority (nation politics, Presidency itself increasingly reflection of Principal of School and Administration).
Edu-World of course sets employment possibility: Very low premium on manual activity (because supposedly requiring no social skills or intellect) and high premium on social skill/intellect which means strangely lots of committee decided group activity--perfect socialism of social skill and intellect (no one stands out). Everyone passes happily in Edu-World, graduates, goes on to employment. I think I'll work on the school, er, "Edu-World" newspaper!
A society in which the culture of education as known today has totally encroached on society. What is ostensibly prized in "Edu-World" is a combination of social skills and high cognitive ability, but what has actually occurred is the total triumph of the culture of education, which is to say society reflects totally the culture of the educational system.
Which means society prizes sports, shallow entertainment of the school show variety, all writing becomes journalism in reflection of the safe and confined world of the school newspaper, and the high intellects are primarily mathematical/technological types which leads to no critique of the system itself but rather constant reinforcement of it by technological gadgetry not to mention surveillance technology of every stripe--in fact all knowledge is confined to computer and computer is in control of Edu-World Administrative Authority (nation politics, Presidency itself increasingly reflection of Principal of School and Administration).
Edu-World of course sets employment possibility: Very low premium on manual activity (because supposedly requiring no social skills or intellect) and high premium on social skill/intellect which means strangely lots of committee decided group activity--perfect socialism of social skill and intellect (no one stands out). Everyone passes happily in Edu-World, graduates, goes on to employment. I think I'll work on the school, er, "Edu-World" newspaper!
2
You have revealed, perhaps inadvertently, why in a society
of many high income earning occupations, the 1/10th of 1%
have managed to accumulate so much of the wealth.
They do not confine themselves to the standards of the "Edu-World"
and because of their non-confinement and inner-direction, are able
to stand out from the crowd.
Consequentially because they are different, by being so successful,
financially, politicians are crying out to punish them with
higher tax rates.
This will only drive them out of the U. S. that is virtually the
only country to tax worldwide income. The Scandinavian
countries that have much higher rates for the wealthy only
tax incomes earned within their borders. Hence their
wealthiest residents simply set up investment vehicles
in isolated tax havens that are a match for their
isolated personalities.
of many high income earning occupations, the 1/10th of 1%
have managed to accumulate so much of the wealth.
They do not confine themselves to the standards of the "Edu-World"
and because of their non-confinement and inner-direction, are able
to stand out from the crowd.
Consequentially because they are different, by being so successful,
financially, politicians are crying out to punish them with
higher tax rates.
This will only drive them out of the U. S. that is virtually the
only country to tax worldwide income. The Scandinavian
countries that have much higher rates for the wealthy only
tax incomes earned within their borders. Hence their
wealthiest residents simply set up investment vehicles
in isolated tax havens that are a match for their
isolated personalities.
3
Give me a break! Economists with the highest social skills? As if writing computer-generated fiction requires those skills.
8
Salaries are somewhat a function of supply and demand. Jobs that require high social skills have components that cannot be outsourced overseas to cheaper workers and cannot be completely computerized. They require in-person human interaction inside the U.S. for some of their duties. Some of the "high social skills" jobs also have state licensure requirements which may forestall transferring the jobs overseas and competition from foreign-based workers.
18
Wendy Morris, in my opinion yours was the smartest and most straightforwardly true statement among the rest of the comments.
This article could be rewritten as the "Ironic Triumph of Education". Everyone is familiar with the culture of school having grown up in one. There was much conformity and clear status levels. Teams for sports, generally mathematical types at the top intellectually, and the written word must conform to the world of "educational system". Of course many people had trouble in school--gifted and unfortunately inadequate (the lesser intellects) alike.
But the people who had trouble in school were not necessarily condemned once out of school to not having a life--there was still "society", "the wide world". Now however it seems the culture of school, education, has been slowly triumphing. The goal of education is of course noble--educate all, elevate the human race, create a better world. But it is undeniable this better world is created in the image of the culture of the very system which purports to create this better world.
Now in the actual world, society at large, the lesser intellects in school who might have gone into labor, auto mechanics are finding themselves more and more pressed. The writer who was unhappy in school--who was an individualist not likely to be pressed really into any political party or the like and who just wanted to take a good look at his or her society--now cannot exist out of school because now all the school writers rule in outside society. And of course outer society is ruled by sports, math, the usual groups which existed in school. "Edu-world".
But the people who had trouble in school were not necessarily condemned once out of school to not having a life--there was still "society", "the wide world". Now however it seems the culture of school, education, has been slowly triumphing. The goal of education is of course noble--educate all, elevate the human race, create a better world. But it is undeniable this better world is created in the image of the culture of the very system which purports to create this better world.
Now in the actual world, society at large, the lesser intellects in school who might have gone into labor, auto mechanics are finding themselves more and more pressed. The writer who was unhappy in school--who was an individualist not likely to be pressed really into any political party or the like and who just wanted to take a good look at his or her society--now cannot exist out of school because now all the school writers rule in outside society. And of course outer society is ruled by sports, math, the usual groups which existed in school. "Edu-world".
4
Once again the importance of the Humanities is re-confirmed. To what the columnist affirms, I would add the importance of foreign languages in a globalized economy and in a world characterized by mass migrations.
10
The evidence would seem to suggest a clear pattern of conformity. High intelligence, capacity for analysis is valued, but increasingly discouraged from existing unless with strong social skills, which is difficult to divorce from a subordination of self to team, which of course cuts into the clear evidence of so much human genius produced by individualists throughout history, whether you want to speak of Newton or Darwin or Einstein or really the entire history of higher music whether that be Bach or Robert Johnson.
The evidence here given is actually quite ironic: Labor skills like carpentry and being a car mechanic are considered as not needing social skills which of course would have been called an absurdity a century ago, and individualists (writers, mathematicians) are played down as well as not having social skills, with the result that a group is created, a mathematical set if you will, of people who are more intelligent than manual laborers, but not so intelligent and striking as to be individualists.
What the evidence seems to suggest is not so much that social skills are considered as valuable as intelligence these days as a new social definition of the intelligent and skilled individual has been created which plays down both people of lesser intelligence and those intelligent but preferring to work on their own. No more mere laborers desired and no towering geniuses unless humble and quiet mathematicians.
Just kill everybody already and create a perfect society.
The evidence here given is actually quite ironic: Labor skills like carpentry and being a car mechanic are considered as not needing social skills which of course would have been called an absurdity a century ago, and individualists (writers, mathematicians) are played down as well as not having social skills, with the result that a group is created, a mathematical set if you will, of people who are more intelligent than manual laborers, but not so intelligent and striking as to be individualists.
What the evidence seems to suggest is not so much that social skills are considered as valuable as intelligence these days as a new social definition of the intelligent and skilled individual has been created which plays down both people of lesser intelligence and those intelligent but preferring to work on their own. No more mere laborers desired and no towering geniuses unless humble and quiet mathematicians.
Just kill everybody already and create a perfect society.
8
Funny, the NYT just advised readers last week that it's perfectly OK to be a "petty, ruthless, self-important weirdo" if you invent something useful. Eyeroll to both these articles.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/12/technology/in-steve-jobs-tolerating-te...
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/12/technology/in-steve-jobs-tolerating-te...
8
"...I need to think about what’s going on in your head.." ? One can never really know what is going on in another person's head. One can read body language, which is a better indication than facial expression, but one really never knows for sure what is going on in another person's head!
2
I wholly agree with what you mean.
"For all the jobs that machines can now do — whether performing surgery, driving cars or serving food — they still lack one distinctly human trait. They have no social skills."
I'm a surgical specialist and I work with a lot of other types of surgeons. I don't think there is a single example of when a machine is DOING the surgery. Surgeons have tools, and some of them are mechanized, but a machine is not doing surgery withou a surgeon!!!! Come on, NYT.
I'm a surgical specialist and I work with a lot of other types of surgeons. I don't think there is a single example of when a machine is DOING the surgery. Surgeons have tools, and some of them are mechanized, but a machine is not doing surgery withou a surgeon!!!! Come on, NYT.
15
I am not at all sure what "revel-(ing) in never ending leisure" means. Being idle is neither pleasurable nor healthy. I don't mean that hard manual labor is necessary for a good life, but staying active and having goals of some kind are. When my husband "retired" I told him that he couldn't just sit around since men who did that died. He took my advice to heart and now does some work sort of related to his former career but involving learning new computer languages and skills. I still work part time reading and scoring essays, and tutoring high school students. If we didn't do these activities we would probably become depressed and possibly suicidal and I am sure that our physical health would decline as well.
2
We WILL someday have unlimited leisure-time. We will find that the most satisfying form of recreation is doing work for reasons other than income (the need for which will consume ever-smaller portions of our time as machines eliminate DRUDGE work and the cost-component, in objects we purchase, of drudge labor). The work that people do for reasons other than income is often precisely the work that consumers find valueless if not done by humans: live sports, live music, and live drama. Because these products' values depend on consumers' perception that they are productions of PEOPLE, not machines, and because these products are those whose producers enjoy producing them, they will never be mechanized.
1
Very catchy title but not that accurate. Yes, 3 and 4 yr olds are "beginning" to learn the concept of sharing and yes they typically function in center-based groupings, moving from one task to another. To equate that- however with the totality of "get-along" learning model, is an under-developed premise. Go into any typical pre-school classroom and it "ain't" that cooperative; lots of whining, temper tantrums, outbursts and negligible concepts of "sharing". The foundations must be laid at home and the formal structuring of that foundation [of sharing, cooperation] happens in a preschool classroom setting- but it isn't written in proverbial stone: Home is the ultimate teacher.
16
At the time I attended grade school there was no kindergarten, let alone a preschool. I still managed to become a pharmacist with enough social skills to have my own business. I did find it necessary, after graduating from the pharmacy college, to continue my education at another school to pick up the literature, history and other courses in order to feel educated, as the pharmacy college was all science and math.
10
"Another way to teach these skills is through group activities like sports, band or drama..." Sadly these areas of education are being phased out as more emphasis is placed on test scores.
31
Reply to Grokman: I agree with you. Luckily, social media has an excellent propensity to ersatz and re-channel the lack of team sports, team spirit, and drama into a free-flowing natural educational setting that had earlier been taught in formal educational settings.
Perhaps they could read "Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman.
4
Reply to Chuckle2: if only. I read the "General Relativity Theory" by Albert Einstein cover to cover, and I'm still stupid.
1
I have a feeling that social skills are learned not in preschool but at home. Preschool is just a place to practice. If people think that four years old is time enough, then they have another think coming.
Even in the toddler stage: Looking at people when they're speaking to you, being respectful, not interrupting, stating your ideas calmly, not hitting, sharing, learning to put effort into difficult tasks. . . .
Not easy, but it's what responsible people have to do when they beget babies.
Even in the toddler stage: Looking at people when they're speaking to you, being respectful, not interrupting, stating your ideas calmly, not hitting, sharing, learning to put effort into difficult tasks. . . .
Not easy, but it's what responsible people have to do when they beget babies.
25
""""Looking at people when they're speaking to you, being respectful, not interrupting, stating your ideas calmly, not hitting, sharing, learning to put effort into difficult tasks. . ."""" Not very Machiavellian. The kid raised this way will be forever an employee, and s/he can at best aspire to a middle-class existence.
The kid would be better off with learning how to make others laugh, to put others down so they don't have a leg to stand on, and to shamelessly compliment supervisors and teachers to garner out-of-rank favours.
I am not being facetious, cynical or funny. This is how and what I've observed. I calls them as I sees them, and the above opinion of mine is not a judgment, but simply a reflection of what I've observed over and over again.
The kid would be better off with learning how to make others laugh, to put others down so they don't have a leg to stand on, and to shamelessly compliment supervisors and teachers to garner out-of-rank favours.
I am not being facetious, cynical or funny. This is how and what I've observed. I calls them as I sees them, and the above opinion of mine is not a judgment, but simply a reflection of what I've observed over and over again.
2
Machiavellianism will never lack applications for those seeking advancement in any field drawing upon human interaction.
5
Very interesting -- I'm sure we're all aware of people around us -- both socially and in the work place -- where serious deficits in the social skills of others adversely affects our well being. This is especially true in the workplace where one can't just say "Well, OK then, excuse me..." and walk away.
Of course, we must all be aware as well that we each sometimes demonstrate the same lack -- getting snippy and snarky when tired or stressed.
Actual training and workshops in "getting along" ought to be at least offered in business schools and universities...possibly in high schools and vo-tech schools.
Much of my professional life was spent in the high tech world of the then birthing internet -- and many of the "geeks" I worked with (and possibly myself) simply did not even consider "social skills" when communicating with fellow workers or managers. Likewise, managers from outside the tech world found these extremely bright and valuable workers "impossible" -- in the sense of "I mean really, so-and-so just honestly gives his real opinions on things...just like that...in important meeting!" (A real life complaint once made about yours-truly in a distant past time.)
Social skills and the-ever-missing Critical Thinking....absolute musts.
Of course, we must all be aware as well that we each sometimes demonstrate the same lack -- getting snippy and snarky when tired or stressed.
Actual training and workshops in "getting along" ought to be at least offered in business schools and universities...possibly in high schools and vo-tech schools.
Much of my professional life was spent in the high tech world of the then birthing internet -- and many of the "geeks" I worked with (and possibly myself) simply did not even consider "social skills" when communicating with fellow workers or managers. Likewise, managers from outside the tech world found these extremely bright and valuable workers "impossible" -- in the sense of "I mean really, so-and-so just honestly gives his real opinions on things...just like that...in important meeting!" (A real life complaint once made about yours-truly in a distant past time.)
Social skills and the-ever-missing Critical Thinking....absolute musts.
25
I am a retired mathematics professor who had tenure at a large, public university. The authors of this article make a common mistake when they equate arithmetical skills with mathematical skills - arithmetical skills include the ability to quickly and accurately add, subtract, multiply and divide integers, fractions, and decimals: for example the ability to do "long" division and convert a fraction (e.g., three fifths) to a decimal), while mathematical skills are much deeper and more fundamental and almost always involve proving results from assumptions - for example, a mathematician can easily prove to you that the rule you learned in grade school to divide fractions (i.e., multiply the numerator by the inverted denominator) actually produces the correct answer. Accountants and financial planners have strong arithmetical skills and know "rules of thumb", but almost always have no real mathematical skills; on the other hand, computer scientists usually have very strong mathematical skills, primarily because they have to prove that the algorithms they develop are correct. This distinction is important, because an individual with mathematical skills can produce novel solutions to new problems, while those with just arithmetical skills usually cannot.
76
Our college president keeps telling the faculty to teach "soft skills" -- by which she means the kind of social/interactive skills the local business community wants in its workforce. In my experience, my students have learned the social skills. They can "work" in groups -- in fact they vastly prefer it because it is less "boring."
But the level of student quality, as measured in the ability to demonstrate content mastery, critical thinking skills, and writing proficiency, has steadily declined inversely to their improved "soft skills." Often they cannot stand on their own two feet. Give me a somewhat awkward, reticent person -- one who has the hard skills -- over a schmoozing, glib product of classroom "group instruction" just about any day!
But the level of student quality, as measured in the ability to demonstrate content mastery, critical thinking skills, and writing proficiency, has steadily declined inversely to their improved "soft skills." Often they cannot stand on their own two feet. Give me a somewhat awkward, reticent person -- one who has the hard skills -- over a schmoozing, glib product of classroom "group instruction" just about any day!
65
You're missing the point of the article. That second person can be replaced with a computer or someone smarter half a world away who will work for less
I didn't miss it. I just didn't address it. Plus, I'm not sure I agree that it is "the" point of the article. It may be one point of it.
"They have no social skills."
This is true about both machines and humans. The latter are either following the rules or are limited in budget or are either paper pushers or work for government or have deadlines or are strictly going for profits. Real feelings are no longer there - to time consuming.
This is true about both machines and humans. The latter are either following the rules or are limited in budget or are either paper pushers or work for government or have deadlines or are strictly going for profits. Real feelings are no longer there - to time consuming.
1
Automation of jobs will lead to "never-ending leisure time?"
In the 1950s, we were told automation could lead to the "four-day work week"--remember that? Turns out it was accurate, except that it meant we'd get stuck with part-time low-pay jobs no one could live on, and social services would be slashed because we'd become "lazy."
Much more automation and America will be a never-ending feudal society, where the constant sight of starving, homeless peons reminds the 1%ers of their own indisputable virtues.
In the 1950s, we were told automation could lead to the "four-day work week"--remember that? Turns out it was accurate, except that it meant we'd get stuck with part-time low-pay jobs no one could live on, and social services would be slashed because we'd become "lazy."
Much more automation and America will be a never-ending feudal society, where the constant sight of starving, homeless peons reminds the 1%ers of their own indisputable virtues.
53
Remember in the 1970s when "leisure studies" and "consumer consciousness" were hot topics? We were all going to benefit from having 30-hour (or less) work weeks, and somewhere we'd all keep getting raises. HA!
And I recall in the same period when we all had to begin to learn to work on the dinosaurs of computers - the punchcards, inputting long strings of data (don't make a mistake on item 300, because you have to start all over!), etc. The nerds of the time laughed at me when I said that computers would be engineered to be more user-friendly. Then I brought a little first 'Mac' to work, created a graphic by pushing a button, and a whole room full of data processors realized that their jobs were gone. It was somewhat gratifying to see the smiles wiped off the faces of the so-called 'tech gods.'
And I recall in the same period when we all had to begin to learn to work on the dinosaurs of computers - the punchcards, inputting long strings of data (don't make a mistake on item 300, because you have to start all over!), etc. The nerds of the time laughed at me when I said that computers would be engineered to be more user-friendly. Then I brought a little first 'Mac' to work, created a graphic by pushing a button, and a whole room full of data processors realized that their jobs were gone. It was somewhat gratifying to see the smiles wiped off the faces of the so-called 'tech gods.'
3
reply to M.L. Chadwick: Excellent. I recall being told that computers [too] would free up work time and lead to the "paperless" work place.
1
I remember the days when we were told, for thousands of years, "do your job, hold back on wickedness, and when Jesus comes for the second time, you'll be rewarded.
Then I heard the musical group The Who sing, "Meet the new boss... same as the old boss" and everything fell into place. All the lies, all the false promises, all the conniving manipulative gestures all of a sudden became unmasked, and I screamed, "stop the world!! I want to get off."
Then I heard the musical group The Who sing, "Meet the new boss... same as the old boss" and everything fell into place. All the lies, all the false promises, all the conniving manipulative gestures all of a sudden became unmasked, and I screamed, "stop the world!! I want to get off."
1
The article forgets PowerPoint bullets. As a consultant I regularly hear "I do not want to read text, just send me a power point" and then they add "with bullets, not complex diagrams". One of the slides must be the financial "top line" conclusion minus any risk/benefit complexities that impact an easy number. They have paid for collaboration wit problem solving and requested an "answer".
You quadrant is interesting but reductive which is exactly what is part of the problem. It produces flawed and over simplified conclusions stripped of analysis. Your commentors are picking this up if I read them correctly.
You quadrant is interesting but reductive which is exactly what is part of the problem. It produces flawed and over simplified conclusions stripped of analysis. Your commentors are picking this up if I read them correctly.
12
I work overseas and interact with people from other countries and cultures on a regular basis. Social skills are important of course, but wonder how this "social" approach works with differing interpretations of facts, filtered through history and cultures, and other influences.
8
I'd guess that to be any good in multicultural dealings, one would have to be flexible enough to see how and why other people think differently, and socially adept enough not to condescend to them.
4
Our schools are focussed increasingly on where the workplace is now instead of where it is headed...so we test K-12 students on easily measured algorithmic skills that technology will ultimately take over and now plan to measure post-secondary schools on job placements, compelling them to increasingly focus on today's marketplace. As a result we overlook the difficult-to-measure interpersonal skills that will ALWAYS be required in ANY workplace where there are human beings and students who cannot adapt to the mind-numbing programmed instruction are pushed aside. Ironically, it is the students who cannot abide the impersonal instruction offered in schools who will thrive in the workplace described in this article.
8
All of the occupations listed have too many people already ... Too many lawyers; in case you needed a reminder. Our litiginous society demands more lawyers. You can't change your pants until you contact your lawyer. The financial mangers are all the big banks, Wall St, hedge fund sharks, etc. Yes, there is growth in moving paper around, trying to screw the retail investor. Mgmt analysts ? The job growth here is working for big corporations...Amazon, Apple, Facebook,etc. Following the money will lead you where the job growth lies. Too bad the real labor the large corporations use for growth are located overseas....building iPhones, gizmos, gadgetry, and cheap plastic Chinese household items.
6
Around and around everyone circles but always avoiding the point. The STEM fetish has revealed its woeful inadequacy. It's not just "social skills" people need to excel, though they certainly help. They need a well-balanced education with a strong dose of the humanities. People learn what makes human beings tick from great literature, philosophy and history. They do not learn that from STEM. And while the personal experiential social training is valuable, it's those denigrated humanities studies that teach a person the mental framework to make sense out of the little pointillist lessons they learn from their personal social interactions.
56
In some ways you miss the point. STEM is very hard work. I hated college, mechanical engineering, because it was damn hard work. Did well, but still hated it. I had friends that love college because they were taking a "well-balanced education". I loved history and literature but had to fit that in on the side (minor in histroy) to do well in the STEM. 50 years later I still hate the University of Illinois, but the hard work paid off well. There just are not any free lunches. I still consider the history and literature as free lunches. I still love these subjects but they did pay the rent even if they did help me with people skills. To do well in STEM you have to be damn good at STEM, the well balanced education is just an extra, by its self it just doesn't cut it.
deblacksmith, retired manager of mechanical engineering, large metals company.
deblacksmith, retired manager of mechanical engineering, large metals company.
1
Exactly. The best engineers I know are also artists of some sort. One is a painter, many play instruments or sing (rock, jazz, opera even), another sculpts, and others write. These are the elite. The most creative and productive engineers. The ones that drive the economy.
1
One set of problems leads to another. My point;
As long as we are slaves to testing regimes, there will never be any time for this in public schools. Character education use to be taught but has went the way of Home Ec. Preschool and up are so jammed packed with "rigor" that there is no time for play. As a result, we have children of all ages who cannot resolve issues amongst themselves (needing an adult to moderate every interaction). Nor are they interested in creating social structures on their own. I have yet to see kids create a game with their own set of rules that everyone abides by since I started teaching K-8 art a decade ago.
Add the trend of parents micromanaging all of their free time OR parents not having any time due to work isn't helping. Granted, folks have to work but keeping the kids cooped up inside with babysitters or after-school programs, not letting them chose how to spend free time doesn't allow kids to have much needed autonomy.
Employers complain that millennials are impatient, demanding, easily daunted and frustrated. Because they needed to learn how to interact without mom and dad interfering. They needed to learn how to deal with failure and overcome it. They needed to understand why empathy is important. All of these concepts have to be taught and modeled early on or the child will become what we currently have now; a bunch of self-absorbed, high strung young adults who can't tolerate anything less than constant accolades and rewards.
As long as we are slaves to testing regimes, there will never be any time for this in public schools. Character education use to be taught but has went the way of Home Ec. Preschool and up are so jammed packed with "rigor" that there is no time for play. As a result, we have children of all ages who cannot resolve issues amongst themselves (needing an adult to moderate every interaction). Nor are they interested in creating social structures on their own. I have yet to see kids create a game with their own set of rules that everyone abides by since I started teaching K-8 art a decade ago.
Add the trend of parents micromanaging all of their free time OR parents not having any time due to work isn't helping. Granted, folks have to work but keeping the kids cooped up inside with babysitters or after-school programs, not letting them chose how to spend free time doesn't allow kids to have much needed autonomy.
Employers complain that millennials are impatient, demanding, easily daunted and frustrated. Because they needed to learn how to interact without mom and dad interfering. They needed to learn how to deal with failure and overcome it. They needed to understand why empathy is important. All of these concepts have to be taught and modeled early on or the child will become what we currently have now; a bunch of self-absorbed, high strung young adults who can't tolerate anything less than constant accolades and rewards.
17
I was a humanities major and through a slightly strange path ended up in IT. I work in incident management, which involves a lot of social skills. One of my primary job functions is communicating to a wide audience what is going on, and facilitating conference calls.
Theoretically, you can train people to do my job, but in reality not everyone is suited for it. Having the technical skills is only half the job; unless you can work with people who are often upset, you won't succeed.
I used to work with people who were solid technically but terrible at communication skills. never again if I can help it...
Theoretically, you can train people to do my job, but in reality not everyone is suited for it. Having the technical skills is only half the job; unless you can work with people who are often upset, you won't succeed.
I used to work with people who were solid technically but terrible at communication skills. never again if I can help it...
9
I like the chart. From management analyst on up the "social skills" scale, all those big and booming professions we'd be better off without: all schmooze, self-promotion and parasitism; next to zero value added.
10
I was not aware that robots were performing surgery. As far as I know a human surgeons are performing surgeries via robotic devices.
10
Left unsaid in this analysis is the desirability and physical and/or skill demands of occupations. Occupations that are both undesirable and physically or skill demanding will command higher compensation if the service/product provided is widely needed by society and cannot be replaced with substitutes. E.g., long haul truck drivers. The opposite of course is also true.
2
Lawrence: Try telling that to the 12 hour stoop-labor Farm Worker. This occupation certainly undesirable and is "skill demanding" but certainly does NOT command higher compensation: It is quite difficult trying to pick POMS, tomatoes, lettuce, peaches, plumbs, artichokes peppers, and every type of produce you can imagine, and know which ones to pick and which ones to leave on the trees.
"Say two workers are publishing a research paper. If one excels at data analysis and the other at writing, they would be more productive and create a better product if they collaborated. But if they lack interpersonal skills, the cost of working together might be too high to make the partnership productive."
what do you mean by "social skills"? interacting with colleagues? interacting with subordinates? interacting with superiors? interacting with customers? what kind of customers? interacting with suppliers? what kind of suppliers? for every 2 people, there could be a different kind of social interaction depending on how each sees himself or herself (and inter-sex interactions are especially tricky sometimes) and how each sees the other in the context that they find themselves.
also, writing and public speaking (versus "socializing") are also social skills. (and there are many kinds of writing and public speaking.) ideas are useless or worse than useless unless they can be conveyed to and interpreted correctly by others.
what do you mean by "social skills"? interacting with colleagues? interacting with subordinates? interacting with superiors? interacting with customers? what kind of customers? interacting with suppliers? what kind of suppliers? for every 2 people, there could be a different kind of social interaction depending on how each sees himself or herself (and inter-sex interactions are especially tricky sometimes) and how each sees the other in the context that they find themselves.
also, writing and public speaking (versus "socializing") are also social skills. (and there are many kinds of writing and public speaking.) ideas are useless or worse than useless unless they can be conveyed to and interpreted correctly by others.
11
Social skills are important, but just because someone has them does not make them more effective at his/her job. I have worked in communications throughout my entire career, within the media, financial nonprofit and healthcare industries. Each area has given me a window on effective, as well as ineffective social skills.
The communications executive who is manipulative due to insecurities can be a dark force in an office. My colleagues and I often commiserate about the liar in our office who is a pro at managing up and who, despite a distinctly poor skill set in communications, has secured four promotions.
Our department head does not know how to set up a management structure, and some of us believe her promotions of this other individual and several others serve as a distraction. It's hard for the top brass to realize the department head can't manage her teams if the people she has directly under her are also poor managers.
The communications executive who is manipulative due to insecurities can be a dark force in an office. My colleagues and I often commiserate about the liar in our office who is a pro at managing up and who, despite a distinctly poor skill set in communications, has secured four promotions.
Our department head does not know how to set up a management structure, and some of us believe her promotions of this other individual and several others serve as a distraction. It's hard for the top brass to realize the department head can't manage her teams if the people she has directly under her are also poor managers.
13
And do her job for her. Sounds like she has used used her social skills to create a nice little village of "Peter principled" characters. They have job security as long as they support her. Lucky you :(
2
This seems to me a bit more feminist propaganda wrapped in a dress of PC socialization and adorned with a technical looking chart that begs argument... (I don't give a crap about my surgeon's people skills, I care about his technical ability. Period) Social skills as defined, accepted, and desired by men are a far cry different then what women would choose for themselves. And did anyone else notice most of the jobs that "fell" are predominantly jobs held by men AND marked in pink? Nice touch.
4
If your surgeon can't communicate effectively with his team, you darned well better care. Sounds to me like you're more concerned that good interpersonal skills are somehow emasculating. Most of the people I've run across with that point of view turn out to be nothing more than insecure bullies.
6
As a recent graduate of the tech industry, I can tell you that the only jobs with salary growth are those built on bubbles (Silicon Valley) or stealing other people's money (Wall Street).
As for "social skills," that's quite the euphemism! What helps, at least at a Seattle tech giant other than Amazon, is not cohesion but social manipulation, passive aggression, and slavish obedience to management dictat.
As for "social skills," that's quite the euphemism! What helps, at least at a Seattle tech giant other than Amazon, is not cohesion but social manipulation, passive aggression, and slavish obedience to management dictat.
74
Unless I missed something, bartender is not listed on the graph. Would it not appear far and high to the right, also?
23
I, like many of the commenters, disagree with the "skill set" required for a profession. My whole life in mathematics is very socially involved. You can't become a good mathematician without those skills. To learn it. Explaining what you do as a mathematician for a person, company, etc. requires, believe me a huge effort at 1-1 communication.
It's a lesson I learned and carry over to my personal life. When I get my car fixed, plumbing in my house done, go to a physician, I want to know what was wrong, and everything about it. I have to drag it out of people but I do it.
Ideally you want all jobs to be in the upper right hand quadrant. Lawyers need logical skill like programmers and mathematicians. Home care workers should have more skills, and probably do.
Seriously, they don't have to be social or analytical? They are dealing with live human beings, not dead meat. That says to me as a country we don't have the right priorities.
I really have an issue with the placement of "Financial Mangers" in the graph of this article. They don't actually have very good math skills, and they are for the most part using their "social skills" for personal sociopathic and exploitive purposes.
To give them this position of "excellence" says very bad things about American society.
It's a lesson I learned and carry over to my personal life. When I get my car fixed, plumbing in my house done, go to a physician, I want to know what was wrong, and everything about it. I have to drag it out of people but I do it.
Ideally you want all jobs to be in the upper right hand quadrant. Lawyers need logical skill like programmers and mathematicians. Home care workers should have more skills, and probably do.
Seriously, they don't have to be social or analytical? They are dealing with live human beings, not dead meat. That says to me as a country we don't have the right priorities.
I really have an issue with the placement of "Financial Mangers" in the graph of this article. They don't actually have very good math skills, and they are for the most part using their "social skills" for personal sociopathic and exploitive purposes.
To give them this position of "excellence" says very bad things about American society.
62
The plural of anecdote is not data; the expression of an ill-supported belief is not science. My parents' financial manager is a great guy, both skilled and socially adept. Doesn't seem to be a sociopath, and is demonstrably not exploitative. Of course, that's my belief, based on a personal interaction. In any case, this article described research, about which one could have a reasoned, even civil debate. That is, if one possesses the requisite social skills to engage in such a debate.
Through most of its past the NYT has been a very anti-labor paper. When they post articles demanding workers be "nicer" so they can get jobs, they are just affirming that tradition.
13
Wait a sec - you are saying that police requires about the same social skills as computer scientists, accountants require a lot more social skills than accounting clerks, and economists require an awful lot more social skills than bank tellers?
Which planet do you live on?
Which planet do you live on?
17
Accountants, who are generally professionals with CPA certifications, interact with their customers on a regular basis. Accounting clerks do not always have the same level of education and or training , and generally interact more with data and computers than with people. Thus these two professions do not require the same social skills.
5
Interesting, for early in my life I entertained being a hermit. Happily, no monastery would take me as I did not have the proper social skills to be a successful hermit. What I was seeking was a place to be virtuous that required no skills. When I asked the admissions director of the monastery what exactly I was lacking, she told me I was too talkative and I always desire to 'play' with others. So, I am sure you wonder what I did become? One of those evil bankers, the type Bernie and Hillary are trying to put in jail. Now I just provide financial support for those lucky people that did get into the monastery, bless their souls. I am assured they pray everyday for my soul. Its like actually being there.
2
In any teamwork related jobs, the worker with the social skills has to compensate for those who lack them. I see this again and again both in my work environment and out and about.
Studies like this dance around the topic; that is, that people lacking social skills can still succeed in the workplace because 1. others are pulling them along and 2. the person lacking social skills has some skills that are actually needed.
Studies like this dance around the topic; that is, that people lacking social skills can still succeed in the workplace because 1. others are pulling them along and 2. the person lacking social skills has some skills that are actually needed.
29
Hopefully other readers have taken a close look at Mr. Deming's graph of the "Change in share of jobs..." And that they have also noted that Mr. Deming's graph data somehow assigns the highest level of both "social skills" and "math skills" to his very own cohort - economists and financial managers. Huh?!? How many people would agree that these people in these occupations are well regarded for very high "social skills"? Haven't seen any of them in my Fortune 50 company....they all seem more less concerned with social skills, other than how to use them to advance their own careers and more concerned with how to squeeze more dollars out of fewer people with very little empathy or cooperative thinking. Where did he get this data - by interviewing his own co-workers and friends? Meanwhile, he assigns child-care workers and nurses aides to a spectrum with median social skills and low math skills, while talking about how very young children are the only ones getting social skills. From whom are they learning these social skills? His obvious bias doesn't engender confidence in his thesis.
35
Measured and repeatable analysis is to Upshot as abstinence education is to preventing pregnancy.
10
The author is a woman, not a man.
1
Reply to BW in NJ: the author does carry a continuum of logical flow in her argument. She does say "few people have good social skills", and lo and behold, most people have mediocre social skills because they learn them form kindergarden teachers who possess mediocre social skulls themselves.
From whom are the good social skills-possessors learning their social skills then? is an excellent question proposed by you, and the answer begs itself: it is not learned, it is an inherent trait segregated by a narrow lineage of gene inheritance and gene mutation.
This throws an entire new set of paradigmic dilemmas on educational goals set by curriculum designers: what skills are indeed learned, what can be learned, and what can't? Once this is decided, then the real work of teaching the nation can start.
But wait. The paradigmic dilemma can't be decided. The answers to it stay elusive and hidden. So we go around the mulberry bush again, teaching and not teaching things haphazardly and hoping for the best.
Economists and financial managers may not all have good people skills, but those economists and financial managers who direct investment funds do. They know how an entire body of investors of diverse backgrounds will behave before they start the behaving. Fund managers know pretty well that market prices are set by humans, and not at all always with logical considerations. Predicting human behaviour correctly set fund managers a huge class ahead of all in people skills.
From whom are the good social skills-possessors learning their social skills then? is an excellent question proposed by you, and the answer begs itself: it is not learned, it is an inherent trait segregated by a narrow lineage of gene inheritance and gene mutation.
This throws an entire new set of paradigmic dilemmas on educational goals set by curriculum designers: what skills are indeed learned, what can be learned, and what can't? Once this is decided, then the real work of teaching the nation can start.
But wait. The paradigmic dilemma can't be decided. The answers to it stay elusive and hidden. So we go around the mulberry bush again, teaching and not teaching things haphazardly and hoping for the best.
Economists and financial managers may not all have good people skills, but those economists and financial managers who direct investment funds do. They know how an entire body of investors of diverse backgrounds will behave before they start the behaving. Fund managers know pretty well that market prices are set by humans, and not at all always with logical considerations. Predicting human behaviour correctly set fund managers a huge class ahead of all in people skills.
Gee. With all these new enhanced social skills, does this mean that Home Depot will finally answer the phone? Or, that when I call Walmart, I'll finally be able to understand what the person on the other end is saying? Somehow, I can't imagine any of these things changing, ever.
7
Reply to Golf Pork: the article said "high-paying jobs which require people skills are on the rise", or something to this effect. Walmart and Home Depot have the lowest paying jobs in the telephone answering departments.
Conceptual discerning. Social skills and interpersonal skills are good to have, but not everyone has it who ought to have it. (Walmart phone-answerers.) Those who have it and ought to have it, get highly paid, but and because they don't stay in phone answering positions.
Conceptual discerning. Social skills and interpersonal skills are good to have, but not everyone has it who ought to have it. (Walmart phone-answerers.) Those who have it and ought to have it, get highly paid, but and because they don't stay in phone answering positions.
Among workplaces mentioned in this excellent article, a high school should ideally be a living system = each subject specialist connected to every other as well as to students, and answerable to a central governing head (the principal.) A high-functioning principal should have exactly the social skills described in this article. One reason our secondary schools don't work well is the decimated nature of teachers' work experience, isolated from each other but often competitive rather than collaborative. Team loyalty needs to be built into our education system. This would give the teaching profession an edge against political outsourcing or random replacement, because those practices would de-stabilize the entire enterprise.
1
This article states that a) women generally have better social skills than men and b) social skills are becoming increasingly important in certain jobs. The thinly veiled implication is therefore that women should be preferentially hired into these positions.
3
When women enter a field wages almost always go down. (Nursing is an easy exception but historically it has also been low paid). This article is an attempt by a pro-business paper to push wages down
4
The best way to teach these skills is for parents to teach their children the basic rules of social interaction, but since that requires saying 'No' and not acting like the child's BFF, doubtful that will happen any time soon.
39
Ah, so they've finally figured out that being human matters after all? Some of us have known that all along (perhaps because we're out there dealing with other humans, and not glued to our phones).
23
Many physicians lack social skills. Yet they succeed.
28
I could care less if my doctor is 'nice'. I just want him/her to be really good at their job.
They succeed if their patients get better. But a physician who communicates poorly is far more likely to misdiagnose or recognize the onset of disease in its earliest stages.
4
Personally I want my physician to be skilled, have good communication skills and empathy. Doctors I've seen that possess those three skills are the best doctors I've ever had. Also, they have the patience to answer all my questions and follow up questions.
For the most part I always look for women doctors, it's just been in my personal experience that women doctors are more likely to possess those three skills.
Hardly universal though. I had surgery a year ago and my surgeon, a man, was awesome across the board. I'll need further surgery down the road and will go back to him.
For the most part I always look for women doctors, it's just been in my personal experience that women doctors are more likely to possess those three skills.
Hardly universal though. I had surgery a year ago and my surgeon, a man, was awesome across the board. I'll need further surgery down the road and will go back to him.
2
Actually the ability to look good counts even more, especially for women. Professional makeup, eyebrows professionally tweeted, mani-pedis, perfect straight white teeth. Modeling school may be more valuable than an MBA.
72
It's so hard to tweet eyebrows!
6
It's so hard to tweet eyebrows!
-- and that's why it's important to have a professional do it.
-- and that's why it's important to have a professional do it.
tweeted eyebrows?
Didn't Dale Carnegie write a book about this in the 1930's. It's still published and is a free download now from the Dale Carnegie web site (How to Win Friends and Influence People). I've known for many years that when you go to work you have two jobs. You should know the duties you have to perform and you should know how to get along with those with whom you work. Many times the second part of the job is more important than the first.
70
The most important educational investment a parent can make is in a private pre-school education through the 8th grade. With a strong foundation in learning skills, work ethic, morals and social-interaction, a student, who due to unforeseen economic circumstances, needs to attend a public college, will come out ahead of students attending a Tier I private college.
In the professional workplace, especially in financial and managerial occupations, where all have a college and most a graduate degree, private primary and secondary school background is a key distinguishing
characteristic for those who get ahead.
Professionals like to interact in business with the same crowd
they would have dinner with. Private primary school students
have up to 9 years of eating lunch with their peers and teachers at the
same communal table. That is why they make excellent conversational
partners in all social settings and can form a network existing
to promote the interests of its members.
Rey Olsen
In the professional workplace, especially in financial and managerial occupations, where all have a college and most a graduate degree, private primary and secondary school background is a key distinguishing
characteristic for those who get ahead.
Professionals like to interact in business with the same crowd
they would have dinner with. Private primary school students
have up to 9 years of eating lunch with their peers and teachers at the
same communal table. That is why they make excellent conversational
partners in all social settings and can form a network existing
to promote the interests of its members.
Rey Olsen
4
Private school socialization only "works" for those who already fit in so to speak.
9
Every single private school preK-9 experience tops every public school preK-9 experience? And how many private school students come out with a sense of entitlement that will make interactions with the public-school-educated riff-raff difficult for the rest of their lives?
4
As the product of the Minneapolis Public Schools (K-12), I have to take issue with this. Although I did, (alas!) attend a public university for both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in engineering, (one of the top engineering schools in the country, by the way), I entered college with "a strong foundation in learning skills, work ethic, morals and social-interaction," in spite of the early handicap I had from my public school education. I can discuss art, literature, politics and philosophy with the best of the private school crowd.
And now you tell me that there are professionals who don't want to interact with me at work because I ate lunch with the wrong people in second grade? Well, that's their loss, not mine.
Funny, but I seem to have gotten ahead in life anyway.
And now you tell me that there are professionals who don't want to interact with me at work because I ate lunch with the wrong people in second grade? Well, that's their loss, not mine.
Funny, but I seem to have gotten ahead in life anyway.
there's also a problem with the way that group work is implemented in high school and college. First, there's almost no teaching or coaching in how to effectively work in groups - students are merely put in their groups and made to figure it out. (that's not surprising, since many of the college professors now assigning group work, and I assume high school teachers as well, have had no training in group dynamics. Even if they themselves work effectively in groups, they have no conscious awareness of the skills involved, and don't know how to teach them.) Secondly, what happens too much of the time is that the best students end up doing all the work and everyone else merely relies on those students to get it done.
119
"Secondly, what happens too much of the time is that the best students end up doing all the work and everyone else merely relies on those students to get it done"
This happens in the office world as well, and often the managers take part; therefore, it's to everyone's benefit, except the most focused and talented, to concentrate their energies on being social with one another.
This happens in the office world as well, and often the managers take part; therefore, it's to everyone's benefit, except the most focused and talented, to concentrate their energies on being social with one another.
2
I'm confused by the quote below. Clerical jobs and factory work didn't require college degrees. PT and contracting do, but apparently, they are the modern equivalents? This seems like a huge shift that involves more than social skills.
"Mr. Autor has written that traditional middle-skill jobs, like clerical or factory work, have been hollowed out by technology. The new middle-skill jobs combine technical and interpersonal expertise, like physical therapy or general contracting."
"Mr. Autor has written that traditional middle-skill jobs, like clerical or factory work, have been hollowed out by technology. The new middle-skill jobs combine technical and interpersonal expertise, like physical therapy or general contracting."
3
the article tries to ignore the elephant in the room, namely that the emphasis on social skills here is a really a workplace reorganization structured by the new norms of hierarchical corporate socialization seeking to inculcate self-sublimation. It is regressive and reminiscent of Sloan Wilson's, Man in the Gray Flannel Suit of the 50s.
29
"to inculcate self-sublimation."
Conformity in the workplace is not going away and has been around since at least the Industrial Revolution. Ranging from uniforms at fast food places to suits in the corporate world. You can wish otherwise but that wont change the landscape.
Conformity in the workplace is not going away and has been around since at least the Industrial Revolution. Ranging from uniforms at fast food places to suits in the corporate world. You can wish otherwise but that wont change the landscape.
"To inculcate self-sublimation" a.k.a. bust unions
5
Good article but I have to disagree with some of it.
Preschool is characterized by parallel play (kids doing their own thing, ignoring others) and there is far less interaction between kids than you might think. Meanwhile, middle schools and high schools have seen the group-project grow to include almost every class these days including such subjects as math.
Professions like doctor and lawyer, while involving a lot of interaction with people, don't necessarily require their practitioners to be any good at it to succeed. In fact many very successful doctors are notorious at having poor social skills.
While Google may see cooperation and sharing as the way high-quality employees advance most occupations reward the people who get ahead the old-fashioned way. They advance by smiling and being friendly on the surface while bullying and back-stabbing people in the background.
Preschool is characterized by parallel play (kids doing their own thing, ignoring others) and there is far less interaction between kids than you might think. Meanwhile, middle schools and high schools have seen the group-project grow to include almost every class these days including such subjects as math.
Professions like doctor and lawyer, while involving a lot of interaction with people, don't necessarily require their practitioners to be any good at it to succeed. In fact many very successful doctors are notorious at having poor social skills.
While Google may see cooperation and sharing as the way high-quality employees advance most occupations reward the people who get ahead the old-fashioned way. They advance by smiling and being friendly on the surface while bullying and back-stabbing people in the background.
96
Children should no longer be engaging in parallel play after about 2 years of age. (That's why play dates with toddlers really are nonsensical.) However, by 3, and certainly by 4 & 5, they are typically engaged in group play, give and take and make believe scenarios. If a child is engaging only in parallel play at ages 3-5, it should raise a red flag.
I volunteer at after-school childcare for 4-9yos.
Yes I see mostly parallel play - kids mostly doing their own thing - but increasing socialisation - kids who started as selfish terrors knocking over other kids constructions, 6 months later are playing nicely with them - it's wonderful to see.
One girl I saw mostly standing back observing - I told her when she stood alone she always had a serious face - when she was with others she always had a smile - since then I've seen her joining the group - and much more wide smiles.
Several overweight bullies - one boy has a drug-addict mother - tend to display totally selfish behaviour - share that food - no they eat it all themselves while others look on hopefully - then lie and avoid any cleanup work while everyone else helps clean up.
So I'm wondering - will these selfish types go on to become bosses - because they've developed skills in lying and manipulating others to their own selfish ends ?
Anyway - in the meantime I'm feeling that those who play well with others will definitely have more friends and probably have happier lives.
Those who make eye contact, look each other in the face, and talk to each other and negotiate well, I see a pleasant future.
Those who just take, steal, lie, cheat, just shout and don't listen, then blame others for their problems, I see a life full of strife.
I did like something I read recently - girls who played (team?) sport were much more likely to be successful in business.
Yes I see mostly parallel play - kids mostly doing their own thing - but increasing socialisation - kids who started as selfish terrors knocking over other kids constructions, 6 months later are playing nicely with them - it's wonderful to see.
One girl I saw mostly standing back observing - I told her when she stood alone she always had a serious face - when she was with others she always had a smile - since then I've seen her joining the group - and much more wide smiles.
Several overweight bullies - one boy has a drug-addict mother - tend to display totally selfish behaviour - share that food - no they eat it all themselves while others look on hopefully - then lie and avoid any cleanup work while everyone else helps clean up.
So I'm wondering - will these selfish types go on to become bosses - because they've developed skills in lying and manipulating others to their own selfish ends ?
Anyway - in the meantime I'm feeling that those who play well with others will definitely have more friends and probably have happier lives.
Those who make eye contact, look each other in the face, and talk to each other and negotiate well, I see a pleasant future.
Those who just take, steal, lie, cheat, just shout and don't listen, then blame others for their problems, I see a life full of strife.
I did like something I read recently - girls who played (team?) sport were much more likely to be successful in business.
1
No, 3 is still ok; 4 is really the time when the vast majority have stopped side by side play.
This article misses the point. The reason why jobs that don't require social skills are not doing well is because they can be outsourced to non-english speaking countries for cheaper wages. Or corporations can import foreign labor for these jobs using a variety of visas to undercut US pay scales. Any jobs left that don't require an education will have so many Americans fighting for them that wages will be rock bottom. Any job that requires cultural and language skills cannot be easily outsourced or insourced and will not be subject to this wage lowering foreign competition. Additionly I don't see women having any real advantages. First, this sexist notion of females being more emotionally perceptive and cooperative from infancy - well, please provide the research evidence because my understanding is that (other than a slight advantage in verbal development for infant girls) these are socialized traits than can be learned by anyone. Second, women have higher levels of employment because they are more likely to be hired for low wage caregiver jobs than men. If women's social ability gave them an advantage, they wouldn't still be making less than men in the same roles/professions.
150
Interesting premise, although the classifications for some of occupations are a little dubious. For example carpenters need more math skills than bank tellers, lawyers and judges need more math skills than physicians, computer scientists vastly more than accountants, and it's not clear what "management analysts" are. But it's true that social skills make a big difference in today's workplace, and I wish they were more widespread. Perhaps it's telling that they're best acquired outside the classroom.
21
I agree that the characterization of the skills required for the jobs on the graph is wrong. For example, and auto mechanic is likely to have a lot of customer contact, and, if he does not demonstrate social skills, will lose customers to his competitors. in addition, they need, and often have, more math skills than bank tellers, who do not even count money anymore.
14
Plus, the author is mistaken about lawyers. That job market has collapsed; talk to any law school about their enrollments and job placement for all but the top students. Much of law discovery is shipped overseas or automated.
12
@Bill: You don't think doctors need good math skills? Prescribing medicine dosages requires math every.single.day. If you've ever been mis-prescribed, you'd appreciate that doctors use math far more than you may think!
7
I am not sure how to take this article. The premise is solid and certainly schools can do more, but some of the generalizations indicate the writer or those interviewed don't see the complexities of our education system, instead they treat it as a monolithic enterprise. First, stating that social skills "instruction" happens in preschool but then not in traditional education afterwards seems quite a leap. Even the largest and most beleaguered publics schools incorporate wellness components.
Additionally, if you are evaluating schools by their on paper/written curriculum then of course you won't see much expressed about teaching social skills; but the actual taught curriculum happening everyday is something different. You don't think teachers teach social skills in elementary and middle school? They do (not always well of course). High school, in its current form as a highly specialized mini-college doesn't do so well, but there are more schools out there doing "pastoral" work and soft skills then one thinks.
I love the focus of the article that soft skills matter and that the attempt to produce STEM only sorts of people (as opposed to STEAM) can be misguided, but setting all of that up against the false dichotomy of education as still being fairly traditional and only lecture based is a little out of step with on the ground reality.
Additionally, if you are evaluating schools by their on paper/written curriculum then of course you won't see much expressed about teaching social skills; but the actual taught curriculum happening everyday is something different. You don't think teachers teach social skills in elementary and middle school? They do (not always well of course). High school, in its current form as a highly specialized mini-college doesn't do so well, but there are more schools out there doing "pastoral" work and soft skills then one thinks.
I love the focus of the article that soft skills matter and that the attempt to produce STEM only sorts of people (as opposed to STEAM) can be misguided, but setting all of that up against the false dichotomy of education as still being fairly traditional and only lecture based is a little out of step with on the ground reality.
5
For every 10 of the old jobs there is one new "social skills" job. Go on any of the "work social media" sites and you'll see hordes of "social skill" types desperately trying to justify their existence. Once they would have been office drones, gofers, bureaucrats. Now they are "life advisors", and worst of all "mentors".
If there has been any failure in the so-called liberal arts, it is the navel-gazing of its practitioners who preferred internecine wars to any serious conversation with reality. It was OK back in the day: their students were on their way to cushy jobs in govt and various family businesses. The lesson to be learned is that these arts have to get back into the real world. The only way to do that is to kick the practitioners onto the street.
If there has been any failure in the so-called liberal arts, it is the navel-gazing of its practitioners who preferred internecine wars to any serious conversation with reality. It was OK back in the day: their students were on their way to cushy jobs in govt and various family businesses. The lesson to be learned is that these arts have to get back into the real world. The only way to do that is to kick the practitioners onto the street.
6
All of this points to the need for, and the advantages of, a more traditional liberal arts education with emphasis on subjects that help develop cognitive, analytical, and communication skills. These subjects include art, literature, philosophy, history, and many of the other courses that college curricula of more recent vintage eschew. To be sure science and mathematics have become increasingly important but are not the only skills necessary to be successful and, more importantly, a well-rounded person and informed and thoughtful citizen.
102
And no math means no iPhone. Period. Finished.
2
RussP:
Much of the appeal of an iPhone is its design, the look and feel, the "aesthetic" part of it. And then there's the folks who design apps that again appeal to our sight and hearing and amusement.
And somebody has to sell it, with music, graphics, photography and appealing advertising copy.
Without those, you may have an electronic device that sends your voice over the airwaves, but you ain't got an iPhone. Period. Finished.
Much of the appeal of an iPhone is its design, the look and feel, the "aesthetic" part of it. And then there's the folks who design apps that again appeal to our sight and hearing and amusement.
And somebody has to sell it, with music, graphics, photography and appealing advertising copy.
Without those, you may have an electronic device that sends your voice over the airwaves, but you ain't got an iPhone. Period. Finished.
2