The 6 essential skills you need in 2026 and how they will help you progress

If you already know what you plan to study at university, that’s great! If you’re still weighing your options, that’s fine too. But in any case, make sure you consider a program of study that will help you develop your soft skills in addition to training in your specific field.

What are soft skills?

It can sometimes be difficult to establish a universal definition of soft skills, but you can think of them as skills that are not tied to a specific job; they are general characteristics that help people thrive in a work, study, or social environment, regardless of their experience, role, or discipline. They are also sometimes called transferable skills or interpersonal skills.

Why are they important?

Almost every interaction with other people will require some level of soft skills. In a business setting, you might negotiate a new contract, present an idea to other students in a class, organize your time to ensure you meet deadlines, and so on. We use soft skills every day, so developing them will make you more likely to succeed in whatever you do.

Furthermore, business leaders and academic research suggest that soft skills now play a vital role in helping you stand out and advance your career. Many universities are beginning to develop their students’ interpersonal skills as an integral part of their curriculum: EHL (Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne) emphasizes its experiential education model, both inside and outside the classroom, providing a social learning context where cultural sensitivity, leadership skills, adaptability, and an appreciation for lifelong learning are developed.

1. Problem-solving

The ability to think logically and critically to solve real business problems is essential in our complex and ever-changing world. Companies must be able to continuously improve their products and services to remain competitive. To do this, they need employees who can ask the right questions to get to the bottom of a problem. You will need to learn how to think and learn, because the only way to remain useful and relevant over a 30-40-year career is if you are able to change and adapt.

2. Creativity

Being able to think of new ways to solve problems is another essential soft skill you need to develop. Computers, even highly intelligent ones, are not (yet) capable of the same level of creativity as humans. Curiosity and imagination drive innovation and are essential for problem-solving. “Ready-to-use” thinking will be necessary to find new and innovative ways to solve problems.

3. Communications

Skills such as communication, listening, and public speaking are also becoming increasingly important. Knowing how to communicate effectively is a key element in building professional relationships, whether with teammates, supervisors, organizational leaders, or clients.

An experience with multiple cultures can help you develop your communication skills. And an awareness of cultural sensitivities will allow you to operate comfortably in many contexts, or even in other countries and locations. International internships and work experience can help develop the open and global mindset sought after by companies worldwide.

4. Time Management

An often overlooked trait that has never been more important is the ability to manage your time effectively and stay organized. As workplaces and higher education institutions require you to balance tasks and complete work within deadlines, it’s crucial to stay on top of things while still making time for yourself. The ability to prioritize well and work smarter rather than harder is an essential skill you can apply to your studies, your career, and beyond.

5. Stress Management

Being stressed is a fact of life—it’s how we manage our stress that matters. Stress management is a key skill because without it, no other skill can be fully realized, and we cannot reach our true potential. We all go through difficult phases, but by understanding what causes stress and actively using techniques to manage it, we can regain control. By recognizing unhelpful habits and adopting more helpful ones, you can feel happier and more productive every day.

6. Teamwork

The speed of the market and our workplaces, propelled by the constant flow of new technologies, will not slow down. To meet these demands, successful individuals must be able to collaborate with others and be adaptable. Knowing how to work as part of a team, leveraging the unique strengths of each team member, managing frustrations, and adapting to rapidly changing work environments are all essential in the workplace of tomorrow. Choosing an educational program where you have the opportunity to work on group projects, for example, will help prepare you to meet any new challenges you may encounter.

You can expect to change jobs at least seven times in your lifetime, and some of those jobs won’t even exist today. In a few years, we’ll see more advanced automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence that will dramatically change how we work and live. Some jobs will disappear, others will grow, and entirely new jobs that don’t exist today will be created. What’s certain is that you’ll need to be able to learn and adapt continuously if you want to keep up. Employers today are looking for candidates with a strong set of soft skills in addition to technical knowledge in a given field.

Having a comprehensive set of soft skills in your toolkit can help you stand out from other candidates and will also help you adapt to new ways of working in the future. Throughout your career, soft skills will set you apart. Make sure you incorporate them into your educational experience!