Soft skills to improve work performance in 2025

Top 4 ways to improve work performance

#1. Limit distractions

One of the primary challenges that professionals face is the constant barrage of distractions. The ping of incoming emails, social media alerts, and chatter from coworkers can hurt work performance. Sure, it only takes a few seconds to glance at your email when you hear the alert, but these small moments add up throughout the day. In addition, you have now likely lost your train of thought and have to make your way back to the task at hand.

Cell phones and internet browsing are the two biggest workplace distractions. Recent surveys show the average person spends more than two hours per day using their smartphone during work hours for non-work-related reasons.

For many people, the quickest way to see huge productivity improvements is to put their phones out of reach. This isn’t possible for everyone, but if you can, put your personal phone out of reach while you’re working. You can check it during breaks.

If you’re prone to getting distracted by the internet when you’re meant to be working, try using an app or browser extension that blocks distractions.

You can also minimize distractions by:

• Creating a designated quiet workspace
• Turning off non-essential notifications
• Setting specific times for checking emails and messages

#2. Prioritize

Prioritizing work is a crucial skill to make sure you’re focusing on the tasks that contribute most to your goals. Here are four possible frameworks for prioritizing your work:

1. Prioritize by urgency. Divide tasks into categories such as urgent, important, and non-urgent/non-important. The Eisenhower Matrix is a popular method for this.
2. Prioritize by impact. Identify your goals. Then consider the potential impact of each task on your goals. Focus on high-value tasks that will have the most significant positive impact.
3. Prioritize by dependencies. Identify tasks that are dependent on others or have dependencies themselves. Prioritize tasks that may impact the progress of other activities.
4. Prioritize by time and effort. Assess the time and effort required for each task. Then schedule tasks that demand more concentration during your peak productivity hours. If a task takes less than two minutes to complete, consider doing it immediately. This helps clear small tasks quickly, reducing the overall workload.

Using tools like task management apps can help you organize your priorities. They also keep you focused on your daily, weekly, and monthly goals.

#3. Know when to delegate

Delegation is a skill that not only lightens your workload but also promotes teamwork and collaboration. Understanding when and how to delegate tasks is crucial for optimizing productivity. Delegating tasks properly helps you and your team use your strengths. This leads to a more efficient and friendly work environment.

Some considerations when deciding what to delegate:

• Task complexity
• Your and others’ expertise
• Time sensitivity
• Workload balance
• Skill development/cross-training
• Workplace efficiency
• Availability of resources

Read more: How to improve your delegation skills

#4. Avoid multitasking

Contrary to popular belief, multitasking can hinder rather than enhance productivity. In fact, the ability to multitask has been proven again and again to be a myth. We think we are doing two things at once, but we are really switching back and forth.

Michigan State University experts write, “While we tend to believe that we can split our attention between two things, the reality is that we are actually paying less attention to both tasks.” They continue:

“Research shows that when we allow our attention to switch back and forth by multitasking, it lowers our efficiency and productivity—particularly when we’re working on more complex tasks.”

Instead of juggling multiple tasks simultaneously, consider adopting a focused approach. Set aside dedicated time blocks for specific activities, minimizing distractions during these periods. This focused work approach can lead to improved concentration, faster task completion, and higher overall work quality.

Soft skills for the workplace

Communication

Poor communication makes productivity plummet—for you and your colleagues. Ineffective communication often means

• more back-and-forth to get to the point,
• having to redo work because of unclear instructions,
• lack of focus due to frustrations,
• time wasted figuring things out on your own, and
• the introduction of errors.

Here are some tips to improve your communication skills:

1. Clear and concise messaging. Be direct and get to the point while ensuring your message is complete. The truth is that it sometimes takes longer to craft a shorter, more concise message than a long one. But you’re likely saving time in the long run through the clarity of your communication. At the very least, take a moment to read over a message or email before you send it, checking for clarity of grammar and content.
2. Choose the right channel. Select the most appropriate communication channel for the message. Some messages are better conveyed through face-to-face interactions, while others may be suitable for email or messaging platforms. Consider the urgency, sensitivity, and complexity of the information.
3. Ask clarifying questions. If something is unclear, don’t hesitate to ask clarifying questions. Seeking additional information demonstrates your commitment to understanding the message and ensures that you have the right information.
4. Adapt your communication style. Tailor your communication style to the preferences and needs of your audience. Some individuals may prefer detailed explanations, while others may prefer a brief overview. Being adaptable ensures your message resonates with diverse personalities.
5. Be consistent. Strive for consistency in your communication. Consistency builds trust and reliability. When your colleagues can depend on consistent communication, it streamlines collaboration and enhances overall work performance.

Effective communication is one of the most important soft skills you can bring to your work. It improves work performance by promoting clarity, collaboration, engagement, and adaptability.

Listening

Listening is an often overlooked but crucial component of effective communication. Actively listening to colleagues, managers, and employees fosters a culture of understanding and reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings. Being a good listener can improve your work performance in many ways, including:

• Enhanced understanding: When you listen with intent, you’ll catch more details and better understand expectations. This allows you to carry out your tasks accurately.
• Improved relationship building: Listening attentively builds trust and strengthens relationships in the workplace. When colleagues feel heard and understood, it fosters a positive working environment, promotes teamwork, and enhances overall collaboration.
• Conflict resolution: A good listener can understand the root causes of conflicts. They can find common ground with team members and encourage positive discussions to reach solutions.
• Better decision-making: Informed decision-making requires a comprehensive understanding of various perspectives and inputs. Good listeners gather relevant information through active listening, which is essential for making well-rounded and effective decisions.
• Increased productivity: Misunderstandings can lead to inefficiencies and errors. By actively listening and clarifying information, good listeners reduce the likelihood of misinterpretations, contributing to increased productivity and task efficiency.
• Customer satisfaction: In customer-facing roles, being a good listener is crucial for understanding customer needs, concerns, and feedback.

Read more: Active listening tips and Listening tips by DiSC style

Writing

Whether you’re drafting reports, composing emails, or creating other written documents, you should seek clarity and precision in your writing. Improving writing skills involves honing grammar, practicing brevity, and tailoring the tone to the intended audience, among other skills.

Here are five ways to improve your writing skills at work:

1. Read. Read a variety of materials, including books, articles, reports, and industry publications. Reading exposes you to diverse writing styles and helps you grasp different tones and structures. This broadens your understanding of effective communication and allows you to incorporate these elements into your own writing.
2. Practice. Like any skill, writing improves with practice. Set aside time to write regularly, whether it’s professional documents or personal correspondence. Consider maintaining a personal blog or journal to hone your writing skills in a less formal setting.
3. Take a writing class. Consider taking writing courses or attending workshops to develop and refine your writing skills. Many online platforms offer courses that cover various aspects of professional writing, including grammar, style, and effective communication techniques.
4. Use writing tools and resources: Leverage writing tools and resources, such as grammar checkers, style guides, and AI. These tools can help you correct common errors, improve your writing mechanics, and stay updated on best practices.
5. Seek feedback. Ask for feedback on your writing from colleagues, mentors, or supervisors. Constructive criticism helps you find areas to improve. It also gives you valuable insights into how others see your writing.

Giving and receiving feedback

Because giving and receiving feedback is so difficult, your bosses and coworkers will really notice if you build this skill. Learning to provide constructive feedback is vital not just for managers but for anyone working with others. Research shows people want feedback more often than we give it to them. Being open to receiving feedback with a growth mindset enables continuous improvement.

Remember that feedback and evaluation are different things. Feedback is formative and nonjudgmental; evaluation is summative and judges outcomes.

For more on this critical soft skill, see our in-depth article on giving or receiving feedback, as well as providing feedback in a virtual world.

Using your resources

Even though we call it “personal development,” you don’t have to undertake it alone. Productivity tools, educational resources, and people in your network can help.

• Productivity apps and performance management tools: There are many online and paper tools to help you track your goals, manage tasks, and stay organized. Try out a few to discover which works best for you.
• Podcasts, webinars, books, etc.: Use your lunch hour or commute to keep up with the latest news in your industry, learn something new, or hone a specific skill.
• Professional associations, conferences, workshops, and seminars: These can connect you to new people and give you new ideas and methods.
• Mentorship and networking: Ask someone to mentor you. Volunteer as a mentor to others. Explore networking opportunities in a way that is authentic to you.
• Online forums and discussion groups: Get involved in discussions within your field, or one you’d like to move toward. Ask for help, offer help, and learn new perspectives.
• Personality assessments and other self-awareness tools: Think of people you’ve worked with who have high self-awareness, and others who seem to have no self-awareness at all. What was it like working with both types of people? Assessments like Everything DiSC are both descriptive (telling you about your style) and developmental, providing personalized action steps for increasing soft skills and emotional intelligence. Read more about how DiSC profiles work.

Read more: What is self-awareness? and DiSC and AI technology

4 steps to improve employee performance

If you’re a manager, what is your plan to improve employee performance in 2025? In theory, you and your employees share a common goal: you want them to be good at their jobs, and they also want to be good at their jobs. It’s the how that complicates this desire.

Rethinking accountability can help you and your employees become more aligned on goals and how to reach them. Rather than thinking of accountability as punishment, your team can embrace a constructive approach to accountability. This requires honest and ongoing communication with your employees.

Self-awareness tools for managers can help you uncover your natural management style. Then, you’ll understand how to hone your soft skills to better motivate and coach your employees.

Set SMART goals

It is important to involve employees in goal-setting. When managers and employees talk through goals and expectations—and especially when employees understand the why of their tasks—employees are more likely to feel committed to the work. As you and your employees set goals together, remember to use the SMART criteria:

Specific: Clearly define what needs to be achieved.

Measurable: Establish tangible criteria to track progress.

Achievable: Ensure goals are realistic and attainable within the timeline.

Relevant: Align goals with broader organizational objectives.

Time-bound: Set a deadline to create a sense of urgency.

SMART goals provide clear expectations for employees. They help workers understand their tasks and connect their efforts to the bigger mission. This framework gives them the satisfaction of working toward tangible and meaningful accomplishments.

Provide consistent feedback

Feedback is a powerful tool for continuous improvement. Regular, constructive feedback allows employees to understand their strengths, identify areas for growth, and course-correct in real time. Implementing a feedback culture involves both positive reinforcement for a job well done and constructive criticism when improvements are needed. Consider:

• Timeliness: Offer feedback promptly for maximum impact.
• Specificity: Be specific about what worked well or needs improvement.
• Balance: Strike a balance between positive and constructive feedback.
• Encouragement: Provide encouragement and support for ongoing development.

Consistent feedback creates a feedback loop that promotes a culture of learning, adaptability, and increased employee engagement.

Offer opportunities for personal development

Investing in the growth of employees benefits individuals and contributes to the overall success of the organization. You may or may not have a say in company-wide staff development initiatives, but there are many big and small ways to help your employees grow. Consider:

• Training programs: Offer workshops and training sessions.
• Educational assistance: Support further education or certifications.
• Mentorship programs: Facilitate mentorship for career guidance.
• Cross-training: Encourage exposure to different roles or departments.

By fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, you’ll help your employees feel valued and motivated to contribute their enhanced skills to the organization.

Encourage a positive workplace culture

Workplace culture plays a pivotal role in shaping employee attitudes, behavior, and performance. A positive and inclusive environment fosters collaboration, creativity, and a sense of belonging.

• Recognition: Acknowledge and celebrate achievements.
• Open communication: Encourage transparent and open communication.
• Work-life balance: Promote a healthy work-life balance.
• Team building: Organize team-building activities to strengthen bonds.

A positive workplace culture contributes to higher job satisfaction, increased morale, and a collective commitment to achieving shared goals.

Identifying the right place to grow

Personality assessments, when used appropriately, can offer valuable insights into improving personal and team performance in the workplace. These assessments provide a structured framework to understand individual preferences, tendencies, and behavioral patterns.

Developmental assessments like DiSC will help learners grow their soft skills. They will learn to communicate better and gain confidence in different situations.

Conclusion: Take action to improve work performance

To improve your own or your employee’s performance this year, you’ll need to be specific about what that means. Set tangible goals and follow through.

In summary, consider these top ways to improve work performance:

1. Limit distractions
2. Prioritize your tasks
3. Know when to delegate
4. Avoid multitasking

Focus on developing these soft skills:

1. Communication
2. Listening
3. Writing
4. Giving and receiving feedback

Utilize these resources:

1. Productivity tools and apps
2. Continuing education
3. Professional associations
4. Mentorship
5. Online forums
6. Personality assessments

Help employees perform better:

1. Set SMART goals
2. Provide consistent feedback
3. Offer opportunities for personal development
4. Encourage a positive workplace culture

Individuals looking for a personalized set of strategies for improving work performance will find it in Everything DiSC Workplace®. In addition to Workplace, managers have a great resource in the Everything DiSC® Management assessment.