Posted on 11 Nov, 2025

Human abilities make relationships between people different from anything that AI can copy.  Technology changes the way we work, but the basics of how people interact with each other stay the same. We all need to continue to improve our people skills to be the best leaders in this age of AI.

Core people skills are important for making meaningful connections.  Communication, curiosity, creativity, courage and compassion are important traits for us all. These skills aren't just useful for your job. In a world that changes quickly, they are the building blocks of good leadership.

Our idea of what it means to be professionally competent has changed a lot. It's important to know how to do things technically, but it's even more important to have soft skills like empathy, listening and working together. This article looks at these five basic human skills that shape how we interact with others. They make us human and set the stage for great leadership and teamwork.

Why basic social skills are important in a world that is always changing

There is a big change in the way we work. Technology does 22% of the work, and people work with machines on another 30% of the work. This isn't about jobs going away; it's about jobs adapting to show what makes us human.

Technology doesn't make our people skills less important; it makes them more important.  The 2023 Workplace Learning Report from LinkedIn says that four of the top ten skills companies need are human-centred skills like communication and teamwork. Business leaders agree that AI will make skills that are unique to humans even more important.

The Wall Street Journal found something interesting: 92% of business leaders say that soft skills like communication, curiosity and critical thinking are just as important as technical skills. Still, 89% of these executives can't find people who have these important people skills.

This shortage makes sense because machines can't do these things. When it comes to emotional intelligence, creativity and moral judgement, AI just can't understand context like we can.  McKinsey's research backs this up: jobs that require managing people, having knowledge, and interacting with others are not as affected by automation.

As automation changes the way we work, your ability to adapt, bounce back, and understand your own emotions will set you apart. People who can work with technology, not against it, are needed in today's workplaces.

The five most important people skills that make us who we are:

Five human abilities are the keys to having good relationships with other people in today's fast-paced world. These basic people skills are what make people better than even the most advanced technology.

1. Communication builds human connections through active listening, not just sharing information. People who are good at talking to each other make others feel safe enough to share their thoughts.

2. Creativity helps people solve problems by letting them think in new ways and come up with open-ended solutions. This one-of-a-kind human ability helps solve tough problems when normal methods fail.

3. Like "superglue" for the mind, compassion connects people and makes them do good things. Research indicates that individuals possessing empathy are more inclined to assist others and enhance charitable endeavours.

4. Courage is doing things even when you're scared, standing up for your beliefs, and taking smart risks. Studies show that having professional courage helps you move up in your career and makes you happier.

5. Curiosity drives us to keep learning and coming up with new ideas. Wanting to learn new things gives you an advantage when things are uncertain. There will be 66% more demand for creative thinking in the next five years.

These five C's stand for skills that machines can't copy. They are the human factors that will determine how well we do at work as automation changes the way we work.

How these skills affect how people work together and lead

Core people skills are what make teams work and leaders work in successful organisations.  When a leader shows empathy, they make the workplace a place where everyone feels heard, valued and supported. This builds trust across the whole organisation. Leaders who are empathetic create a safe space for people to talk and work together. This method helps teams get more employees involved.

These important skills encourage new ideas by making it easier for people to try new things.  When leaders encourage risk-taking and make it safe for people to share unusual ideas, teams get more creative and better at solving problems. Companies that encourage teamwork and independence generally are five times more productive than those that don't.

These skills are very important when things are uncertain.  The 2021 Trust Barometer from Edelman shows that employees' trust in their employers stayed the same or went up in 18 out of 27 countries, which is more than their trust in the government.  Leaders who make quick decisions with little information do better than their peers when things are unclear.

Teams with people from different backgrounds have different ways of looking at problems, and inclusive leadership practices make sure that these different points of view lead to better solutions.

Technology keeps changing the way we work, but five basic people skills are still things that only humans have that AI can't really copy. Talking to each other builds trust and safety for the mind. Creative thinking helps us find solutions to problems that aren't obvious. Teams are stronger when people care about each other and are kind to each other. Professionals must possess the fortitude to uphold their values in the face of fear. A natural desire to learn more drives the need to keep learning in order to adapt.

In our automated world, these human skills ended up being what made a job successful. These social skills are even more useful now because of how quickly technology is changing.  Companies that put these five C's first make places where new ideas can thrive and teams can do their best work.

People who can combine technical knowledge with these basic human skills will be successful.  The 5 C’s are the building blocks of great leadership, successful teamwork and careers that excel and adapt to a workplace that changes quickly.

Careers In Design can help you find your next job that fits your interpersonal strengths and helps you use these core people skills well.

Posted in: Interviewing | Tagged: Interview Skills