The Hard Truth About Soft Skills: Workplace Lessons Smart People Wish They'd Learned Sooner

Why do so many smart people find their careers stalled or derailed?

It’s rarely a shortfall in technical expertise. The real problem is a lack of soft skills―the critical, nontechnical behaviors needed for successful career navigation. You can have all the knowledge in the world, but if you can’t sell your ideas, get along with others, or manage your workload effectively, you’re going nowhere fast.

For years, these essential skills were considered “nice to have” but not critical. That assumption is a career-killer. From self-management and handling critics to mastering communication, these abilities are the true foundation of long-term success. This book delivers the honest truth about what it really takes to thrive in today’s workplace.

This is the definitive playbook for mastering the unspoken rules of the workplace, delivering 54 practical lessons and proven tools for:

• Mastering Office Politics: Learn to identify the “shadow organization,” find a mentor, deflect gossip, and manage professional relationships without committing political suicide.
• Effective Communication: Discover why listening is a critical skill, how to adjust your style for any audience, and present your ideas with confidence―without needing beta-blockers.
• Developing Your Personal Brand: Think of yourself as a cereal brand to stand out from the crowd, turn your accomplishments into compelling stories, and stop credit thieves in their tracks.
• Handling Critics and Conflict: Stay cool in the hot seat during performance reviews, deal with a bully boss, and understand why you don’t need to be everyone’s best friend to be respected.
• Strengthening Your Leadership Skills: Avoid the common traps of new managers, delegate effectively, and learn why people aren’t mind readers so you can lead your team to success.

Peggy Klaus trains professionals worldwide at leading companies that include Credit Suisse, Disney, UNICEF, and Kaiser Permanente. Author of BRAG! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It, she is regularly featured in a wide range of media including the Today Show, 20/20, BusinessWeek, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and O Magazine. Klaus has lectured at Harvard; the University of California, Berkeley; and Wharton. She lives in Berkeley, California.