Take a moment to reflect on your workplace. Think of a colleague with whom you most enjoy working. One or more of the following attributes is likely to describe this person: collaborative, honest, positive, flexible, hard-working, fun, creative, team player, responsible. Now think of a colleague with whom you least enjoy working. One or more of the following attributes is likely to apply: complainer, passive-aggressive, untrustworthy, negative, competitive, political, difficult, unprofessional. Note that none of these descriptors include technical skills (so called "hard" skills). Rather, most of the descriptors are social in nature or what have been historically labeled "soft" skills. Strong technical expertise is obviously necessary for the high-skill jobs required in most knowledge work. That said, there is a developing conversation in academic and business circles concerning the importance of "soft" skills-skills such as leadership, teamwork, selfawareness, managing conflict, communicating effectively, getting along, and so on, that are essential ingredients for individual, team, and organizational success.