Let’s get something straight: calling them soft skills was the first mistake.

In a world fueled by artificial intelligence, where machines learn faster than some humans can blink, the one thing AI will never replace is the character required to connect, to lead, and to endure. What we’ve been calling “soft skills”—communication, empathy, self-awareness, adaptability, collaboration aren’t soft at all. They are strong. They are tough. They are human. And above all, they are character skills.

I didn’t always know this.

In my early days climbing the corporate ladder, I thought being good at my job was enough. I had the degrees, the accolades, and the ability to negotiate multimillion-dollar procurement deals. I delivered results that saved companies millions. But what made me unforgettable wasn’t just the spreadsheets it was how I showed up: with integrity, with empathy, with courage. It was my character that made me indispensable. Not soft.

And that’s why I created the B.E.A.S.T. Mindset a model built on Bravery, Enthusiasm, Authenticity, Self-Control, and Thankfulness. It’s not just a catchy acronym. It’s a framework for becoming the kind of person who can not only thrive in today’s fast-changing environment but also lead others with compassion, clarity, and courage.

Why “Soft” Diminishes the Power of These Skills

The HR Brew article by Paige McGlauflin captures a growing frustration among HR leaders. As AI advances and remote work becomes the norm, interpersonal skills are no longer “nice to have” they are essential. Yet the language we use still implies they’re second-class.

Think about it: in business, “soft” is synonymous with weak.

“Soft market.”
“Softening demand.”
“Soft management.”

None of those terms inspire confidence. So why would we call the very skills that hold teams together and foster innovation “soft”? The term subtly suggests these capabilities lack rigor or value when in fact, they are the backbone of every successful interaction, relationship, and team.

Chris Ernst of Workday said it best: “It’s time to put the soft skills, hard skills, completely to rest… the term soft skills unintentionally diminishes the perceived value.”

I wholeheartedly agree. These aren’t soft. They’re stronger than steel because it’s one thing to know how to do a job, but it’s another thing entirely to know how to lead, listen, empathize, adapt, and tell the truth when it’s inconvenient.

That’s character.

My Journey from Soft-Spoken to B.E.A.S.T.

I led supplier strategies that resulted in on-time project completions and millions in cost savings, but my manager said I wasn’t “collaborative enough.” What she really meant was I wasn’t performing politeness while solving problems. I was dismantling dysfunction, not dancing around it.

So I stopped trying to be “soft” and started being solid. I became brave enough to tell the truth, even when it rocked the boat. I remained enthusiastic when the workplace turned toxic. I showed authenticity, even when it cost me promotions. I practiced self-control when people lied on me. I stayed thankful when the system tried to break me.

That’s when everything changed.

When I filed an integrity complaint against a senior leader, some said I was crazy. I said I was called. I refused to stay silent. I wasn’t a troublemaker, I was a truth-teller. My character was my currency.

The data backs it up. According to Deloitte, 92% of talent professionals say that human skills are just as important or more important than technical skills. A 2023 LinkedIn Global Talent Trends report found that the top in-demand skills are communication, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.

And why? Because no matter how smart your AI is, it won’t know how to comfort a grieving coworker. It can’t mediate conflict with grace. It won’t risk telling the CEO the truth in love. These moments require courage. They require emotional maturity. They require character.

Sara Morales from Cisco nailed it: “The pace of change is so fast that we need to bring people along… we need [leaders] to help balance out everything we’re seeing from a technology and AI standpoint.”

It’s character—not code—that makes the difference.

The B.E.A.S.T. Mindset: A Character Framework for Modern Work

Let’s break this down. The B.E.A.S.T. Mindset reframes “soft” skills into a character-based strength model:

Brave – Speak the truth even when your voice shakes. Advocate for fairness. Stand alone if you must.

Enthusiastic – Show up with energy, not because it’s easy, but because you choose hope over bitterness.

Authentic – Stop performing. Be real. Share your story—flaws and all.

Self-Controlled – Don’t react. Respond. Keep your integrity when others lose theirs.

Thankful – Practice gratitude in every season. Bitterness blocks growth. Thankfulness fertilizes it.

This isn’t fluff it’s formidable. When I coach corporate teams, mentor entrepreneurs, or speak at conferences, I emphasize that character isn’t optional. It’s your operating system.

Without it, all your skills are just apps running on a faulty foundation.

Real-Life Lessons from the Fire

I’ve been homeless. Divorced. Disrespected. I’ve battled breast cancer, raised a child alone after a brain disease diagnosis, and lost family members who didn’t believe in my dreams. At 22, I was orphaned in college. At 27, I was a single mom with $20 to my name and a sick baby in my arms.

But character kept me from crumbling.

I didn’t have time for “soft.” I had to be resilient, wise, and committed. I had to choose character over comfort daily and I do to this day.

When I see young professionals crumble after a Slack message or panic in a performance review, I know what they’re missing: they haven’t been taught character. They’ve been taught coding, content, and credentials. But not courage.

That’s why my work exists.

Words Matter. Let’s Change the Narrative.

Words frame our beliefs. When we call these skills “soft,” we subconsciously teach people they are less valuable. That’s dangerous.

Imagine telling a child that empathy, honesty, and perseverance are “soft.” They’ll spend their life underestimating the power of their humanity.

We don’t need more brilliance without backbone. We don’t need more talent without truth. We need people with the character to listen deeply, lead ethically, and live authentically.

Let’s stop calling these soft. They are core, critical, and character-based.

As the article suggests, terms like “durable,” “human,” and “core” are steps in the right direction. But I say let’s go further let’s call them what they are:

Character skills.

Scripture and Spirit: The Deeper Call

In Romans 5:3–4, Paul writes: “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

There’s a divine sequence here.

Suffering → Perseverance → Character → Hope.

This is not just a personal truth. It’s a professional roadmap.

Leaders with character produce hopeful environments. Employees with character solve problems instead of creating them. Companies with character retain talent and earn trust.

And Proverbs 22:1 reminds us: “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”

Character, not credentials, builds the good name that opens doors no résumé ever could.

Final Word: Character is the Real Competitive Edge

To HR leaders, executives, educators, and everyday professionals: this is your call to action.

Start reframing the conversation. Replace “soft” with “character.” Measure it. Reward it. Teach it. Model it.

Because in the age of AI, the greatest upgrade you can bring to the table is not a technical skill it’s the strength of your character.

And if you’re wondering where to start, remember: you don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be a B.E.A.S.T.