Difficult Hiring Decisions: Top 10 Soft Skills in Healthcare to Consider

In the fast-paced world of healthcare, technical skills are undeniably important. But when making difficult hiring decisions, soft skills in healthcare become equally crucial. In this article, we will break down the top 10 soft skills to look for when hiring in healthcare. You will learn which soft skills for healthcare professionals are most critical, what healthcare interview questions to ask, and what to look for in the candidate’s answer.

What Are Soft Skills in Healthcare?

Soft skills in general are the interpersonal and personal qualities that define how effectively someone collaborates, communicates, and adapts within a team environment. In healthcare, these skills are crucially important not only for patient care, but also interdisciplinary communication. Soft skills for healthcare professionals encompass a wide range of abilities, from empathy and active listening to teamwork and stress management; essentially, all the skills that a healthcare professional needs to provide high-quality patient care.

Navigating Difficult Hiring Decisions in Healthcare

Let’s face it: hiring decisions in healthcare can be tough. Resumes often showcase a pool of qualified candidates with impressive technical qualifications and experience. Here’s where things can get tricky:

• Multiple Strong Candidates: Imagine two applicants with nearly identical certifications and years of experience. One boasts a stellar academic record, while the other shines with a proven track record of exceeding patient satisfaction scores. How do you choose?

• Specialization vs. Versatility: Sometimes, a highly specialized candidate perfectly aligns with an immediate need. But what if a slightly less specialized candidate demonstrates exceptional adaptability and strong soft skills in healthcare, suggesting they could excel in various roles within your organization?

• Experience Gaps vs. Potential: An applicant might possess a slight gap in or lack of experience compared to another candidate. However, their interview reveals a genuine passion for learning, a willingness to go the extra mile, and exceptional communication skills. Can you bridge the experience gap with targeted training, or do you prioritize immediate competency?

These are just a few examples of the complexities involved in healthcare hiring. So, how can we navigate these challenges and make more informed decisions? The answer lies in looking beyond the technical qualifications and delving deeper into the realm of soft skills in healthcare.

Why Hire for Soft Skills in Healthcare?

Soft skills in healthcare are so important to consider in healthcare hiring, because even the most qualified candidate on paper can struggle if they lack the ability to work effectively with patients, with colleagues, and under pressure. Soft skills to look for when hiring can be the difference between a talented individual who thrives in your organization and someone who has difficulty integrating and delivering their best work. Here’s how focusing on these essential qualities can benefit your healthcare team:

• Improved Patient Care: Strong communication and empathy are essential for building trust and rapport with patients. Effective communication helps to ensure that patients understand their diagnosis, treatment options, and prognosis. It also provides patients with a sense of control and involvement in their own care. Empathy is also a critical component of patient-centered care, as it allows healthcare professionals to see the world from the patient’s perspective. Empathy helps build trust between patients and healthcare professionals, which is essential for providing high-quality care.

• Enhanced Teamwork: Effective collaboration and communication across disciplines are at the heart of providing high-quality care to patients. It involves healthcare professionals from different backgrounds, such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and therapists, working together as a cohesive team to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients. Effective collaboration is built on trust, open communication, and a shared commitment to patient care. It requires healthcare professionals to be respectful of each other’s roles and contributions, and to be willing to listen, learn, and adapt to the changing needs of the patient.

• Reduced Stress and Burnout: Problem-solving and emotional intelligence are essential skills for staff to thrive in today’s challenging work environment. When staff possess both of these attributes, they are better equipped to handle the demands of their work, overcome obstacles, improve their performance, and reduce stress.

• Positive Work Environment: Respectful communication and adaptability are crucial for a positive and productive team dynamic. When team members communicate respectfully, they create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and heard. This promotes collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving. Adaptability enables team members to navigate changing circumstances and find innovative solutions. They are open to new ideas, flexible in their approach, and resilient in the face of challenges. A combination of respectful communication and adaptability fosters a team environment where everyone can thrive, contribute, and achieve common goals.

By prioritizing soft skills in healthcare alongside technical qualifications, you’ll be well-equipped to spot potential red flags and make informed hiring decisions that contribute to a strong, well-rounded, and successful healthcare team. Now, let’s delve into the top 10 soft skills to look for when hiring in the healthcare field.

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Top 10 Soft Skills in Healthcare to Help Make Difficult Hiring Decisions

Recognizing the power of soft skills in fostering a successful healthcare team, let’s explore the top 10 soft skills you should prioritize when making those crucial hiring decisions. These interpersonal strengths will empower your team to collaborate effectively, navigate challenges, and ultimately deliver exceptional patient care.

1. Communication: Clear, concise, and professional communication is an essential soft skill in healthcare.

• Example in Healthcare: A nurse explains a complex medical procedure to a patient in a way that is easy to understand and addresses their individual concerns.
• Interview Question: “Tell me about a time you had to explain a difficult concept to someone who was feeling anxious or stressed.”
• Look For: Clear explanations, a communication style tailored to the audience, and active listening skills.

2. Teamwork and Collaboration: Another soft skill for healthcare professionals that can make all the difference in a hiring decision is a willingness to work cooperatively towards a shared goal.

• Example in Healthcare: A physical therapist collaborates with a doctor and occupational therapist to develop a comprehensive treatment plan for a patient.
• Interview Question: “Describe a situation where you had to work effectively with a team to achieve a positive outcome.”
• Look For: Emphasis on teamwork, examples of resolving disagreements constructively, and ability to share credit.

3. Problem-Solving: A candidate who can analyze situations, identify issues, and develop creative solutions without managerial intervention is one you might consider hiring for their soft skills in healthcare as much as their technical skills.

• Example in Healthcare: A respiratory therapist troubleshoots a malfunctioning ventilator to ensure uninterrupted care for a critically ill patient.
• Interview Question: “Tell me about a time you encountered a problem at work. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?”
• Look For: Analytical thinking, initiative, and ability to work under pressure.

4. Adaptability: The ability to thrive amidst change is a crucial soft skill for healthcare professionals. Consider if the candidate can adjust to new workflows, technologies, and priorities.

• Example in Healthcare: A nurse on a busy emergency room team adapts quickly to changing patient needs and priorities while maintaining composure.
• Interview Question: “Describe a situation where you had to adjust to a significant change in your workplace. How did you handle it?”
• Look For: Flexibility, willingness to learn new things, and a positive attitude toward change.

5. Critical Thinking: It’s important to consider if the candidate tends to go beyond surface information, analyze situations objectively, and make sound decisions. This soft skill in healthcare can save lives.

• Example in Healthcare: A pharmacist carefully reviews a patient’s medication list to identify potential drug interactions.
• Interview Question: “Give an example of a time when you had to make a difficult decision based on incomplete information.”
• Look For: Strong analytical skills, ability to weigh different factors, and comfort with making independent judgments.

6. Leadership: This soft skill for healthcare professionals doesn’t require a formal title, especially since every healthcare worker is leading patients. Look for candidates who can motivate and inspire others when hiring for this soft skill.

• Example in Healthcare: A certified nursing assistant takes charge of calming down a frightened patient and explaining a procedure in a reassuring manner.
• Interview Question: “Tell me about a time you took initiative to lead or guide others toward a common goal.”
• Look For: Ability to motivate others, take initiative, and delegate tasks effectively.

7. Time Management: Time management is one of the most important soft skills to look for when hiring in healthcare. It’s essential that the candidate can prioritize tasks effectively and meet deadlines consistently, especially given the growing push from payor sources for more cost-effective care.

• Example in Healthcare: A medical assistant juggles multiple administrative tasks while ensuring timely preparation for a doctor’s appointments.
• Interview Question: “Describe your approach to managing your workload on a busy day. How do you ensure you meet deadlines?”
• Look For: Strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize effectively, and a calm demeanor under pressure.

8. Work Ethic: The ideal healthcare candidate will be dedicated, reliable, and committed to producing high-quality work. With a minimum technical skill requirement met, hiring for this soft skill can provide your organization with a future star.

• Example in Healthcare: A lab technician consistently delivers accurate test results even when facing heavy workloads and long hours.
• Interview Question: “Tell me about a time you went above and beyond to complete a task or help a colleague.”
• Look For: Dedication to quality, initiative, and a willingness to put in extra effort when needed.

9. Emotional Intelligence: Emotional intelligence may be the most important soft skill for healthcare professionals. Can the candidate understand and manage their own emotions, as well as those of others? When a patient escalates, can the healthcare professional keep the patient and everyone nearby safe?

• Example in Healthcare: A social worker shows empathy and compassion while working with a patient demonstrating escalating frustration with their discharge plan.
• Interview Question: “Describe a situation where you had to deal with a difficult or upset person. How did you approach it?”
• Look For: Self-awareness, ability to manage emotions, awareness of situational safety best practice, and strong interpersonal skills.

10. Professionalism: It depends on the role you are hiring for what professionalism looks like. It could be email etiquette with superiors, professional boundaries with patients, or presentation skills toward stakeholders. Overall, though, this soft skill in healthcare involves maintaining a positive attitude, exhibiting maturity, and representing the organization well.

• Example in Healthcare: A physical therapist maintains a professional demeanor while interacting with patients, colleagues, and superiors.
• Interview Question: “Tell me about a time you had to maintain a high level of professionalism in a challenging situation. What were the results?”
• Look For: Maturity, respectfulness, and a commitment to upholding professional standards and boundaries.

When you have to make difficult hiring decisions, these soft skills for healthcare professionals can help you find the right candidate to meet your organization’s needs.

Making Difficult Hiring Decisions by Considering Soft Skills in Healthcare

By incorporating these soft skills in healthcare into your evaluation process, you can build a strong and successful healthcare team. Remember, these soft skills can be identified through targeted behavioral interview questions that ask candidates to describe specific situations where they demonstrated these qualities. By focusing on both technical skills and soft skills for healthcare professionals, you’ll be well on your way to hiring top talent who can thrive in your fast-paced and demanding healthcare environment.