Dear @Asmuni, the attached document bring nice history of soft skills. It starts in 1972

with Fry & Whitmore...

I am attaching some more relevant resources.

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900 years ago, organized religions provided the primary source of people’s values and soft skills training. People learned how to behave in society, how to cope with difficulty, and how to be successful, from their religious leaders and texts...

By the 1950s, great business writers like Peter Drucker were educating people on how to better manage & motivate employees. Organizations like Toyota were developing training programs that helped their employees to work more efficiently, identify and address issues, and continuously improve.

In the 1980s, training videos became popular for catering for specific employee’s needs for sales, customer service and communication skills...

More than 1000 publications about soft skills are available in RG database. Link is attached.

http://www.makinggreatness.com/soft-skills-training-attendance-through-history/

https://www.researchgate.net/search.Search.html?query=soft%20skills&type=publication

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-ultimate-soft-skills-truly-successful-people-bernard-marr?trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A577811291472079670670%2CVSRPtargetId%3A5957969904844967936%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary&trk=vsrp_influencer_content_res_name

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20130602160121-15454-are-soft-skills-more-important-than-hard-skills?trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A577811291472079670670%2CVSRPtargetId%3A19360%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary&trk=vsrp_influencer_content_res_name

Dear Asmuni Asmuni,

Soft skills is a synonym for "people skills." The term describes those personal attributes that indicate a high level of emotional intelligence.

http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/soft-skills

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_skills

Regards, Shafagat

The term soft skills originated in the information technology sector and emphasizes the fact that soft skills are difficult to measure compared to technical skills, which have a straightforward or measurable impact on outcome.

Due to the interdisciplinary character of the concept—it is used in the economic, social, and psychological sciences—a simple one-dimensional definition does not exist. There is broad consensus, however, concerning the division into intrapersonal skills and interpersonal skills. The former refer to self-regulating characteristics, such as time- and self-management, improvements in learning and performance, awareness of rights, and responsibility. The latter encompass those abilities and attitudes used in interactions with other people. Interpersonal skills can be further differentiated according to the individual’s position in the interactive situation.

The concept also comprises personal attitudes, such as self-confidence, integrity, and respect; technical abilities, such as knowledge in information and communication technology; and language proficiency, even though the latter can be measured and could equally be considered a hard skill.

http://what-when-how.com/social-sciences/soft-skills-social-science/

Please refer to the links for more info.

http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/soft-skills

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCDV_34.htm

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-soft-skills-workplace-10111.html

Soft skills first used European joint aviation authorities, for more plz read at the following link.

https://books.google.iq/books?id=2ZLshOXIxVAC&pg=PA182&lpg=PA182&dq=Who+%22first+used%22+the+term++Soft+Skills?&source=bl&ots=wi-Q89QcHY&sig=9c345acylf6VvfZxYjT2LOIfRDo&hl=ar&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjTvZrs6tvOAhXsJZoKHeLLA8oQ6AEIJDAB#v=onepage&q=Who%20%22first%20used%22%20the%20term%20%20Soft%20Skills%3F&f=false

Soft skills is a synonym for "people skills." The term describes those personal attributes that indicate a high level of emotional intelligence.

Unlike hard skills, which describe a person's technical skill set and ability to perform specific tasks, soft skills are broadly applicable across job titles and industries. It's often said that hard skills will get you an interview but you need soft skills to get -- and keep -- the job.

http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/soft-skills

Teaching the soft skills, traditionally associated with conflict resolution and character education, has evolved from being considered "wishy-washy" to being an integral part of educating the whole child.

In the late 1960s, during his early days at Yale School of Medicine's Child Study Center, James Comer began piloting a program called the Comer School Development Program. It was, as he wrote later in a 1988 Scientific American article, centered on his speculation that "the contrast between a child's experiences at home and those in school deeply affects the child's psychosocial development and that this in turn shapes academic achievement."

http://www.edutopia.org/social-emotional-learning-history

Soft skills: desirable qualities for certain forms of employment that do not depend on acquired knowledge: they include common sense, the ability to deal with people, and a positive flexible attitude

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/soft-skills

Soft skills is a term often associated with a person's "EQ" (emotional intelligence quotient), which is the cluster of personality traits that characterize one's relationships with other people. These skills can include social graces, communication abilities, language skills, personal habits, cognitive or emotional empathy, and leadership traits. Soft skills contrast with hard skills, which are generally easily quantifiable and measurable (such as software knowledge or basic plumbing skills).

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_skills

Some managerial and soft skills are as under:

By Katz (1955), Kinicki and Williams (2013):

--Technical

--Conceptual

--Human [interpersonal]

By Schor, Seltzer, and Smither, (1995):

--Verbal communication and listening

 --Managing time and stress

--Managing individual decisions

--Recognizing, defining, and solving problems

--Motivating and influencing others

--Delegating

--Setting goals and articulating a vision

--Self-awareness

--Team building

--Managing conflict

By Dubrin (2012):

--Technical skill

--Conceptual skill

--Interpersonal skill

--Diagnostic skill

--Political skill

For more details see attached file.

Dear Ljubomir Jacić,

Thank you very much, all the articles about soft skills I have downloaded, and all of your suggestions are very valuable to me.

Regards, Asmuni

Dear Napoleon Ono Imaah,

Thank you very much, you gave to motivate very very precious to me.

Regards, Asmuni

Dear Subhash C. Kundu,

Thank you very much, the articles about soft skills I have downloaded, and your suggestions are very valuable to me.

Regards, Asmuni

Dear Prof  Asmuni ,

Very little to add , I guess reason being I do not believe in pretentious show-off while strongly believe in hard-core skills as Artur said to SELL no matter what .

Does younger generation need it ??? may be as long as they are aware of the liabilities.

For me , measure of skills/intellect/compassion is always in LISTENING, one who knows that are in tune with themselves...

Dear Aparna Murthy, Thank you very much, your suggestions are very valuable to me

Dear Brenda Jacono, Thank you very much, your suggestions are very valuable to me

@ Prof Ljubomir and Prof Kundu, thanks for the information 

Dear Arthur Braun,

Thank you very much, your suggestions are very useful to me.

Regards, Asmuni

Changing patterns in IT skill sets 1988-2003: A content analysis of classified advertising

Found ongoing evidence of a recruitment gap(Todd, McKeen & Gallupe 1995) where, despite many firms’ emphasis on well-rounded individuals with business knowledge and strong “soft skills,” the job advertising aspect of the recruiting process continues to focus on “hard skills.”

Article Changing Patterns in IT Skill Sets1988–2003: A Content Analy...

Dear Krishnan Umachandran,

Thank you very much, I have been downloading your paper.

Estimado Asmuni Asmuni

Gracias por invitarme a participar

Primero comento que las Habilidades o Competencias Blandas son aquellas que tienen que ver con la relación intra-personal en un mismo individuo (reflexión y retroflexión) y la relación entre personas en sociedad o entre grupos sociales específicos, como son en el trabajo, en el deporte, actividades artísticas; o en las escuelas y universidades. En contrapartida, las habilidades o competencias duras, son aquellas que forman parte de la competencia a desarrollar en los educandos o estudiantes durante la formación o capacitación en una profesión. 

La siguiente es una definición con más detalle de las Habilidades Blandas:

¿Cuáles son las habilidades blandas?

• [Las habilidades sociales son rasgos de carácter y habilidades interpersonales que caracterizan de una persona relaciones con otras personas . En el lugar de trabajo, las habilidades blandas son considerados un complemento de las habilidades duras, que se refieren a los conocimientos de una persona y capacidades profesionales. Los sociólogos pueden utilizar las habilidades blandas término para describir "EQ" de una persona o "cociente de inteligencia emocional ," en lugar de "IQ" o "cociente de inteligencia".]

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/soft-skills.asp

En forma más detallada, la siguiente es la definición de Habilidades Blandas específicas como las Sociales.

¿Las habilidades sociales?

• "La comunicación, la gestión de conflictos , relaciones humanas. Capacidad de realizar presentaciones con o entre personas; la negociación de términos, trabajos o conflictos; la formación de equipos". http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/soft-skill.html#ixzz4ITtddZ2w
• Asimismo, la capacidad o habilidad social se define en términos de resultados esperados y no como un método o técnica específica, como sería el caso de una competencia dura en el campo de la formación de investigadores (como el análisis estadístico de resultados). Contribución de quien esto escribe.

De acuerdo a la investigación documental que realicé, el primero que utilizó el termino de "Habilidades Blandas" fue Edward Thorndike in 1920, en términos de "Inteligencia Social".

• "Inteligencia Social. Capacidad de comprender y gestionar a los hombres, a las mujeres y las niñas, para actuar con sapiencia en las relaciones humanas."
• Equivalente a la Inteligencia Interpersonal, que es uno de los tipos de inteligencia propuestos por Howard Gardner en su Teoría de las Inteligencias múltiples.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_intelligence

La "Teoría de las Inteligencias Múltiples", recientemente ha sido actualizado y reformulada por el mismo Howard Gardner, considerando ahora a la "Inteligencia Emocional" y a la "Inteligencia Moral".

En el campo de la Educación y Formación de Profesionales, las Competencias o Habilidades, son las que forman parte del Currículo Explícito y Plan de Estudios como asignaturas obligatorias. Las Competencias Blandas, como son las de relación interpersonal, la comunicación humana, la motivación, el desarrollo de habilidades de lectura, lectura crítica, análisis de documentos científicos y métodos para aprender a aprender y aprender a hacer; amén de aprendizajes significativos, se han denominado asignaturas optativas o transversales, las cuales pueden tener relación o no, con las asignaturas obligatorias del currículo.

En la formación de médicos, desde 2010 hasta 2015 de actualizó el Currículo y Plan de Estudios de la Licenciatura en Medicina General, con base en Competencias Profesionales. Las Competencias Duras (asignaturas y desarrollo de competencias de manera obligatoria) son la parte medular y eje del currículo y las Competencias Transversales son las que nos ocupan y estamos comentando como "Competencias Blandas".

En archivo adjunto, aporto un trabajo de un servidor que detalla y ejemplifica las Competencias blandas y que yo he denominado "Las competencias que faltan"

Dear Asmuni Asmuni

Thank you for inviting me to participate

First I commented that the soft skills are those that have to do with intra-personal relationship in the same individual (reflection and retroflexion) and the relationship between people in society or among specific social groups, such as at work, in the sport, artistic activities; or in schools and universities. In contrast, hard skills are those that are part of the competition to develop in students or students during training or training in a profession.

The following is a more detailed definition of soft skills:

What are soft skills?

• [Social skills are character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize a person's relationships with others. In the workplace, soft skills are considered a complement hard skills, which refer to a person's knowledge and skills. Sociologists can use the term to describe soft skills "EQ" of a person or "emotional intelligence quotient," instead of "IQ" or "intelligence quotient".]

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/soft-skills.asp

In more detail, the following is the definition of specific soft skills such as Social.

Are social skills?

• "Communication, conflict management, human relations Ability to make presentations with or between people;. The negotiation of terms, work or conflicts; team building". http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/soft-skill.html#ixzz4ITtddZ2w

Furthermore, capacity or social skill is defined in terms of expected results and not as a specific method or technique, as in the case of stiff competition in the field of research training (such as statistical analysis of results). Contribution of this writer.

According to my research documentary, the first to use the term of "Soft Skills" was Edward Thorndike in 1920 in terms of "Social Intelligence".

• "Social Intelligence. Ability to understand and manage men, women and girls to act with wisdom in human relations."
• Equivalent to Interpersonal Intelligence, which is one of the types of intelligence proposed by Howard Gardner in his theory of multiple intelligences (Early 90s of last century). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_intelligence

The "Theory of multiple intelligences", has recently (at the beginning of the XXI Century) been updated and reformulated by the same Howard Gardner, now considering the "Emotional Intelligence" and the "Moral Intelligence".

In the field of Education and Professional Training, Skills or Competencies are those that are part of Curriculum and Curriculum Explicit as compulsory subjects. The Soft Skills, such as interpersonal relationship, human communication, motivation, development of reading skills, critical reading, analysis of scientific papers and methods for learning to learn and learning to do; Amen meaningful learning, they have called electives or cross subjects, which may be related or not, with the compulsory subjects of the curriculum.

In the training of doctors, from 2010 to 2015 (Faculty of Medicine, UNAM) and updated Curriculum Curriculum Degree in General Medicine, based on Professional Skills. Competence Duras (subjects and skills development compulsorily) are the core of axis and curriculum and Transversal Skills are those that concern us and we are commenting as "Soft Skills".

In attachment, I bring work detailing a server and exemplifies the soft skills and I have called "The missing skills"

Article Las competencias que faltan

Dear José Luis García Vigil ,

Thank you very much, your suggestions are very precious to me.

Best Regards, Asmuni

Dear Abhishek Raj,

Thank you very much, suggestions you're very precious to me.

Best Regards, Asmuni

Soft skills -though called soft are hard to learn. They are wired with heart and mind both, and that is why people with high EQ are likely to demonstrated them more often and better way.

Originally soft skills were called as Behavioural Skills later on started to be known as People Skills and of late in Information Technology times the terminology called "Soft Skills" has been emerged.

As one grows in organizational hierarchy he becomes from individual contributor to manager and from manager to manager of people and than manager of managers. Higher he grows more and more soft skills or people skills becomes critical for his success.

An excellent article that brings answer to this question!

It turns out ‘soft skills’ can be traced back to the US Military between 1968 and 1972. The military had excelled at training troops on how to use machines to do their job. But they were noticing that a lot of what made a group of soldiers victorious was how the group was led. This bothered the military as they weren’t training for that. So they went about creating a method to capture how this knowledge was being acquired.

Paul G Whitmore is the name that comes up the most in these documents. His team came up with the contrast between working with something that is physically hard like a machine and anything else which is soft to the touch. From this research three criteria were created to judge if a skill is ‘soft’ or ‘hard’:

• Degree of interaction with a machine
• Degree of specificity of behaviour to be performed
• Typical kind of on the job situation...

https://code.joejag.com/2018/the-origin-of-soft-skills.html

I had been handling behavioural training in industries, since 1992. I came across this term of soft skills, when there was a great demand for employability training in India, demanded from the engineering colleges to ramp up their campus placements and lure more admission of students....in early 2000

Soft skill basically related to human resource.