Business and Professional Communication Quarterly Feb 2025 Open Access

Validating the Contemporary Business Soft Skills Instrument

Sami Heikkinen LAB University of Applied Sciences ; Heidi Myyryläinen LAB University of Applied Sciences

Abstract

Recent workplace transformations have heightened the importance of soft skills, yet validated instruments for measuring these competencies remain limited. This study validates a comprehensive instrument measuring contemporary business soft skills using data from 294 participants representing 38 nationalities. Factor analysis revealed a robust 10-factor structure explaining 62.4% of the variance, with reliability coefficients ranging from .775 to .877. Results indicate the integration of traditionally distinct competencies and the emergence of new factorial combinations. The validated instrument provides a reliable tool for assessing soft skills in modern workplace contexts, particularly valuable for virtual and cross-cultural environments. The findings support more precise soft skills communication between employees, employers, educators, and students.

Journal
Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
Published
2025-02-19
DOI
10.1177/23294906251317717
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