As hiring and retention continue to shift and evolve, traditional job skills feel as outdated as a floppy disk. Employers are no longer solely fishing for candidates with degrees from revered institutions. They're looking to hook folks who possess so-called "soft skills," knowing these are oftentimes harder to learn and apply than the tactical/technical ones. As workplaces test new ways of working, skills such as emotional intelligence, empathetic communication, and adaptive problem-solving have become the need-to-have building blocks of a thriving and adaptable workforce. 

SHRM found that 77 percent of organizations place a premium on hiring for these soft skills, to cater to the multifaceted needs of today's labor force. And Microsoft's CEO has said empathy is the "most formidable skill of them all." As we wade through the sea of change within treasury, finance, and business writ large, the mandate for companies is becoming crystal clear: Fostering an environment that nurtures and cultivates the invaluable soft skills is the key to sustainable hiring and retention.  

Here are four things employers need to give their employees in order for soft skills to grow: