At the beginning of the year when we blogged about Workforce Trends for 2015, number one on our list was the widening skills gap as baby boomers retire and millennials take their place. And although millennials have a leg up on technology and will eventually build on-the-job experience, they first need to work on bridging the soft skills gap.

The Extent of the Soft Skills Gap

A recent Educational Testing Service study described American millennials’ soft skills as “abysmal” after they ranked among the world’s least skilled workers in literacy (third from last), basic math (last), and problem solving (last). This study, which looked at workers aged 16 to 65 in 23 different countries, found that American millennials lack skills compared to their international counterparts, and also score lower than other age groups of Americans. So the skills gap is real, and it’s a real problem for Corporate America when its workforce can’t follow simple directions or work as a team.

Can Soft Skills Be Taught?

Unlike hard skills, which are usually learned in school, soft skills, such as communication, work ethic, and conflict management, are often learned through life or work experience. And as more companies are focusing on candidates’ soft skills, those companies and their would-be millennial workers are coming up empty-handed. The good news—certain soft skills can be taught! Here’s how.

Training

Formal training such as a professional presentation or an online class can be an effective way to bolster management skills, teamwork, and stress management. Just keep in mind that teaching soft skills means nurturing each employee’s natural tendencies; it does not mean crafting a great leader out of someone who’s happy in a supporting role.

Goal-Setting

Employees will know exactly what soft skills to focus on if you include those skills in their annual goals. Use your own observations and feedback from others to determine three or four soft skills for an employee to work on. Then don’t wait until the next year ends to provide feedback—offer it in the moment when the stakes are low but the learning opportunity is high.

Mentoring

When new employees see soft skills in action, such as work ethic, communication, and teamwork, they’re more likely to absorb those skills themselves. Pairing millennials with seasoned pros can help the new employees learn the ropes and more quickly pick up the company’s culture and values.

Practicing

Teaching can only go so far; soft skills must be honed through practice. Try putting employees in positions where they’ll need to use their target soft skills. For example, if the skill involves communication or leadership, ask the employee to lead a meeting or head the picnic committee.

In Conclusion

Most young employees benefit from a helping hand when they join the workforce. (Remember when you were fresh out of college, struggling to make it to work on time, and confused about your office’s coffee-making etiquette?) Millennials may need to work harder to bridge the soft skills gap, but with a roadmap and a little boost, they will get there!