The Soft Skills Revolution: Breaking Free from the Hard Skills Trap in Reentry

Steve Weiss
Transformational Leadership Academy

Reentry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals have traditionally focused on teaching hard job skills or advocating for criminal justice reform. While these areas are essential, a critical element is often overlooked: leadership and soft skills development. This omission is a significant mistake, as soft skills are crucial for reintegration, personal growth, and long-term employment success. This article will explore why leadership and soft skills are vital, how they enhance employability, and why their inclusion is essential for treating returning citizens with dignity and respect.

The Narrow Focus of Reentry Programs

Many reentry programs emphasize hard job skills—technical training or vocational education—or advocacy work for criminal justice reform. While these areas are undoubtedly important, they overlook the importance of leadership and soft skills. According to a study by the RAND Corporation, reentry programs that focus solely on hard skills fail to address returning citizens' holistic needs, including emotional intelligence, communication, and problem-solving abilities (PlanStreet). These skills are often categorized as "soft skills," but they are anything but "soft" regarding their impact on successful reintegration.

The Critical Role of Soft Skills in Reintegration

Soft skills are vital for the healthy reintegration of returning citizens into their families, communities, and workplaces. Employers today are looking for technical skills and the ability to work well in a team, adapt to new situations, and take on leadership roles. A 2023 report by the National Reentry Resource Center highlights that employers consistently rate soft skills as more important than technical skills when evaluating job candidates, particularly for positions that involve customer interaction, teamwork, or potential for advancement (Prison Scholar Fund).

Moreover, research from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) indicates that employers value qualities such as emotional intelligence, leadership potential, and the ability to communicate effectively. These skills are essential for individuals with a criminal background, who often face stigma and skepticism during the hiring process. Soft skills can give them an edge over other candidates and increase their chances of securing and retaining employment.

Leadership Skills as a Foundation for Advocacy

Effective advocacy requires strong leadership skills. Advocating for criminal justice reform or community change is not just about understanding the issues; it's about inspiring others, managing projects, and negotiating with stakeholders. Leadership skills empower returning citizens to take on these challenges, making their advocacy efforts more effective and impactful. According to JustLeadershipUSA, a leading organization in criminal justice reform, their most successful advocates have undergone leadership training, which has equipped them with the confidence and skills needed to drive change (Goodwill Industries International).

The Moral Imperative of Including Leadership Training

Only focusing on hard skills, often related to low-wage, technical jobs fails to treat returning citizens with the respect and dignity they deserve. This narrow focus implies that their potential is limited to basic, entry-level work and overlooks their capacity for growth, leadership, and significant contributions to society. As Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, argues, we must “change the narrative” around formerly incarcerated individuals, recognizing their humanity and potential (Department of Labor). By limiting their training to hard skills, we risk reinforcing societal biases that keep them marginalized and more susceptible to recidivism.

The Practical Consequences of Ignoring Leadership and Soft Skills

The exclusion of leadership and soft skills from reentry programs is not just a moral failure—it has practical consequences. Studies have shown that individuals who lack these skills are more likely to struggle with long-term employment and are at a higher risk of returning to prison. According to a 2022 report by the Urban Institute, reentry programs incorporating leadership and soft skills training have significantly lower recidivism rates than those not (GrantWatch). This evidence underscores the importance of a comprehensive reentry approach that includes hard and soft skills, enabling returning citizens to build sustainable lives and careers.

Conclusion

Reentry programs must evolve to include leadership and soft skills training as core components. These skills are essential for successful reintegration, providing returning citizens the tools they need to thrive in their communities and workplaces. By equipping them with leadership abilities, we empower them to break free from the cycle of incarceration and contribute meaningfully to society. It is both a moral and practical necessity to treat returning citizens with the dignity they deserve, recognizing their potential for growth and leadership. The time to expand the focus of reentry programs is now, and the benefits of doing so will reverberate through families, communities, and the broader society.