Maxme's Blog

It is said that prevention is better than a cure.

“Human (soft) skills development is imperative for psychological safety because it directly cultivates the interpersonal trust, emotional intelligence, and communication habits necessary for employees to take risks without fear of punishment or humiliation.” McKinsey

The new psychosocial regulations across Australia are clear: you’re not just expected to keep people physically safe; you’re responsible for protecting their psychological health too.

And the stakes are high.

Safe Work Australia’s latest data shows mental health conditions now make up around 9–12% of all serious workers’ compensation claims, with those claims growing by over a third in just a few years. When psychological injuries do occur, the median time off work is almost five times longer, and the compensation bill averaged $288,000 per claim in 2025 - more than four times higher than for physical injuries.

Add to that a recent Allianz report revealing nearly 3 million Australians are considering quitting their job due to burnout and mental distress.

Psychological safety is business-critical. And it starts with Human Skills.

Psychosocial safety: a legal must-have

First, a quick reality check on the legal landscape.

Human on the Inside. We’re big believers in the power of human skills. But don’t just take our word for it - the evidence for excellence powered by human (‘soft’) skills is everywhere! In this engaging, ever-enlightening series, we speak with industry leaders, innovators and game-changers to learn a little about their personal career journeys, and how human-led strategies, philosophies and cultures are proving a force for good in their working worlds …

Maxme: Welcome Natalie, and thanks for stepping into the #SuccessIsHuman Spotlight!

You’re the Founder of Working @ It, a consultancy empowering brands and professionals through storytelling with heart. You work with leading brands, executives and teams to unlock their voice and deliver messages that truly resonate in order to have impact at scale.

In 1 sentence (ok, we’ll give you 3), what does your role entail?

Natalie MacDonald: At its core, my role is about helping people show up as themselves, on purpose. I equip leaders, teams and brands with the tools to build clarity, confidence and visibility — using LinkedIn and editorial strategy to position them as leaders, employers and brand partners of choice. On any given day, that might look like designing a new client program, facilitating a team workshop, or diving into the detail in a one-on-one coaching session to help someone make sense of what they want to say and how best to say it. Read more…

Out with the old, and in with the new. 2025 is upon us and now is the time to assess your situation, take stock, and upskill.

That’s right – upskill.

But not just any skills. As we reflect on 2024, one thing is clear: the skills traditionally labelled as “soft” have proved they are anything but. Businesses stopped viewing soft skills as add-ons and began to see the value of human skills as vital to performance, motivation, success and adaptability in a time of rapid change. A recent LinkedIn survey found that 9 out of 10 global executives agree that soft skills are more important than ever.

At the same time, employees are recognising that soft skills are a must-have for career and personal success.

So what soft skills development should you focus on in the coming year?

The top soft skills for 2025

1. Self-awareness

If you want to get ahead in 2025, start with self-awareness. Knowing your strengths, your weaknesses, why you react a certain way, and what drives you is the most important soft skill of all.

Think about it – it’s only with self-awareness that you can identify which other soft skills you need to work on! Use it to guide your soft skills program for 2025.

2. Communication