The role of soft skills in workplace innovation: Leadership and problem-solving as key drivers

• Effective leadership fosters innovation in the workplace. • Cultivating a conducive context improves problem-solving skills. • Engagement and motivation drive innovation. • Teams with problem-solving skills are more likely to foster innovation at work. This study examines how six different competencies or soft skills (leadership, critical thinking, teamwork, communication, resilience, and problem-solving) contribute to innovation in the workplace. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze a sample of 125 professionals. The analysis reveals that leadership has the most significant influence on innovation, followed by problem-solving, with the other competencies showing less meaningful effects. The results suggest that organizations that foster strong leadership and practical problem-solving skills are better equipped to innovate and adapt to the challenges of today’s marketplace. This study sheds light on the internal dynamics of organizational competencies and explains how these competencies can be targeted more effectively to foster an innovative and proactive workplace.