Leadership Soft Skills: 5 In-Demand Competencies
Seven out of the top ten most requested skills in job postings are soft skills, according to a recent study by the World Economic Forum. Remarkably, the study found employers seek out these skills almost four times more frequently than the top five technical skills.
The demand for soft skills is particularly pronounced in management, with 91 percent of those positions requiring soft skills. Additionally, the study indicated 86 percent of business operations roles and 81 percent of engineering roles required soft skills. These figures underscore the critical importance of soft skills in today’s job market.
Individuals who are seeking to hone their leadership soft skills and take advantage of today’s changing job market can explore professional certificate programs designed to cultivate various competencies that apply to leadership.
The Importance of Strong Leadership Skills
Leadership skills encompass a range of abilities that enable individuals to effectively guide, influence, and inspire others toward achieving shared goals. These competencies direct how professionals interact with each other and can include everything from problem solving to collaboration. Professionals can apply these transferable skills to various situations, industries, and diverse roles.
While hard skills involve specific technical or specialized expertise, soft skills refer to interpersonal qualities that enhance the ability to engage with and work harmoniously with others. For instance, sales managers may possess hard skills in sales techniques and product knowledge, while their soft skills such as active listening and relationship-building can prove essential to developing strong client connections and driving sales growth.
When it comes to leadership, soft skills play a vital role, enabling professionals to build strong relationships, motivate teams, and tackle challenges.
Core Leadership Soft Skills and Characteristics
Professionals who are working to excel in their careers need the proper set of soft skills. These skills not only enable individuals to assume leadership roles, but also enhance their overall effectiveness and influence within organizations. By mastering the following core soft skills, professionals can position themselves as strong leaders capable of making a meaningful impact in their fields.
Analytical Thinking
The World Economic Forum’s 2023 report on the future of jobs found analytical thinking stands out as the most sought-after skill by a majority of organizations. Analytical thinking skills encompass the ability to analyze, evaluate, and interpret information objectively and logically. These skills enable leaders to make informed decisions, solve complex problems, and navigate uncertainties with confidence.
Refined critical thinking abilities allow professionals to systematically tackle business challenges—such as market disruptions or conflicts within teams. They also enable professionals to identify effective solutions that drive efficiency. Additionally, critical thinking skills empower professionals to explore creative alternatives such as new product development strategies, novel marketing approaches, or disruptive business models.
Professionals can cultivate critical thinking by actively listening to others’ viewpoints and engaging in constructive debates. Reading books, articles, and research papers on various subjects can expand professionals’ knowledge and broaden their understanding. These activities can also provide opportunities for individuals to question their assumptions, objectively examine evidence, and evaluate different arguments—all of which can enhance critical thinking.
For example, a marketing manager tasked with improving customer engagement may reconsider conventional strategies and instead critically analyze customer data, identify emerging trends, and uncover underlying needs. This can make it possible for the marketing manager to craft personalized campaigns that successfully drive growth. It also demonstrates how critical thinking can lead to creative solutions.
Effective Communication
Monster’s 2022 Future of Work Report ranks communication skills as one of the top three essential leadership soft skills. A cornerstone of clear understanding and collaboration, effective communication fosters strong work relationships. Communication skills encompass the ability to proficiently convey ideas, information, and emotions both verbally and non-verbally. Effective communicators actively listen, demonstrate empathy, and adapt their communication styles to suit diverse audiences.
Mastering communication skills empowers leaders to articulate their vision and motivate teams. It also facilitates problem solving and conflict resolution. Professionals can enhance their communication skills by practicing active listening and seeking feedback on their communication styles. They can also pay attention to their body language, gestures, and facial expressions—ensuring they convey openness and engagement.
Consider a scenario in which a team is collaborating on a high-stakes project with demanding timelines. A leader adept in communication skills will clearly articulate project objectives and establish open channels of communication that help ensure seamless coordination and success. This will cultivate an environment where team members freely exchange ideas, offer valuable feedback, and harmoniously work together.
Delegation
Delegation plays a pivotal role in driving productivity in an organization. Leaders skilled at delegation excel at assigning tasks and responsibilities to team members based on their abilities and strengths. This allows leaders to focus on strategic decision making. Delegation enhances teamwork, fosters individual growth, and improves overall efficiency.
Sharpening delegation skills requires a focus on assessing a team’s strengths and assigning tasks accordingly. Professionals should pay attention to how they communicate expectations. They also need to trust their team members’ capabilities and provide the necessary support throughout the process. Additionally, professionals should evaluate outcomes, learn from experiences, and refine their approach to successfully delegate.
For example, project managers who effectively delegate tasks will ensure each team member is responsible for a specific deliverable. By distributing the workload and empowering the team, the project manager can help deliver completed work on time with excellent results.
Adaptability and Navigating Change
Adaptability is a leadership soft skill especially relevant in today’s rapidly changing professional landscape. It refers to the ability to adjust and thrive in changing circumstances. Adaptable leaders can effectively respond to challenges, seize opportunities, and inspire their teams.
To develop adaptability, professionals should continuously cultivate their willingness to learn and grow. Staying up to date with industry trends and attending workshops, webinars, or pursuing relevant certifications can help achieve this. Additionally, by stepping out of one’s comfort zone, taking on new challenges, and exploring diverse perspectives, professionals can also nurture their ability to adapt.
Consider organizational leaders who are facing unexpected shifts in consumer preferences. Instead of clinging to outdated strategies, adaptable leaders will encourage their teams to conduct market research, analyze emerging trends, and identify new customer needs. By swiftly repositioning their product offerings and redesigning marketing campaigns, organizations with skilled leaders can successfully regain their competitive edge in such situations.
Collaborative Skills
Monster’s 2022 Future of Work report names collaborative skills as another one of the top three leadership soft skills most valued by employers. Effective collaboration helps create a synergy that makes it easier for teams to achieve their goals. Collaborative skills encompass effective communication, active listening, conflict resolution, and the ability to build and maintain positive relationships. Such competencies promote a culture of cooperation, trust, and inclusivity.
Professionals with strong collaborative skills can better tap into collective knowledge and diverse perspectives, resulting in more informed decision making. Collaboration also fosters motivation and a sense of ownership among employees.
To build up collaborative skills, professionals can seek out opportunities for teamwork and cultivate open and respectful communication. This involves clearly expressing thoughts and ideas, and avoiding ambiguity or hidden agendas. It also involves giving feedback in a constructive manner and openly expressing appreciation for the contribution of others.
Members of a software development team, for example, can leverage their collaboration skills to launch a new product that exceeds expectations. They may engage in regular meetings to discuss progress, share insights, and address challenges. Additionally, they may use collaborative project management tools to assign tasks, track milestones, and foster transparency. Overall, their collaborative skills can help them streamline the development process and exchange ideas for innovative features.
Master the Skills to Lead in Your Field
Soft skills contribute to a professional’s ability to lead high-performing teams, keep employees engaged, and drive organizational success. Cultivating leadership soft skills empowers professionals to advance in their fields.
Today’s organizations covet adaptable leaders who are capable of harnessing critical analysis and collaboration to develop creative solutions to business problems. Explore how the professional certificate programs offered by Suffolk University’s Center for Continuing & Professional Education can help aspiring leaders hone the knowledge and skills to thrive in various sectors.
Sources:
America Succeeds, “The High Demand for Durable Skills”
BBC, “How Adaptability Helps You ‘Bounce Forward’ at Work”
BetterUp, “How to Delegate: 9 Tips for Delegating Tasks at Work”
Blinklist, “85% of Career Success Comes from Soft Skills — Need A Crash Course?”
Forbes, “The Significance of Soft Skills Development”
Indeed, “10 Reasons Why Soft Skills Are Important for Your Career”
Indeed Career Guide, “What Are Analytical Skills? Definition, Examples and Tips”
Monster, “The Future of Work: Monster 2022 Global Report”
Robert Half Talent Solutions, “5 Ways to Develop Your Workplace Collaboration Skills”
SHRM, “The Hard Facts About Soft Skills”
Vantage Circle, “The 10 Secrets to Strong Communication Skills in the Workplace”
World Economic Forum, “Future of Jobs Report 2023”