A client and senior leader told me recently, “Technical skills are relatively easy to come by, but soft skills are much harder to obtain and master.”
That’s not to say technical skills don’t matter. They do. We as leaders know at the end of the day, the job has to be done.
But we often forget about the importance of those qualities that don’t easily show up on a resume: the “soft skills” that make working with someone either a STRESSOR or a JOY.
Not only that, but as leaders, “soft skills” are extremely important. When we either possess or lack those skills, it impacts our teams and their enjoyment and motivation in their work.
Soft skills show up in various IDENTIFIABLE ways:
- How do they listen? Does their body language show they’re paying attention when someone else is speaking? Do they ask follow-up questions to demonstrate they are engaged and interested?
- How do they communicate? Do the topics they speak about show respect for those who are in the room and those who aren’t? When they talk, does the energy in the room increase (more positive) or decrease (more negative)?
- Do they keep their word and do they hold themselves accountable first?
- How do they respond to stress, crisis, or simply the unexpected? When something unexpected or negative happens, people often show up as they really are, without any filter. What is the unfiltered version of this person?
- Are they effective in dealing with conflict?
- Do they see leadership as an opportunity to serve or dictate?
What are the most important soft skills you would want to see in a leader? If you want to talk about it and learn more, schedule a call with us!