Leadership Soft Skills: What Are They and How to Improve Them

 

What are Soft Skills?

Commonly known as “people” skills, soft skills are the interpersonal skills that impact relationships. These skills tend to fall under what’s known as emotional intelligence.

The difference between soft skills and technical skills lies in the nature of the abilities and the contexts in which they are applied:

Soft Skills:

• Definition: These are interpersonal and behavioral skills that influence how individuals interact, work, and communicate with others.
• Examples: Communication, teamwork, leadership, adaptability (a key soft skill for leaders), problem-solving, time management, emotional intelligence.
• Nature: Soft skills are more about personality traits and how people approach their work and relationships.
• Application: They are relevant across all industries and roles, crucial for collaboration and personal interactions.

Technical Skills:

• Definition: These are specific, teachable abilities or knowledge needed to perform particular tasks or use certain tools and technologies.
• Examples: Coding, data analysis, accounting, using specific software, engineering, machine operation.
• Nature: Technical skills are more role-specific, often requiring formal education or training.
• Application: They are job-specific and essential for completing particular tasks or working with tools in certain professions.

In short, soft skills relate to how you work and interact with others, while technical skills pertain to what you can do in terms of specialized, task-oriented abilities.

Oftentimes, soft skills are somewhat subjective and can be challenging to measure. Conversely, hard skills are more objective and easier to measure.

When it comes to the workforce, effective leaders need a balance of both hard and soft skills.

 

Why are Leadership Soft Skills Important?

It’s an unfortunate truth that oftentimes employees quit not because they don’t like their jobs, but because they don’t like their managers. In fact, a Gallup study found that 50% of employees have left a job to "get away from their manager at some point in their career."

And quitting is bad for business - it’s estimated that employee turnover results in $1 trillion lost annually.

Furthermore, ineffective management can negatively impact morale and engagement, as well. Research shows an engaged workforce can increase profitability by 21%. However, according to Gallup, 51% of US employees are disengaged in their work, while 13% are actively disengaged.

While it can be hard to pinpoint specifically how ineffective management can impact your company and your employees, striving for better leadership can be a significant driver of employee engagement. And one way to improve leadership is to improve soft skills.

Additionally, as automation and AI continues to appear in more industries and affect more jobs, soft skills will prove to be all the more valuable. In fact, LinkedIn's CEO Jeff Weiner said soft skills are more important than knowing how to code in today's job environment.

Leadership soft skills are important because they enable leaders to effectively manage teams, inspire people, and create positive work environments. These skills directly impact the success of a leader and the overall performance of their organization. Here’s why they matter:

 

1. Building Trust and Relationships:

Strong leadership soft skills, such as communication, empathy, and emotional intelligence, help leaders build trust and meaningful relationships with their team members. Trust fosters loyalty and commitment, which boosts team morale and cooperation.

 

2. Effective Communication:

Leaders need to clearly articulate goals, provide feedback, and listen to their team. Good communication helps avoid misunderstandings and ensures everyone is aligned with the organization's vision and objectives.

 

3. Conflict Resolution:

Leaders often face conflicts within teams or departments. Having soft skills like conflict resolution and emotional intelligence enables them to mediate disputes, find common ground, and maintain harmony in the workplace.

 

4. Motivating and Inspiring Others:

Soft skills like empathy, positivity, and the ability to recognize and appreciate others' contributions help leaders inspire and motivate their teams. This can lead to higher productivity, engagement, and job satisfaction.

 

5. Adaptability and Problem-Solving:

Leaders with strong adaptability, a key soft skill, and problem-solving skills can navigate change, address challenges, and guide their teams through difficult times. These soft skills are critical in fast-paced or unpredictable environments.

 

6. Influence and Persuasion:

Leadership requires the ability to influence others, not just through authority but by persuading them with ideas and vision. Strong soft skills help leaders foster buy-in and get team members excited about shared goals.

 

7. Fostering a Positive Culture:

Leaders with strong interpersonal skills help create a positive work culture where employees feel valued, supported, and motivated to do their best. This leads to better collaboration, innovation, and overall job satisfaction.

In essence, leadership soft skills are essential for managing people, fostering collaboration, and creating an environment where both individuals and organizations can thrive. They complement technical expertise, making leaders more effective and well-rounded.

 

Examples of Leadership Soft Skills

There are a wide range of soft skills that help make managers and leaders effective. Some key soft skills include:

• Creativity
• Compassion
• Critical thinking skills
• Leadership skills
• Negotiation
• Conflict Resolution
• Storytelling
• Mentoring/teaching
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Analytics
• Decision-making
• Delegation
• Confidence
• Humility
• and many more

 

3 Important Leadership Soft Skills

To become an effective leader, it is essential to continuously develop soft skills through various strategies and practices. If you’d like to develop your or your team’s soft skills, here are some of the most important soft skills any leader will need to be successful.

 

Communication Skills

One of the most crucial soft skills for effective leadership is communication. This skill includes not only being able to communicate your own ideas clearly, but also being able to understand others.

Oftentimes, being able to communicate well requires the speaker to understand and convey information in the way the listener best understands. For example, this may mean speaking more literally if your listener struggles with metaphors or abstract thinking.

Effective communication also includes interpreting non-verbal aspects of communication as well as written communication.

What to do: To help develop communication skills, try practicing active listening. Active listening is listening with the intent to understand rather than to simply hear or reply. While it may sound simple, active listening requires consistent effort.

Use active listening techniques like paraphrasing back what you’ve just heard or asking questions to understand more deeply.

 

Empathy

Empathy can be the antidote to stress. And coming from a leader, it can make the effects all the more impactful. When your team is struggling or underperforming, rather than getting angry, leaders should seek to understand why it’s happening.

While it may be easy to assume someone is lazy or unmotivated, chances are there’s a deeper reason why they’re not meeting their work requirements.

Using active listening fueled by empathy will help you not only understand the root cause of problems, but it’ll also help you build trust with your team.

In fact, research has found that when people believed their leaders were empathetic, they were more likely to report they were able to be innovative—61% of employees compared to only 13% of employees with less empathetic leaders. Empathetic leaders were also linked to higher engagement, retention, and inclusivity.

What to do: To be genuinely empathetic, you’ll need to know to some degree what’s going on in your employees’ lives at work and outside of work. So, make an effort to get to know your team. Ask about their weekend plans, favorite vacation spots, hobbies, or favorite restaurants. Then, remember to follow up.

Also, practice imagining yourself in their shoes – both emotionally and cognitively. Ask yourself what you would be thinking and feeling if you were in their position. This will help you be a more patient and understanding leader.

 

Motivation

When it comes to motivation, everyone is a bit different. Some may like a more aggressive, hands-on approach, while others may prefer a gentle push. Either way, knowing how to motivate your team will be critical for effective leadership.

This is because an unmotivated team is a disengaged team, and a disengaged team costs the company time, money, and morale.

What to do: One simple way to motivate your team is to practice employee recognition. A study by Quantum Workplace found that employees are 2.7 times more likely to be highly engaged when they believe they’ll be recognized for their work. The reason for this is deeply rooted in neuroscience.

One study found that, due to the dopamine release that comes from receiving a compliment, genuine recognition is just as thrilling to the brain as receiving cash.

Furthermore, that dopamine hit cements the knowledge that more of that behavior will create more praise, resulting in another dopamine surge, and so on. This is why positive reinforcement (recognition) works so well to motivate.

Recognition can be as small as an acknowledgement of consistent hard work or it could be as big as a public award ceremony. Figure out what works for your company and team and start there.

 

Developing Leadership Skills

Developing leadership skills is a continuous process that requires dedication, self-awareness, and a willingness to learn. Effective leaders recognize the importance of soft skills in achieving success and strive to improve their skills through various strategies.

Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting, focusing on enhancing your soft skills can make a significant difference in your leadership effectiveness.

 

Strategies for Improvement

1. Self-Assessment: Begin by identifying your strengths and weaknesses. This self-awareness is crucial for understanding which soft skills need improvement. Seek feedback from colleagues, mentors, or managers to gain a more objective perspective. Tools like 360-degree feedback can provide comprehensive insights into your leadership style and areas for growth.
2. Mentorship: Finding a mentor who excels in the soft skills you want to develop can be incredibly beneficial. A mentor can provide guidance, support, and valuable insights to help you improve. They can share their experiences, offer advice, and help you navigate challenges in your leadership journey.
3. Training and Development: Participate in soft skills training programs, workshops, or conferences. These programs can help you develop essential soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Look for opportunities within your organization or through professional associations to enhance your skills.
4. Practice and Reflection: Practice your soft skills in real-world situations and reflect on your experiences. Identify what works and what doesn’t, and adjust your approach accordingly. Keeping a journal of your experiences can help you track your progress and learn from both successes and setbacks.
5. Continuous Learning: Stay up-to-date with industry trends, best practices, and new technologies to enhance your technical skills and stay competitive. Combining strong technical skills with well-developed soft skills can make you a more effective and well-rounded leader.

 

Continuous Learning and Feedback

Continuous learning and feedback are essential for developing leadership skills. Effective leaders recognize the importance of ongoing learning and seek feedback from others to improve their skills.

1. Seek Feedback: Encourage feedback from colleagues, managers, and mentors to identify areas for improvement. Constructive feedback can provide valuable insights into your leadership style and help you make necessary adjustments.
2. Reflect on Experiences: Reflect on your experiences, successes, and failures to identify what you can learn from them. This reflection can help you understand your strengths and areas where you need to grow.
3. Stay Curious: Maintain a curious mindset and seek out new knowledge, skills, and experiences to stay ahead of the curve. Curiosity drives innovation and helps you stay adaptable in a constantly changing environment.
4. Develop a Growth Mindset: Embrace challenges and view failures as opportunities for growth and development. A growth mindset encourages resilience and a willingness to learn from every experience.
5. Celebrate Successes: Celebrate your successes and recognize the achievements of others to reinforce positive behaviors and motivate yourself and your team. Acknowledging accomplishments fosters a positive work environment and encourages continued effort and improvement.

 

Implementing Leadership Soft Skills

Implementing leadership soft skills in the workplace requires a strategic approach. Effective leaders recognize the importance of soft skills in achieving success and strive to apply them in practical ways.

By integrating these skills into your daily interactions and decision-making processes, you can create a more cohesive and productive work environment.

 

Practical Applications in the Workplace

1. Communication: Practice active listening, clarify expectations, and provide regular feedback to ensure effective communication with your team. Active listening involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and then remembering what is being said. This helps in building trust and ensuring that everyone is on the same page.
2. Teamwork: Foster a collaborative environment by encouraging open communication, recognizing individual contributions, and empowering team members to take ownership of their work. Collaboration leads to better problem-solving and innovation, as diverse perspectives are brought together to achieve common goals.
3. Problem-Solving: Encourage a solutions-focused approach by empowering team members to identify problems and develop solutions. This not only enhances problem-solving skills but also fosters a sense of ownership and accountability within the team.
4. Emotional Intelligence: Recognize and manage your emotions, as well as those of your team members, to create a positive and productive work environment. Emotional intelligence involves being aware of your own emotions, understanding the emotions of others, and using this awareness to manage interactions successfully.
5. Adaptability: Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in response to changing circumstances, and encourage your team to do the same. In today’s fast-paced work environment, the ability to adapt to new situations and challenges is crucial for maintaining productivity and morale.

By implementing these strategies and practical applications, leaders can develop the soft skills necessary to achieve success in their careers and drive positive outcomes in their organizations. Emphasizing the importance of soft skills in leadership not only enhances individual performance but also contributes to a more dynamic and resilient organization.

 

Next Steps

Learn more about how Terryberry's Engagement Platform can help motive your team today. Terryberry can also assist in designing a comprehensive employee wellness program, creating an employee survey strategy, or establishing a milestone or service award program.

Schedule a demo with us and see how our employee recognition software can make recognition easy and effective.

 

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