The Indispensable Value of So-Called Soft Skills in Leadership
Some years back, I had the privilege of working alongside Dr. Jill Stratton, affectionately known as the Dean of Joy, to develop a curriculum and teach a graduate course on leadership at Washington University in St. Louis, in the George Warren Brown School of Social Work. A critical lesson we aimed to impart was the fundamental importance of so-called soft skills—a term that barely scratches the surface of the profound capabilities they encompass.
We would start the class by asking, "What are the characteristics of the leaders you admired most?" Consistently, we would hear words like caring, empathetic, compassionate, and listener. We would also hear attributes like discipline, inspiring action, able to guide change, and thinker. Notably absent were mentions of technical prowess, expertise in finance, engineering, project management, or data analytics. When we pressed the class on these points, they too were shocked to discover that in leadership, it wasn’t technical expertise or intellect they valued most; it almost always came down to skills related to creative thinking and connecting with others.
Traditionally, the debate between soft and hard skills has misguided many into undervaluing interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence—deeming them secondary to technical expertise. However, our exploration into this topic suggests that these soft skills are not just ancillary; they are the bedrock of adept leadership. Empathy, communication, and the ability to foster human connections are not merely 'soft'; they are crucial.
The Reality of Soft Skills in Leadership
When I was asked to join the board of the bank ten years ago, I wondered what they saw in me. Don’t get me wrong; I have been clear throughout my professional career about the things I am relatively good at and the things I am not. This self-awareness comes partly from experience and partly from the clarity that comes from going through numerous skills and behavioral assessments. During their initial engagement, I made the mistake of thinking that banking was 95% math or technical and 5% relationship and strategic navigation. Almost six years as Bank Board Chair and CEO, I now know differently.
As I transitioned into banking, I was very clear that technical skills are important foundations for the business. It is essential to have people in the bank who wake up every day thinking about interest rate risk, liquidity, the economy, regulatory environment, capital, pricing, compliance and structuring deals to meet customer needs and bank requirements among other more technical aspects of banking. As the leader, you need to grasp how all these elements connect to influence performance - but you don’t have to be an expert. Your job is to understand human behavior, assemble the right teams, and create an environment that aligns teams toward strategic goals and visions.
The other thing I was clear on is that the future of most industries will require people to be equipped with more emotional intelligence or soft skills. There was once a time when people were trained in specific functions and became specialists or technicians in those functions. They could put their heads down, do their jobs, and survive. Those jobs are quickly reaching the end of their life cycle.
The Evolution of Workforce Skills
The onset of the pandemic in 2020 catalyzed a seismic shift in the workforce's skill demands. According to a McKinsey Global Survey on reskilling, companies have doubled their focus on empathy and interpersonal skills. This marked increase underscores a broader trend towards valuing emotional intelligence alongside traditional cognitive abilities. Today's corporate environment prizes not only social and emotional competencies but also advanced cognitive skills. These include complex problem-solving, sophisticated reasoning, and the capacity to synthesize diverse streams of information into coherent strategies.
These advanced skills transcend basic cognitive functions by enabling leaders to navigate complex scenarios and make informed decisions. The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2023 reveals that 44% of workers’ skills are anticipated to be disrupted within five years, up from 35% in 2016. The skills deemed most crucial include analytical thinking and creative problem-solving—skills that enable adaptability in an ever-evolving work landscape.
Leading with Humanity
I believe that we are all called to lead wherever we are. In other words, leadership isn’t necessarily positional. I am also committed to the idea that true leadership transcends technical prowess. While being a technical leader is beneficial, it is not sufficient on its own. Effective leadership requires a blend of technical acumen and the ability to connect with others at a human level—communicating, interpreting, and integrating business processes seamlessly.
As the world grows increasingly complex, the leaders who will stand out are those who can harness their humanity—their ability to empathize, communicate, and connect. These skills, often mislabeled as 'soft,' are in fact some of the most challenging to cultivate and the most critical for sustainable success in any organization.
Final Thought
The indispensable value of so-called soft skills in leadership cannot be overstated. As we elevate these skills to their rightful place at the core of leadership development, it's crucial to actively engage with and reflect on our own practices.
With this in mind, let's explore a few questions to further our understanding and application of these essential skills:
Reflect on Your Experience: Think about the leaders you have admired in your own life or career. Which attributes did you value most in them—was it their technical skills or their ability to connect with others on a human level? How has this influenced your own approach to leadership?
Assessing Soft Skills: How do you currently cultivate your soft skills like empathy, communication, and emotional intelligence? Are there specific practices or strategies you find particularly effective in enhancing these skills?
Future of Leadership: As industries continue to evolve with increasing technological integration, how do you see the role of soft skills changing in the future? What steps can organizations take now to ensure their leaders are well-equipped to handle the challenges of tomorrow?
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