Soft Skills are Essential for Leaders Today

We’re living in a very weird sci-fi movie.

It’s as if creatures from another galaxy invaded planet earth and are holding us hostage. We’re in lockdown, hoping not to be found.

As in most sci-fi movies, a hero steps forward and leads people to safety. Yay!

Now, this hero is only human and, of course, a bit stressed. But she continues to step up and take charge.

She keeps her people feeling hopeful and cared for.

She’s a great leader.

I’ve seen extraordinary examples of leadership since we’ve all been quarantined. I’m honored to call some of these leaders “clients.”

These kickass leaders are getting their team’s or organization’s work done as much as possible. They are creative and realistic in how to proceed. They value and encourage everyone’s ideas.

More importantly, these leaders show how much they care about the well-being of their people. They hold video calls solely to check in how people are feeling. They ask about the challenges of working from home with young children. They acknowledge quarantining is hard and they’ll get through it. Together.   

These leaders see whole people, not just 9-5ers.    

They’ve mastered the hard skills - the ones that are taught in classrooms - to rise in the ranks.

But more importantly, they’ve mastered the soft skills, the ones that speak to our hearts, that make people want to follow them.  

Thankfully, more and more leaders understand the necessity of soft skills, of integrity, collaboration, empathy, creativity, adaptability and open-mindedness.

Our sci-fi movie will end but great leadership is more important than ever, now as we navigate our way through being quarantined, and beyond.

We can all be great leaders.

It starts with our hearts.

I see you.

I care.