2. SOFT SKILLS IN LEADERSHIP
• The most successful leaders have not only mastered technical skills, they've
also mastered Soft Skills.
• Commonly known as People or Interpersonal Skills, soft skills like negotiating,
building morale, and maintaining relationships are key to a leader's success.
• Leaders use interpersonal skills to build company morale and maintain
relationships.
• The soft skills that all good leaders need include knowing how to negotiate,
making sure to listen to each employee, and giving praise when due.
3. 14 SOFT SKILLS
Here are seven soft skills leaders need to be successful — as well as tips to hone
them.
1. Effective Communication
2. Great Listener
3. Deliver Bad News Tactfully
4. Know How To Say No To People
5. Negotiation Skills
6. Criticize Others Respectfully and Productively
7. Tackle Difficult Employees
5. 1. Communicate effectively
Being able to communicate effectively is perhaps the most important of all life skills. Aperson's body
language can often be more important than what he or she is actually saying.
Maintain eye contact while speaking to show respect and sincerity, hold good posture to project
confidence, avoid gestures that are distracting or convey disinterest such as crossed arms or fidgeting
with clothing/jewelry, and make sure facial expressions align with the message being communicated.
2. Great Listeners
The best leaders are not just skilled at articulating their own thoughts, they're also great listeners. We
tend to associate being the loudest voice in the room with power and control, but successful leaders
understand the importance of listening to others' thoughts and ideas.
6. 3. Deliver Bad News Tactfully
Deliver bad news in person rather than via email or memo, take responsibility, be as honest as
possible, and give employees an opportunity to respond and discuss how the news affects them.
4. Know How to say no to people
Empathize with people when saying no to let them know you understand the situation, explain your
reasoning for saying no, and end the conversation on a positive note by offering another way to help.
5. Negotiation Skills
Leaders have good negotiation skills, and know how to find solutions that work for
everyone. Look at the situation through the other person's eyes, be prepared to offer several
options, show that you've heard and understood the other side, and offer to help out in some
way to demonstrate that you're a team player.
7. 6. Criticize Others Respectfully and Productively
Give criticism in private, don't point fingers, don't sugarcoat the problem, be specific
about what you want to change, and ask for the person's input so they feel they're
part of the solution.
7. Tackle Difficult Employees
Leaders must know how to deal with difficult employees whose behavior and
attitudes can jeopardize workplace harmony. Tackle the problem as soon as possible
instead of waiting to deal with it, rely on documented information when pointing out
unacceptable behavior, implement a plan for correcting the behavior, to ensure the
positive change is permanent.
8. 8. Maintain professionalism
Establish clear boundaries if you work with friends, be fair to all subordinates
regardless of friendships, and avoid any special treatment or favors.
9. Adapt to Changes
In professional settings, employees will often look to their leaders during times of
change for reassurance, guidance, and a sense of stability. Give employees the
opportunity to share their thoughts, focus on the positive, and remain available to
answer questions.
9. 10. Handle resistance
Handle resistance gracefully by focusing on the issue and remaining non-
confrontational, taking responsibility if you contributed to an issue, and asking for
the resistors' help in coming to a resolution.
11. Handling Complaints
Strong leadership skills mean handling complaints with tact and fairness. Consider
establishing a rule that you can't complain unless you also offer a resolution to the
problem.
10. 12. Good Manners
Respect people's time and be early for meetings. Don't use the speaker phone except
when necessary, don't interrupt, and be sure to say please and thank you.
13. Respectful DuringArguments
Be polite, keep a calm and steady voice, avoid pushing the other person's buttons
during an argument, and focus on moving forward.
14. Work-life balance
It is not only key to keeping employees happy, it's also crucial for productivity.
Leaders recognize that allowing employees time to rest and recharge outside of the
office will help them be more productive when they are on the clock.