Soft skills can distinguish leaders and enable you to connect with your team and effectively manage a diverse group of employees. Elevate your leadership capabilities by refining your soft skills.
Executive Presence
This skill may seem vague, but executive presence is about inspiring confidence in your direct reports, peers, and leadership that you’re a qualified and capable leader, as described by Forbes. That confidence can be achieved through three pillars: gravitas, communication skills, and appearance.
Delegation
Delegation distributes work across the team and allows team members to take ownership of responsibilities and projects. It’s essential for leaders to understand what responsibilities to delegate, when, and to which team members. Trust, communication, and support are key facets of delegation.
Mentoring
Having a mentor who can guide you on your career path can set you apart and elevate your skills. Being a mentor yourself is a unique way to teach and learn from your mentee. Practicing mentorship can help you refine a variety of skills, including influence and continuous learning.
Political Savvy
Office politics are normal. How you navigate your workplace’s politics can make the difference between moving forward in your career or becoming stagnant. The Center for Creative Leadership outlines six qualities of politically savvy leaders: social astuteness, influence, networking, thinking before speaking, managing up, and apparent sincerity.
Showcase Your Soft Skills
Demonstrating your soft skills is just as important as refining them. If you’re looking for your next role, put the spotlight on your soft skills by featuring them on your resume. Include examples of your skills in action and be ready to share those experiences in an interview.
- List your soft skills on your resume and include examples of these skills in action when possible.
- Ask references to highlight your top soft skills when they have the opportunity or include them in a letter of recommendation.
- Share examples of the times your actions illustrated your soft skills, like during interactions with coworkers, direct reports, or your boss.
Strong, demonstrated soft skills can improve your leadership abilities and may put you ahead of other job candidates for a promotion or new position.
