10 Smart — Not Soft — Skills For Leaders

It’s high time to reclassify ‘soft’ leadership qualities as what they truly are—smart skills that help manage people. Let’s get right to the list: 1) Adaptability. Build self-awareness around your comfort zones. Starting to say yes more than saying no. 2) Cognitive readiness. Organizational dynamics may not involve minute-by-minute sports plays, but there are always multiple dynamics at play. Whenever the ball comes your way, you best be ready. 3) Emotional maturity. If you’re not attuned to the environment in which you’re working, you may fall into the trap of expecting yourself to have all the answers all the time, rather than set the circumstances so that answers are explored. Seven other essential qualities are mentioned in this article, including humility, listening, and validation. I suggest reading the article—and the book.