What is social skills in leadership?

Rising through the ranks and landing a top-dog role like Chief Executive Officer isn’t the process it once was. Years ago, leaders who were financially savvy or had profound knowledge of their industry were the ones highly sought after for the top jobs and those with better social skills were seen as weaker leaders. These days the tide has turned and companies are seeking out leaders with strong social skills.

Authors from the Harvard Business Review found that companies are calling for leaders who are adept communicators, relationship builders, and people-oriented problem solvers after analysing nearly 7,000 job descriptions for C-suite roles. Apparently, these changes are due to the growing workforce and the fact that business operations are becoming more complex and tech-centered.

I’m glad to see we are moving past the times where being empathetic, kind, emotional or even taking an interest in your employee’s career development was seen as weak and had no place in effective management or leadership. Today, in order to survive in the current business climate and become a successful leader, leaders not only need to be intelligent and strong decision makers, they need to have excellent social skills.

Why are social skills so sought after now? Well, the COVID-19 pandemic changed how we view mental health issues, saw millennials be introduced into the workforce and employees have stopped tolerating bad bosses and leaders. Many employees would rather work for someone who is kind and caring, than someone that makes them stress out during work. We spend so much of our lives working, and we shouldn’t have to work in an environment that is toxic.

Here are some of the social skills I believe leaders MUST have in order to be successful. 

1.   Emotional intelligence

For leaders, emotional intelligence is the ability to manage and understand your own emotions, as well as recognising the emotions of your colleagues and team members. Emotional intelligence is comprised of social skills, self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, kindness, empathy and great communication skills.

2.   Gratitude

No one wants to work for an ungrateful boss or leader. Employees and colleagues like their hard work to be recognised and appreciated. Great leaders always motivate their employees by thanking them or even praising them when they do a great job. Leaders who show gratitude find that their employees work harder and are more productive and positive.

3.   Humility

Leaders are human, employees are human, colleagues are human, we are all human. Humans make mistakes and how leaders react to their own mistakes and those of their employees is very telling of the type of leader they are. Humble leaders are more approachable, willing to acknowledge the work of others and take mistakes as a teaching opportunity, rather than an opportunity to get annoyed.

4.   Empathy

Once upon a time, leaders who were empathetic were often seen as being weaker leaders. I’m pleased to say that this has changed, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. More employees want to work for leaders who are empathetic towards them, understanding of mental health issues, are aware of their feelings and understand their needs.

5.   Kindness

Leaders who are kind and understanding get more out of their employees and are more likely to retain and attain employees. Kindness was at one point, like empathy, considered to be a weak skill for a leader to have. This has changed and kindness has become one of the most desired traits in a leader for employees. This is a very welcome change.

6.   Authentic

Authentic leaders are leaders who are themselves and don’t try and be someone they are not. These types of leaders are able to inspire loyalty, motivation, passion and trust in their employees through this genuine and transparent management style. They also encourage a positive environment.

7.   Approachability

Approachable leaders are the ones who have an open-door policy, are easy to deal with and encourage employees to feel safe enough to come to them with any concerns. It’s important to make it clear to your employees from day one to always feel free to come to you if they have concerns about the workplace or a project. This way you will always know what is going on in the office.

8.   Listening and Communication

Great listening and communication skills are essential for the leaders of today, and tomorrow. Good leaders are the ones who actually take the time to sit down and really listen to something a colleague or employee is trying to tell them. Being able to give clear and concise directions to employees is also vital for running a business, which is why great communication skills are also needed.

Sonia McDonald is changing the face of leadership across the globe. She believes we should lead with kindness and courage, from the heart, and is known for her mantra ‘Just Lead’. She leads by example in all these areas and through her transformational coaching, leadership training programs and cultural transformation for organisations and encourages others to do the same. Sonia has helped thousands of people on their leadership journey to become the best version of themselves and in turn, inspire and bring out the best in others.

Sonia is a founder and CEO of McDonald Inc., LeadershipHQ and Global Outstanding Leadership Awards and 2022 Courage Conference. For more than 25 years, Sonia has been on the front lines of leadership and she is beyond committed to her mission around building a world of great leaders.

She has held leadership positions worldwide and through experience, research and study come to realise what it takes to be a truly great leader. She has been recognised by Richtopia as One of the Top 250 Influential Women across the Globe and Top 100 Australian Entrepreneurs.

Sonia has an ability to speak bravely and authentically about her own development as a leader, personal and career challenges in a way which resonates with her audience. She is a leading coach, an award-winning published author of newly released First Comes Courage, Leadership Attitude and Just Rock It! and has become an in-demand keynote speaker on leadership, kindness and courage.

Sonia has become recognised for her commentary around the topic of leadership, kindness, empathy and courage as well as building outstanding leadership across the Globe. 

There are a number of different leadership styles in the workplace, which range from authoritarian to more democratic forms of management. These leadership style types drastically differ and certainly affect organisational culture, as well as employee morale and engagement. In other words, as a leader, your interpersonal skills can make or break you.

A report by Leadership IQ found that managerial styles play a key role in a leader’s ability to be effective. So how do interpersonal skills affect your leadership styles, and which are the most effective?

What are interpersonal skills and why do they matter?

Interpersonal skills are the social skills we use to interact with others at work. These behaviours form part of an individual’s emotional intelligence, and encompass a wide array of capabilities, such as:

• Verbal communication 
• Non-verbal communication
• Empathy 
• Negotiation
• Conflict management
• Influence 
• Active listening 

Regardless of the industry or the discipline you work in, interpersonal skills are integral to career success — especially in a leadership position. 

Strong interpersonal skills enable leaders to foster meaningful relationships with their team, engage and motivate employees, navigate setbacks, and address the root cause of poor performance. In fact, multiple studies have shown that leaders with high emotional intelligence create more connected and motivated teams.  

How do interpersonal skills influence your managerial style?

Communication skills

Communication skills are a crucial interpersonal trait that all effective leaders need to develop – and continue to work on to improve. The ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and non-verbally, lies at the core of employee engagement. Research by Lemonly shows that 3 in 4 employees see effective communication as the number one leadership attribute. Despite this, only a third think their leaders communicate effectively.

Leaders with poor communication skills may veer into command-and-control styles of management. While this is effective in certain settings, such as the military, most experts agree this form of leadership rarely resonates with today’s talent. 

RELATED: 6 skills that will never be replaced by automation

Empathy 

Empathetic leaders put themselves in a team member’s shoes and truly understand what motivates them. These types of leaders earn the trust of their team by establishing a genuine connection with them, and create an environment built upon collaboration and mutual respect. 

Numerous studies have revealed that empathy fuels productivity and performance. It also leads to a happier workforce, which in turn improves employee retention. This interpersonal skill lends itself to coaching and affiliative leadership style management, which focus on putting people first and developing their team’s talents.

Active listening

Active listening is the art of hearing what a speaker says, truly understanding their message, and responding thoughtfully. This skill is crucial in building rapport with employees and stakeholders.

Leaders that actively listen generally tend to be democratic managers. They listen, understand, and take on board the feedback that everyone has to offer. This feedback then informs their future decision-making process. Active listening is also a key trait for coach-style managers, who help employees work towards their goals. 

On the other hand, a leader who rarely practices active listening can often be perceived as having an autocratic management style. 

Negotiation and influence

Leaders are often required to negotiate with employees and stakeholders, handle disputes, and influence decision-making. Because of this, negotiation and conflict resolution have a significant impact on the leadership style a manager adopts.

A manager with strong negotiation skills can easily become a coach, but it can also be a valuable trait to have for managers with a visionary or pace-setting style. Managers who lack these skills often default to demanding outcomes from team members — and a report by CPP found this eventually leads to decreased morale, low employee engagement, and higher staff turnover.

Regardless of which style you adopt, interpersonal skills are crucial to effective leadership. By improving these skills, you can motivate your team, foster stronger engagement, and ultimately improve workplace outcomes in your organisation.