The Soft Skills That Set Great Leaders Apart (And How to Develop Them)

When we think about leadership development, it’s easy to focus on the hard skills like planning, analyzing data, or managing budgets. These are the technical tasks that you would probably put on your résumé. And yes, they’re important. But it’s the soft skills that really make a great leader stand out.

What do we even mean by soft skills? Soft skills are psychological skills, interpersonal skills: the skills that aren’t necessarily technical in nature. The terminology apparently dates back to the 1960’s, when the US Army used the term soft skills to apply to those critical job functions that did not require the use of machinery. So - there’s your history lesson for the day. Fast forward a few decades…

According to the 2025 Culture Trends Report by O.C. Tanner, one of the biggest changes happening in the workplace is a desire for more meaningful, human-centered leadership. Employees want to feel seen, heard, and supported. And that’s where soft skills like emotional intelligence, empathy, communication, and listening are really important.

What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills might sound easy, but they’re not always easy to come by. Leaders who really learn to master them tend to build stronger teams, gain more buy-in, and deliver better results. These skills are all about how you show up for the people around you. While hard skills focus on what you know or do, soft skills are about how you lead, communicate, and connect and include things like:

• Emotional intelligence

• Active listening

• Adaptability

• Creativity

• Problem Solving

• Delegation

• Communication

These aren’t just “nice-to-haves.” They're the foundation for trust, alignment, and long-term success.

Why Soft Skills Matter More Than Ever

Culture and connection go hand in hand. Teams want leaders who understand them individually and the current workplace complexity, and who can navigate with a steady hand and a human heart. Year after year, research tells us that leaders who focus on these softer skills tend to build stronger teams, create better engagement, and drive results that last.

Even better? Unlike IQ, emotional intelligence (EQ) and other soft skills can be developed over time. Check out our past blog on EQ here!

Five Simple Ways to Build Your Leadership Soft Skills

Here are five simple tools and tactics that you can implement NOW:

1. Listen. Really listen. Not to respond, not to refute, but just to be present with the other person.

2. Get to know what’s important to people: what motivates them? How do they define success? What’s not working for them right now (and - bonus - how can you help them be even more successful?)

3. Find opportunities to catch people doing things right: we tend to receive plenty of feedback on what’s not working or how things could be improved. Flip the script and recognize when people do things well. A project that’s running smoothly, an expense in line with the budget, or even a well-crafted response that de-escalates a situation - these are worth noting.

4. Be an absorber, not an amplifier. This phrase from a senior executive we worked with decades ago still resonates with us. His point: instead of adding to the drama and churn that may be happening, be a sponge: absorb all that energy. Clear your mental space for more positive and productive thinking.

5. Seek feedback. The best leaders are learners. Seek feedback from those you trust, and act on the feedback they provide. We’re all a work in progress, and intentional feedback can help identify potential blind spots or under-leveraged strengths to magnify.

Leading with Intention

Leadership isn’t just about having the right answers. It’s about creating the right environment. One where people feel valued, understood, and empowered to do their best work. And that starts with developing the leadership soft skills that help you connect, communicate, and grow alongside your team. Looking to level up your leadership? At Nova, we believe the best leaders are always learning, and we’re here to help you build the mindset and skillset to lead with purpose.