The Rising Importance of "Soft" Skills

As technology advances and the nature of work evolves, the importance of so-called “soft skills” for leaders and managers has been increasingly recognized as critical. These skills, which include interpersonal abilities like communication, empathy, and adaptability, are what enables leaders to manage diverse teams, drive innovation, and adapt to new challenges. They complement technical expertise and are often what distinguish outstanding leaders from good managers. More than ever, these skills can lead to better leadership outcomes, including higher employee engagement, increased productivity, and a positive organizational culture.

At our July meeting we heard from two member companies – Manulife and Citi – who have placed a renewed focus on soft skills.  Katherine Macnaughton, VP of Global Talent at Manulife and Cameron Hedrick, Chief Learning Officer at Citi  highlighted their newest initiatives and shared some lessons learned. We also held a group discussion where other Board members shared examples.

The Chief Learning & Talent Officer Board is reserved exclusively for the senior-most talent & learning executive in organizations. It is designed to serve as a true Board of Directors for the function and ensure its members are in the driver seat of organizational innovation.