In a Tech-Driven World, Soft Skills are Power Skills

By Michael Rickwood

We are each other's biggest obstacle or each others biggest asset

Let’s begin with an observation: while it’s clear we all strive to better ourselves with technological progress, to make ourselves sleeker, more efficient, more of an attractive prospect in the eyes of the market, but by abandoning those leadership communication skills that make us most human, we do so at our peril.

Today, we’re surrounded by talk of AI, automation, machine learning, and quantum leaps in productivity. All very impressive. But quietly, in the background, the executive communication skills that separate high performers from the rest aren’t technical at all; they’re emotional, interpersonal, and deeply human. They comprise of emotional intelligence, empathy, decision-making abilities, resilience, listening skills, and emotional balance that are not only good indicators of a strong leader, but also a good team player.

That’s why anyone who has harnessed these skills will succeed, and it’s an Illusion that we can thrive with Hard Skills Alone.

Business Communication Coaching professionals know the truth: Hard skills can indeed get you in the room, but they will not keep you at the table.

Satya Nadella: “Empathy is the hardest skill to learn and the most important.”

We put a lot of focus on hard skills today. From UX Design, data analytics, Development skills, and CRM proficiency, I get it. No one wants to be left behind. However, as leaders or as team players, we often underestimate the power of our soft skills. Now, let me be clear. I’m not talking about spending your day just being overly polite to everyone, or wasting energy on cultivating relationships with everyone you share the building space with. These ideas we associate with people pleasing, which is a co-dependency trait. What I’m talking about, above all, are the vital soft tools of communication, empathy, and above all, trust.

So here are a few arguments as to why, in today’s context, soft skills matter more than ever.

• Remote/hybrid work requires advanced presentation skills and emotional intelligence. Why? Well, remote work may be cost and time-efficient, but it poses a great risk of poor communication between colleagues. We often speak of the benefits of ’small talk’ at the office, and this has always represented an opportunity to build familiarity among colleagues. With the sharp cut-off times on the hour for the next virtual meeting, we have less opportunity to connect with our co-workers, missing opportunities to slow down and check that everyone is on board regularly, and offer an opportunity to share incomprehensions and frustrations. Virtual presentation coaching, which provides tips on good meeting structure, tips on how to read the virtual room, and tips on creating a two-way dialogue, is invaluable.

• AI can’t replicate empathy, nuance, and presence. While A.I. is proving to be an invaluable tool for all of us, we cannot just rely on it alone. Even as freelancers, we need feedback from fellow humans to maintain strong and healthy business relationship skills.

• Business complexity means we need collaboration and trust more than ever. Insights from people with experience can be extremely powerful. One example I would like to highlight is the experience of CEO and founder of Financial Freedom for Wealth Group, Julia Carlson, who built her success firstly on battling her own early experiences of trying to control everything within her organisation and empowering those around her based on an aligned company ethos has created a highly successful and ethically constructed business, which is both customer and employee centric. In a recent interview, she discussed overcoming her fear and scarcity mindset, which she had developed earlier in her career while working in an environment that pressured her to conform to gain acceptance. Focusing solely on others’ perceptions is not conducive to personal growth.

• Reputation and relationship capital are the real currency in a networked economy. Why? Because visibility is everything. Our reputational capital is hard currency. We need to cultivate it and work it in the eyes of those who behold. A good track record is earned by our daily treatment of the people we work with.

Soft Skills ARE Power Skills

So let’s flip the language here: stop calling them "soft" and instead let’s start seeing them as core business skills. Like ethics and vision are at the heart of any strategy worth its salt, the power skills of emotional intelligence, empathy, and trust should be there only to be enhanced by valuable hard competencies. Only then can we be fully future-proofed.

Here are some key Power skills that I would like to share:

• Listening

• Strategic message framing (knowing how to cut through the noise with clarity)

• Executive Presence (owning your space)

• Business Adaptability (knowing when to accept reality)

• Professional Conflict navigation

Tech is forever evolving fast, but human interaction and business relationship building is still at the heart of every meaningful deal, team, and mission, for better and for worse. If you want to lead, influence, and grow in this new era, you don’t just need more tools. You need better presence.

“Ready to turn Power Skills into results? Learn more through my Pitch Coaching and Business Relationship Coaching services, designed for leaders who want impact.”