As the responsibilities of senior leaders expand, the key skills required in these roles are changing. Which leadership skills are becoming more important, and why? A recent research report from LinkedIn provides data-backed answers.
For anyone trying to prepare an employee (or themselves) for a C-level role, LinkedIn’s State of the C-Suite and Executives Report reveals valuable insights into which skills are becoming more (and less) important to develop and highlight as the expectations of top leaders evolve.
While the full 8-page report is worth a read, here are a few highlights of the findings along with guidance on how to improve leadership skills in key areas.
How C-Level Roles and Leadership Skills are Changing
Using LinkedIn data, the report’s authors looked at the career and skills patterns of top executives in large U.S. enterprises and venture-backed “unicorns.” Among their key findings:
“Some of the fastest growing soft skills are presentations, strategic thinking, and storytelling.”
“What makes an effective senior leader? Increasingly, that question leads to capabilities at the core of communication, culture, and teamwork rather than a narrow set of technical or operational skills.” It’s worth noting that communication, collaboration, and leadership are among the core pillars of all team building programs.
Based on LinkedIn data, the top ten fastest growing CxO roles are:
| 1. Chief Data Officer | 6. Chief Technology Officer |
| 2. Chief Legal Officer | 7. Chief Commercial Officer |
| 3. Chief Human Resources Officer | 8. Chief Information Security Officer |
| 4. Chief Product Officer | 9. Chief People Officer |
| 5. Chief Executive Officer | 10. Chief Marketing Officer |
The list above “paints a picture of companies prioritizing artificial intelligence (AI), data knowledge, and privacy in their leadership ranks, while also balancing that with a strong focus on executive positions focused on people and human capability.”
“Soft skills are becoming more and more prominent among leaders’ profiles today.” Between 2018 and 2023, soft skills listed by those hired into C-level and other senior leadership roles increased 31%.
AI is one key component driving change, making HI (human interaction) skills even more vital. “Increasingly as AI changes the skillsets required for nearly all jobs, soft skills are emerging as the uniquely human abilities that more executives are focused on building for themselves and their teams.”
The 10 Fastest Growing Soft Skills for C-Suite Executives (And How to Improve Them)
Here are the 10 fastest-growing “soft skills” (or people skills) in C-suites and among other top executives, per the LinkedIn report. Along with each is a quick tip for how to improve that skill in your team members—or yourself.
1. Presentations
We’ve all been subjected to death by PowerPoint type presentations. That type of delivery will not get you or anyone on your team into the C-suite. To learn how to deliver presentations that effectively communicate your key points, keep your audience involved, and compel action, check out our Presentation Skills Training workshop.
2. Strategic Thinking
Classes and multi-session strategic leadership programs are an effective choice. Another quick yet helpful tip is to regularly ask “what if?” questions. This approach encourages you to explore different scenarios, anticipate potential challenges, and identify opportunities. It helps you think beyond the immediate situation and consider long-term implications and alternatives—sharpening your ability to think critically, foresee outcomes, and develop a strategic mindset.
3. Communication
Again, improved communication is a core pillar of all team building activities. But even more specifically, professional development workshops focused on personality assessments such as our Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Training and DiSC Workshop help participants communicate more effectively by better understanding their own personality traits and communication preferences as well as those of their coworkers.
4. Strategic Vision
Courses and seminars can help, but there are also frameworks to help improve strategic vision such as:
- Clarify your purpose;
- Gather information;
- Embrace innovation;
- Translating ideas into action; and
- Communicate the vision.
5. Conflict Resolution / Negotiation
Conflict in the workplace is inevitable. Senior leaders need to know how to handle disagreements skillfully and without emotion clouding the process. Conflict Resolution Training from Best Corporate Events teaches participants proven methods and strategies for managing work-related conflicts with respect and professionalism.
6. Organization Skills
As noted in our post on post on tips for first-time managers, “Organization is essential in order to be effective. Technology like project management and scheduling software can help, but it’s vital to develop habits and processes for organization as well” such as creating templates for repetitive tasks, setting up reminders for routine tasks and events, and monitoring projects with visual overviews.
7. Problem Solving
There are numerous avenues available for improving problem-solving skills, from courses to models to business books on the topic. But this is also a core pillar of team building activities, and they provide a fun way to improve that ability. Virtual escape rooms and murder mysteries are particularly effective at enhancing problem-solving skills in a fun, engaging way that also builds workplace relationships and boosts collaboration.
8. Leadership / Team Management
Professional development training programs and workshops are ideal for teaching and enhancing leadership and management skills. Programs are available to build skills across several aspects of leadership, from emotional intelligence and meeting management to making the most of one-on-one coaching sessions.
9. Teamwork
One of the most productive ways to enhance teamwork is through fun competition and team bonding activities. Working together to solve an unfamiliar challenge puts all participants on the same level, while taking them out of the day-to-day work routine enhances collaboration and problem-solving skills without any business risk.
10. Storytelling
Courses and seminars can be very helpful in developing this skill, but one of the best tips for becoming a compelling storyteller is to focus on the audience’s emotions and build your story around a clear, relatable message. This works because people connect with emotions more than facts. A story that evokes feelings like excitement, empathy, or curiosity is more memorable and impactful than a simple recitation of facts. And a clear message helps ensure your audience will understand your story’s purpose and relevance.
Final Thoughts on Improving Leadership Skills to Prepare for the C-Suite
Soft skills (or, perhaps more accurately, people skills) have become increasingly important in qualifications for C-suite positions. According to a recent LinkedIn study, those making these decisions are placing more emphasis today on “capabilities at the core of communication, culture, and teamwork. ”
Vital leadership skills include presentation design and delivery, conflict resolution, problem-solving, teamwork, and storytelling among others. There are several ways you can improve your (or your team’s) capabilities in these areas, including classes, seminars, and business books. Team building and professional development programs can also help build many of these skills in a fun and engaging way.
There’s much more in the full report from LinkedIn, including findings on how the makeup of senior leadership positions is changing in terms of gender and generation. But the insights on the evolving mix of skills required for leadership at the highest levels will be most helpful to readers.
