A new Deloitte survey confirms what I've observed in helping top companies develop their leaders: Human skills drive career advancement and organizational success. The survey found that 87% of employees believe skills like adaptability, leadership, and communications are the key to advancing at work. Yet only about half think their companies truly value these human capabilities over technical skills.
Image by Daniel Mena from Pixabay
This disconnect between what employees need and what organizations provide mirrors what I've seen in my work. Time and again, I’ve seen talented professionals hit a ceiling because a gap in their human skills keeps them from reaching their full potential as a leader.
The Real Keys to Leadership Success
Through coaching senior executives, I've found that success hinges on capabilities that sometimes still get minimized as “soft skills.”
Seeing the big picture and being strategic. Leaders who can zoom out, connect dots across the organization, and think strategically are invaluable. Effective leadership today requires the mental agility to understand complex systems and spot opportunities.
Communicating with influence and impact. The Deloitte survey found that 61% of employees prioritize communication skills. Your message matters, but how you deliver it – with clarity, confidence and awareness of your audience – often matters more.
Building relationships and networks. It's telling that teamwork and collaboration topped the list of desired skills in the Deloitte survey (65%). Success doesn’t happen in isolation. Leaders need to build authentic relationships, navigate organizational dynamics, and create strong networks.
Developing others. The survey highlighted a concerning trend: 94% of respondents worry future generations will enter the workforce without necessary human skills. This is why coaching and developing others is so critical. Strong leaders don't just perform well themselves – they build capability in others.
Why Tech Training Alone Falls Short
The Deloitte survey revealed that about 60% of employees believe their companies focus more on immediate business needs than long-term skill development. I’ve observed the same thing. Companies sometimes get so focused on the latest technology that they lose sight of how important enduring human capabilities are.
While both individuals and companies must adapt to new innovations, it’s notable that 70% of respondents report learning a technical skill that later became obsolete. In contrast, human skills are truly timeless. The ability to think strategically, communicate effectively, build relationships, and coach others will never go out of style.
A Better Way Forward
This research validates what led us to develop New Lens®, our leadership development platform. We built New Lens specifically to address the human skills gap, focusing on the leadership capabilities that truly drive success at all levels – from strategic thinking to impactful communication to relationship building.
We help leaders develop these capabilities through a combination of:
Practical, relevant content that can be immediately applied.
Peer and expert coaching that reinforces learning.
Connection with others to build lasting networks and support systems.
Take Action
If you're concerned about the human skills gap in your organization, I invite you to explore how New Lens can help. If you’d like an invitation to our next demo on 11/14 at 9 CT, register here: https://lu.ma/04cqige5. You can also visit www.newlensleadership.com or contact us at info@newlensleadership.com. Let's work together to build the human skills your leaders need, not just for today, but for long-term success.