By Vito Alberti Villalobos – Chile 

The management of personnel and work teams has undergone profound change. Today’s organizational structures no longer require bosses but leaders. Companies that maintain vertical hierarchies—where instructions are simply obeyed, and employees’ opinions are not taken into account—are headed for failure.

New leadership models demand greater empathy, understanding and humanity in dealing with employees. This is not a sign of weakness; it is an adjustment to new realities.

Open debate is no longer in question within organizations. Employees can voice their opinions and ideas, and they are heard. They have much to contribute to improving processes and products. This, in turn, enhances workplace climate, builds loyalty and strengthens commitment. Respect—both vertical and horizontal—must be the pillar supporting relationships within an organization.

Soft skills have become a growing focus for companies. The term refers to a set of personal attributes tied to human interaction, creativity and effective communication—qualities now sought in emerging leaders.

While many individuals possess these traits innately, they can also be developed through dedication and effort. “It is more difficult to work in a team than to learn a financial calculation,” yet, according to experts, such qualities can never be automated by any form of artificial intelligence.

A recent study by LinkedIn found that 57% of executives value soft skills more highly than hard skills, and that 89% of dismissals within organizations stem from deficiencies in a professional’s soft skills.

The most valued capabilities in new leaders are:

Creativity: The ability to devise solutions to problems.
Persuasion or credibility: The capacity to convince others to support an idea.
Collaboration: All projects require the highest level of effective cooperation among members of an organization or group.
Adaptability: The ability to adjust to new demands in a changing world; yesterday’s solutions will not solve tomorrow’s problems.
Time Management: A skill that never goes out of date and delivers significant benefits throughout a professional career.

There are many competencies new leaders must possess or consider. Those described above are essential for developing talent and meeting the new challenges facing organizations.

While the continuous pursuit of new knowledge remains important, developing the skills required to lead teams is no less critical.

– English Magazine