Priority skills for managers: What to emphasise?

The rapidly changing world of work, which has become even more uncertain by 2025, presents managers with new challenges: digitalisation, the introduction of artificial intelligence, hybrid management, new employee expectations and so on. While technical and hard skills remain essential, it is soft skills that will be crucial. But what exactly are these skills we're talking about? And how will they shape the leaders of tomorrow? We'll take a closer look at the key soft skills that managers need to possess and learn how to develop them to inspire and lead change.

First things first: Why do soft skills come to the forefront?

Let's first briefly outline what soft and hard skils are. Hard skils are technical skills that can be clearly measured and validated, such as knowledge of programming languages, accounting skills, or proficiency in foreign languages. Soft skills are personal qualities and skills that help you communicate effectively, work in a team and adapt to change, such as leadership, creativity or stress tolerance. While hard skills can be learnt on courses, soft skills are developed through experience, interaction with people and self-reflection.

Simply because the world of work is constantly evolving and changing, and in the face of these many changes, hard skills alone are no longer enough. More than ever, we need soft skills to cope with the uncertainty and change that is already happening and that is yet to come. Managers, in turn, are at the heart of this transformation: they need to meet both the demands of management in terms of performance and innovation, and the expectations of employees who need to be reassured and recognised, while at the same time developing strategies to address key workforce challenges such as mental health, skills development, CSR and inclusion.

At the same time, rapid technological change is putting managers in a challenging situation: they have to learn new tools and incorporate them into work processes, while convincing employees to use them. And all this in an increasingly hybridised work format for many companies. In 2025, executives will have to take a coaching stance to motivate their teams and maintain cohesion and co-operation among employees. So it's going to be a busy year for managers who, fortunately, will be able to rely on soft skills to keep on track!

Emotional and Collective Intelligence: Understanding emotions to create connections

It's important to note that above all else, a good manager is someone who can read between the lines. Understanding and managing emotions - your own as well as those of your team - has become a key skill. Emotional intelligence allows you to do just that; it helps you build trust, defuse conflict and maintain a healthy, motivating work environment.

And since management is not just an individual endeavour, collective intelligence also comes into play, this soft skill aims to bring out the best in each team member and turn the diversity of ideas into real strength. To achieve this, a manager needs to create a caring work environment where listening, empathy and solidarity become the driving forces. Here are some tips for developing these skills:

• Hold one-to-one meetings more often; 
• Be attentive to the mood of the team; 
• Implement the practice of openly discussing challenges and successes.

Inclusive communication: All voices must be heard

In teams that are becoming increasingly diverse, whether by background, experience or generation, it is more important than ever to be able to communicate well. But be careful, because it's not just about getting information across. Inclusive communication goes beyond simply exchanging views, creating an atmosphere where every team member feels listened to, understood and legitimised, so the manager of tomorrow must be an active listening professional, able to adapt to each person's sensitivities. Clear, respectful and inclusive communication is the best way to build team cohesion and avoid misunderstandings, because a team that feels understood is a team that moves forward together. Here are some tips for implementing these skils: 

• Organise discussions where every employee can voice their opinion; 
• Create an open environment for communication without fear of judgement.

Collaborative leadership: Success is teamwork

Gone are the days of the ‘little boss’ manager who decided everything on his own. Now and in the years to come, leadership will be primarily collaborative. A good manager is one who knows how to bring people together, encourage collaboration and give his team the desire (and the means) to contribute to overall success. A collaborative manager knows how to engage his team in thinking and decision-making. Rather than dictating how things should be done, he or she acts as a facilitator, encouraging the sharing of ideas and freedom to innovate, and fostering autonomy.

Flexibility and resilience: Staying the course in a changing world

The world of work moves fast, sometimes even too fast: unforeseen crises, new technologies, reorganisations and a bunch of other factors. Managers need to be prepared for any eventuality, and that means being agile and resilient. Agility is the ability to quickly adjust plans and lead a team through the unknown. Resilience is the inner strength to overcome setbacks and remain upbeat even in difficult times. These qualities help a leader not just to cope with crises, but to use them as an opportunity for growth and development. The higher the level of flexibility and resilience, the better the manager's chances of turning challenges into a competitive advantage.

Summary: Priority skills for managers

Emotional intelligence, communication, collaboration, adaptability... As you can see, soft skills will be needed more than ever for managers to cope with new challenges. It's about time to take action and offer training that is truly customised to managers' needs and market realities. Developing these skills will not only help to improve the working atmosphere, but also the efficiency of the entire team. Companies that invest in training their leaders gain a competitive advantage, because strong managers build strong teams, because those who know how to listen, adapt and inspire their team will stay one step ahead!