In any digital organization, colleagues and team members expect tech leaders to be fluent in both the technologies currently in use and the possibilities that new and emerging developments portend. While a firm grasp of the specialized knowledge of their profession—backed with the skills to leverage that knowledge—is important, no leader can be effective without the interpersonal skills that inspire confidence and conviction among their peers and those they lead.
To successfully tackle a never-ending round of everyday challenges and pursue new initiatives, a tech team needs a leader who knows about more than the nuts and bolts of digital tools. And to take their place as a chief mover and shaker in an organization, a tech leader needs to know how to relate to and work well with fellow members of the executive team. Below, members of Forbes Technology Council share soft skills they believe every tech leader should seek to improve, as well as why these traits can make a big difference for clients, colleagues and careers.
1. Empathic, Validating Leadership
Effective leaders must do more than just active listening; they must make people feel heard. This involves empathy and validating others’ thoughts and opinions. Leaders should be relatable and offer guidance based on past experiences or alternative actions they might consider in hindsight. This level of communication and guidance can be more effective than just sharing opinions and feedback. – Shravanthi Kallem, S&P Global
2. A Growth Mindset
Tech leaders must stay informed about AI and emerging tech, even if they aren’t technical. Prioritizing a growth mindset means letting go of outdated thinking and embracing change. As industries evolve, the best leaders stay ahead by surrounding themselves with both experienced voices and fresh perspectives, ensuring they adapt to rapid shifts and leverage new opportunities. – Imran Aftab, 10Pearls
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3. Balancing Technical Mastery With Strategic Insight
Understanding the need for new tools before adopting them is vital. Today’s tech leaders must blend technical mastery with strategic insight. With generative AI emerging, honing hard skills is key. But I’ve also focused on active listening and empathetic communication, which are crucial soft skills for grasping diverse perspectives, aligning initiatives and driving innovation across the organization. – Madhavi Najana, Federal Home Loan Bank Of Cincinnati
4. Influencing Without Authority
For a tech leader, influencing without authority is essential. Unlike managers, tech leaders often guide teams, shape architecture and drive change without direct control. Success comes from building trust, communicating a clear vision and aligning stakeholders. The key isn’t enforcing decisions, but inspiring action, turning technical expertise into impact. In reality, it’s more art than skill. – Shahar Man, Backslash Security
5. Psychological Safety
I’ve been actively working to facilitate psychological safety within our engineering teams. I want to create an environment where team members feel comfortable taking calculated risks, speaking up about concerns and sharing innovative ideas without fear of negative consequences. In a fast-paced startup, psychological safety enables teams to learn quickly from mistakes and trust each other. – Adit Sanghvi, Decisional
6. Building Relationships With Team Members
Tech leaders value logic and efficiency, but remote meetings can feel robotic and emotionless. A soft skill I have been working to develop with my team is small talk—getting to know people better and engaging in nonwork conversations. In a remote setting, it’s hard to know your peers beyond work. Adding that human connection is absolutely essential to building better work environments. – Metin Kortak, Rhymetec
7. Partnering With Colleagues From Other Teams
I’ve been seeking to partner with colleagues on other teams, such as marketing and sales, who are a bit further outside of my typical network but who have invaluable insights. Understanding roadmaps and the market climate will help me predict the organization’s future shape and structure and understand where the company is headed. – Aishwarya Suresh, Medtronic Inc.
8. Long-Term Thinking
I have prioritized long-term thinking, a vital skill for tech leaders. It emphasizes the importance of balancing short-term needs with long-term vision, driving innovation and sustainable growth. This skill enables leaders to make strategic decisions, invest in emerging technologies and stay ahead of the curve in today’s fast-paced business landscape. – Pooja Jain, Meta (Facebook)
9. Active Listening
Active listening is a big focus for me. In tech leadership, it’s easy to rush into problem-solving, but the best solutions come from understanding real pain points. Whether working with engineers or executives, stepping back and truly hearing concerns leads to smarter decisions, stronger teams and technology that actually solves problems instead of just adding complexity. – Benjamin Niaulin, ShareGate by Workleap
10. Strategic Communication
One skill I’ve actively strengthened is strategic communication—translating complex technical concepts into clear, actionable insights for stakeholders. In today’s workplace, tech leaders must bridge the gap between engineering and business, ensuring alignment, informed decisions and smooth collaboration across teams to drive impactful outcomes. – Srikanth Bellamkonda
11. Assuming Positive Intent
One specific soft skill I’ve focused on is the assumption of positive intent. As a leader, I believe this mindset is crucial for fostering trust and collaboration within my team. By assuming positive intent, I encourage an environment where misunderstandings are addressed constructively and conflicts are resolved without jumping to conclusions. – Sarvesh Baveja, Fundbox Inc.
12. ‘Zooming In And Out’
Learning to “zoom in and out” quickly is a key skill to sharpen. With more AI tools, you can operate at every level of the stack. Leaders should get comfortable diving into details when needed and stepping back when things are running smoothly. Do multiple reps to get better. – Naga Vadrevu, Wonderschool inc.
13. Embracing Failure
A willingness to take risks and embrace failure is a trait I believe is important in today’s corporate workplace. When a leader is willing to celebrate misses and focus on learnings, it empowers the team to think outside the box without feeling constrained by tried and tested approaches. – Udit Mehrotra, Amazon
14. Leading With Context
Sharing—even oversharing—context with your team members empowers them to make better decisions for the business. Interestingly enough, the same applies to working with AI. Without context, both people and AI are making decisions in the dark. – Tom Hacohen, Svix
15. Negotiating And Managing Conflict
The ability to effectively manage conflict and negotiate is essential for success as a technology leader. Building and maintaining relationships by aligning diverse interests, incentives and goals is a fundamental leadership skill at all levels, regardless of one’s specific field. – Bihag Karnani, Google
16. Coaching To Bring Out Potential
A key skill I’ve strengthened isn’t just self-improvement—it’s enabling others to grow. Contrary to the maxim “leaders eat last,” great tech leaders empower. I’ve refined my expertise to remove technical constraints and bottlenecks without disrupting workflows, allowing engineers to develop independently. True leadership is about coaching teams to reach their full potential, not controlling their growth. – Albert Lie, Forward Labs
17. Reverse Mentorship
I actively engage in reverse mentoring to stay ahead of AI, automation and digital trends. Younger employees are immersed in these technologies, and they can offer valuable insights leaders can’t afford to ignore. Learning from them fosters innovation, informs strategic decisions and bridges knowledge gaps, ensuring our organization remains agile and future-ready. – Justin Goldston, Gemach DAO
18. High EQ
The future belongs to leaders with high EQs—those with empathy, self-awareness and the ability to make genuine human connections—because AI will democratize IQ, providing instant access to knowledge and insights. Tomorrow’s standout leaders will inspire loyalty and innovation through emotional intelligence, not information. – Roman Vorel, Honeywell
19. Bridging Knowledge
In my experience, the true skill is meeting people where they are by building a bridge between my knowledge and theirs. I’ve worked to strengthen communication—listening and explaining complex ideas simply. For today’s tech leaders, this is crucial. Technology moves fast, and success depends on aligning diverse teams around a shared vision. If they don’t understand you, they won’t follow you. – Tim Bates, Oppos
20. Curiosity
Leaders shouldn’t think they know everything. As a leader, I prioritize curiosity as a key soft skill. An inquisitive mindset facilitates open communication, accelerates innovation and nurtures a culture empowered by respect and a love of learning. To stay ahead, you must ask questions, be open-minded and solicit new ideas and strategies that might conflict with your preconceived notions. – Eddy Azad, Parsec Automation
