By Leonardo Capita, The Muse
Leadership skills aren’t just for people with fancy titles—they’re for anyone who wants to make an impact. You don’t need to be a CEO, manager, or team lead to act like a leader. In fact, some of the most effective leadership happens behind the scenes: coordinating a project, supporting a colleague, or stepping up during a crisis.
And no—you don’t need to be born with these skills. They’re learnable, teachable, and absolutely worth building, no matter your job title.
What are leadership skills?
Leadership skills are the abilities and behaviors someone can use to guide, motivate, and influence others toward a common goal. They include everything from communication and decision-making to conflict resolution and emotional awareness.
These skills aren’t limited to people in leadership positions—they’re useful for anyone who wants to contribute more effectively to their team and workplace.
It’s also worth noting that leadership isn’t just a personality trait. Leadership traits—like confidence or charisma—may come naturally, but leadership skills are learned and strengthened through training, feedback, practice, and experience.
These abilities are becoming more essential every day. In today’s workplaces, where teams are often remote, fast-paced, and constantly evolving, good leadership skills help people collaborate better, solve problems faster, and stay connected to a shared mission.
15 leadership skills examples
Whether you’re leading a team or simply aiming to be more effective in your current role, here are 15 examples of leadership skills to know.
1. Self-awareness
Self-awareness isn’t just knowing your personality type or work style—it’s about recognizing the emotional patterns, triggers, and stories you carry into your leadership interactions.
“It’s not the surface-level kind that shows up in personality assessments, but the deeper work of recognizing how internal blocks—frustration, insecurity, ego, or past experiences—show up in interactions,” says NYC-based executive coach Alexis Mobley.
For example, in one coaching session, Mobley helped a leader uncover that their ongoing tension with a colleague wasn’t about the current conflict at all. Instead, it stemmed from a previous job where they felt repeatedly dismissed—an old wound that was influencing their current behavior.
Developing self-awareness gives you the ability to pause, reflect, and respond differently. It’s the starting point for communicating clearly, giving fair feedback, making better decisions, and building trust.
2. Communication
Leadership communication skills are about more than just speaking clearly. Strong communicators know how to tailor their message to their audience, choose the right format (email, call, async update), and create alignment around a shared goal. They’re also great at giving feedback and creating space for others to share ideas.
For example, a good communicator might follow up after a tough meeting with a clear, kind message that resets expectations and affirms the team’s direction. This kind of communication builds clarity, trust, and momentum.
3. Active listening
You can’t be a great communicator without also being a great listener. Active listening means giving someone your full attention—not just waiting for your turn to talk. Leaders who listen well ask thoughtful questions, reflect back what they’ve heard, and resist the urge to interrupt or jump in with solutions too quickly.
Imagine a manager who notices tension on their team and schedules one-on-ones to truly listen—not to lecture. Their willingness to hear people out helps them get ahead of conflict and build stronger, longer-term relationships.
4. Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand and care about what someone else is feeling—and it’s at the heart of good leadership skills. An empathetic leader notices when a team member is struggling, checks in privately, and offers support without judgment.
Empathy doesn’t mean lowering expectations; it means leading with humanity and understanding that people are more than their performance metrics. They have personal lives with all kinds of problems. Especially in hybrid and remote environments, empathetic leadership helps people feel seen and supported.
5. Integrity
Integrity is about doing the right thing—even when it’s uncomfortable. Leaders with integrity are consistent, transparent, and accountable. They admit mistakes, honor their word, and make ethical decisions.
For example, a leader who owns up to a misstep during a team presentation—and outlines how they’ll fix it—sets the tone for honesty and growth. When leaders model integrity, they earn long-term respect and trust.
6. Adaptability and agility
Modern leaders have to navigate constant change—tight deadlines, shifting priorities, global disruptions. That’s where adaptability comes in. Agile leaders stay flexible, respond to feedback, and pivot without panic.
Imagine a product manager whose launch plan is upended by customer feedback. Instead of sticking to a broken plan, they regroup the team, reassess, and co-create a better approach. Adaptability builds resilience and helps teams keep moving forward, even when the path changes.
7. Relationship-building
Strong relationships are the backbone of any successful leadership. This means more than just networking—it’s about building real trust with peers, reports, and cross-functional collaborators. A relationship-focused leader makes time for connection, listens actively, and follows through on commitments.
Think of a team lead who checks in regularly, remembers what matters to their colleagues, and proactively helps identify and clear blockers. These everyday actions are essential for people to feel supported and make collaboration smoother across the board.
To learn about the remaining skills and to read the full article, visit: https://www.themuse.com/advice/leadership-skills
