The holiday season is such a great time for catch-up business reading lying on the couch, on the beach, on the sun lounger around the pool or even in bed on lazy mornings. And sometimes, with the good old hard copy newspapers!
So, you can imagine my absolute delight when article after article started to show a common denominator close to my and all of our team’s hearts.
The absolute importance of communication in 2025 and beyond. Something I have passionately believed to be true since our world became digitally centred and our children were growing up texting rather than speaking to each other.
A December 2024 Forbes article, which is well worth the read for executives and emerging leaders – 4 Lessons 2024 Taught Us About Thriving In A Changing Job Market – agrees with me when commenting on ‘soft skills’:
In a world where technology is advancing at lightning speed, soft skills have become the true X-factor. Emotional intelligence, leadership, communication, and adaptability are what set you apart. While machines can crunch data and follow algorithms, they can’t foster trust in a team or navigate a tough conversation with a client. That’s where we, as humans, come in.
Soft Skills Are the True Competitive Edge
As remote and hybrid work continue to reshape the workplace, soft skills have never been more critical. Being able to connect with people, communicate clearly, and collaborate effectively isn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore; it’s non-negotiable. Sure, technical skills might get your foot in the door, but soft skills determine how far you’ll go.
In a recent AFR article, Canva chief people officer Jennie Rogerson was quoted as saying “the focus for workers in 2025 must be their human or ‘soft’ skills – those that cannot be replicated by AI”.
Experts group effective communication, empathy, adaptability, self-awareness and a growth mindset as the essential ‘human skills’.
Effective communication is critically important in the realm of human skills (soft skills) for executives and leaders. It is at the core of leadership success.
It serves as the foundation for nearly every aspect of leadership, enabling leaders to influence, motivate, and build meaningful connections. Without effective communication, even the most brilliant strategies can fall flat.
These are the reasons why effective communication is critical:
1. It Builds Trust and Relationships
- Why It Matters: Trust is a key component of any effective team, and clear, honest communication helps build and sustain that trust. Leaders who communicate openly foster a culture of respect and psychological safety.
- Impact: Teams are more engaged, cohesive, and willing to share ideas when communication is transparent.
2. It Inspires and Motivates Teams
- Why It Matters: Visionary communication enables leaders to align their teams with a shared purpose. Leaders who can articulate the ‘why’ behind their decisions inspire loyalty and drive motivation.
- Impact: A well-communicated vision energises employees, helping them to see their roles in achieving larger organisational goals.
3. It Drives Clarity and Reduces Misunderstandings
- Why It Matters: Ambiguity in communication leads to confusion, errors, and wasted resources. Leaders who prioritise clarity ensure everyone is on the same page, whether it’s about goals, expectations, or challenges.
- Impact: Clear communication improves efficiency, productivity, and alignment across teams.
4. It Fosters Collaboration and Teamwork
- Why It Matters: Open communication promotes the free flow of ideas, encourages diverse perspectives, and resolves conflicts effectively.
- Impact: Collaboration thrives when leaders model and encourage active listening, inclusivity, and constructive dialogue.
5. It Assists With Handling Conflict and Crisis Effectively
- Why It Matters: Conflicts and crises are inevitable, but leaders with strong communication skills can de-escalate tensions and navigate challenges with transparency and empathy.
- Impact: Effective communication during difficult times fosters trust and maintains morale.
6. It Enhances Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
- Why It Matters: Communication is how emotional intelligence is expressed in action. Skills like empathy, active listening, and nonverbal cues are essential to understanding and connecting with others.
- Impact: Leaders with high EQ create positive environments, even in high-stress situations.
7. It Allows Leaders to Connect With Diverse and Digital Workforces
- Why It Matters: Leaders must navigate cultural differences, hybrid work models, and digital communication tools effectively. Adapting their communication style ensures inclusivity and connection.
- Impact: Leaders who master diverse and virtual communication foster unity in global teams.
8. It Supports Providing Great Feedback and Driving Growth
- Why It Matters: Constructive feedback is a cornerstone of professional development. When leaders communicate feedback clearly and supportively, they help employees grow and improve.
- Impact: A feedback-driven culture leads to higher engagement and performance.
Communication isn’t just a soft skill—it’s a leadership superpower that allows executives and leaders to get people’s trust to influence, collaborate and inspire them.
75% of leaders in America when Forbes surveyed them (they don’t have the same survey in Australia – sorry!) said they had room for improvement in their communication and needed to invest in extra training and skills development.
I am passionate about communication (just ask me!) and so is our team of former broadcast journalists, corporate communicators and government advisers. So, if you are serious about your career and stepping up and upwards in 2025, and you look honestly at your speaking and other communication and ask yourself the question “is there room for learning some more from experts to be a better leader or subject matter expert?”, ask us about our proprietary program we developed in 2024, The Executive Communicator™.
This is a program designed for the life cycle of executives and leaders – from emerging talent to experienced executives and C-suite.
This personal or executive group program is tailored to you personally, covering specific for communication needs. Be it presenting to the Board, to an industry conference, or to a team; pitching to analysts or investors; managing media interviews for promotion; in times of issues and crisis management; or even presenting at government inquiries, Senate Estimates or Royal Commissions. This training can be completed one-on-one, or is also ideal for groups such as leadership teams or emerging talent program participants. By taking this step, you are guaranteed more career and personal success.
If you would like more information, contact us here for a confidential conversation.
