Bridging the Gap: Why Communication is the Most Underrated Leadership Skill in Technical Fields

When we think about what it takes to excel in leadership, we often focus on expertise, technical skills, and strategic decision-making. But there’s one skill that consistently separates great leaders from the rest—the ability to communicate effectively.

In a recent episode of Strategies for Tomorrow’s Leaders, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Sarah Glova, a dynamic thought leader, educator, and communication expert who is helping shape the future of leadership. As a faculty member at North Carolina State University and the President-elect of the Carolinas Chapter of the National Speakers Association, Sarah has spent years working with professionals in highly technical fields—engineers, IT professionals, accountants, and analysts—helping them bridge the gap between expertise and influence.

Our conversation highlighted a fundamental truth: leaders in technical fields don’t rise to the top based solely on their intelligence or technical proficiency. Their ability to communicate ideas clearly and connect with others is what sets them apart.

Your Degree Gets You Hired, But Communication Gets You Promoted

Early in our conversation, Sarah shared that she tells her classes:

"Your degree is going to get you hired, but I'm going to get you promoted."

This simple yet profound insight underscores a harsh reality that many professionals in specialized fields face. They enter the workforce armed with technical knowledge, expecting their expertise to carry them forward. But soon, they realize that knowing something and being able to articulate it in a way that influences others are two entirely different skill sets.

I see this challenge time and time again—brilliant accountants who struggle to present financial reports to executives, IT professionals who can solve complex technical problems but can’t explain them to non-technical colleagues, and data analysts who generate insights that never gain traction because they can’t translate them into actionable business strategies.

Sarah reinforced this point by sharing her experiences working with professionals across industries. Many struggle with the misconception that communication is a "soft skill" that can be ignored in favor of technical mastery. In reality, communication is the bridge between expertise and leadership.

From Expertise to Influence: The Missing Leadership Skill

One of the key takeaways from our discussion was the realization that leadership isn’t about what you know—it’s about how well you can share what you know in a way that moves people to action.

Highly skilled professionals often face a unique challenge. They are trained to focus on precision, logic, and accuracy—qualities that are essential in their fields. However, leadership requires a different skill set: storytelling, emotional intelligence, and the ability to connect with an audience on a human level.

As Sarah put it: "The best communicators don’t just give information. They connect through stories that resonate."

She has seen firsthand how professionals who embrace communication skills become the ones who get invited to leadership meetings, trusted with big projects, and ultimately promoted into higher roles.

So, what does this mean for professionals who want to move from technical expert to influential leader?

1. Simplify Without Dumbing Down

One of the most common mistakes technical professionals make is overloading people with information. When you’ve spent years mastering a complex subject, it’s tempting to showcase your expertise by explaining everything in detail. But effective leaders know that clarity trumps complexity.

For instance:

• An accountant presenting financial projections to a leadership team should focus on the key insights, not just the numbers. Instead of diving deep into every calculation, they should highlight what the data means for business strategy.
• An IT professional explaining a cybersecurity risk to executives should avoid jargon and instead describe the potential impact on business operations and how to mitigate risks.

The key is to focus on why an idea matters before diving into the how. Instead of overwhelming people with data, help them understand the implications of your insights in a way that is relevant to them.

2. Focus on Connection Over Perfection

Sarah emphasized the importance of human connection in communication. Many professionals worry about whether they are saying everything perfectly, but true influence comes from authenticity, not flawless delivery.

"Leadership isn’t about where you are on the org chart. It’s about the impact you have on the people around you," Sarah said.

A senior financial analyst who can break down investment opportunities in a way that excites stakeholders will have far more influence than one who simply presents raw numbers. A software engineer who can clearly explain a new system’s benefits to frontline employees will be much more effective than one who just emails a list of technical updates.

Being relatable, listening actively, and engaging in meaningful conversations will take you further than a perfectly rehearsed presentation.

3. Develop Your Storytelling Skills

Stories are one of the most powerful tools a leader can use. Facts tell, but stories sell. Whether you are leading a team, pitching an idea, or explaining a technical concept to a non-technical audience, stories help people visualize the message, engage emotionally, and remember the key points.

Consider:

• A finance professional who can frame a budget proposal around real business challenges and opportunities rather than just numbers will gain more buy-in.
• A cybersecurity expert who shares a compelling case study of a company that suffered a major breach will make the risks feel real and urgent.
• A data scientist who can frame insights around a customer story rather than just statistics will have a greater impact.

1. Recognize That Communication Is a Leadership Skill, Not a Soft Skill

Many professionals view communication as a "nice to have" rather than a critical leadership competency. But in reality, the best leaders are those who can clearly articulate a vision, align teams around a common goal, and inspire action.

Sarah’s work with global organizations has shown that the best professionals—the ones who rise to senior leadership—are the ones who invest in their communication skills. They understand that their technical knowledge is only as valuable as their ability to share it effectively.

Final Thoughts: The Leaders Who Rise Are the Leaders Who Communicate

Throughout our conversation, Sarah and I kept coming back to one undeniable truth: Leadership is not about having the best ideas—it’s about being able to communicate those ideas in a way that makes an impact.

In today’s fast-paced, innovation-driven world, technical expertise alone is no longer enough. If you want to lead, you must be able to translate your knowledge into influence, your expertise into action, and your vision into a compelling story that others can rally behind.

So, whether you are an accountant, IT professional, engineer, data analyst, or financial expert, the key to unlocking your leadership potential lies in your ability to communicate with clarity, confidence, and connection.

After all, as Sarah so brilliantly put it, your degree may get you in the door—but your ability to communicate is what will open the next one.