Soft Skills Shouldn’t Be Hard Work

You are here because you want to grow as a leader.?

And maybe you have a team that you need to grow too.?

Are you technically expert at what you do but you want more, and you know that It’s not enough just to be good at what you do????

You now need to create the superpowers of communication, impact and influence in order to maximise your outcomes as a leader.?

You need to be able to talk business, not just tech.

You need to be able to communicate at all levels and be a positive influence in the business.?

You need to be able to bring your team on board and create outstanding performance.?

You need to be able to think strategically, not just down in the weeds of the expertise you have.?

And we already know that what got you here won’t get you there.?

All those years honing your technical expertise made you what you are now.? But it won’t take you to the next level.?

You need to take on new approaches, new techniques and understanding about your team, about you, and about how you fit into the organisation as a whole.?

The Growing Leaders in Business Newsletter focuses on these tools and techniques in a practical and informal way, so you can digest and implement bite sized pieces to upgrade your skills.?

The three essential areas for high performing leaders to master are to create confidence, collaboration and commitment in your teams, peers and investors, and to be able to engage, enable and excite them into coming with you on your journey.??

Each week we focus on different aspects to help you to create these superpowers.

This week we're looking at why soft skills shouldn't be hard work...

Are you the kind of person who recoils at the thought of having to do a presentation to your C-Suite Colleagues?

Or maybe you get that fluttering, sick feeling when dealing with that awkward person in your team?

Or it could be that you find it hard to connect with people, to build those relationships that you need to get stuff done?

Or you have to attend the board meeting, but no one is listening to you?

Well, this is for you.

It's alright for John in sales, he seems to thrive on talking to people, on sharing his ideas in meetings, and presenting fabulous and interesting products to the masses, while you sit there in the background wishing this would just end.? Well, good for John, huh?

And how come Jenny, the Ops Director always seems to be listened to in meetings, when you feel that no one really wants to hear what you've got to say?

Maybe it seems that they think Tech is a bit of a by-product of the business rather than an integral part, but you can’t seem to change their minds, or get them interested?

Well, maybe your amazing tech skills, great ideas, and systems thinking is top notch, but those much-needed soft skills feel like hard work for you?

And we need those soft skills, and that leader’s mindset to be able to change the way people think.?

• They way they think about Tech in the business
• The way they see your team

And we also need those skills to change the way people see you.?

• That’s your team, your peers and your boss

They need to value you, see you as belonging in the team, and listen to what you have to say.?

But they don’t.?

And maybe it’s because it isn’t enough to be good at the Tech and Tech alone.??

If you want to contribute at C Level, you need to be able to Think, Be and Do at C Level, including your ability to build relationships, grow teams and engage your audience in what you stand for.

Otherwise, you are right – No one is listening!

But people are messy, people are difficult, and code is so much easier!

But it doesn’t have to be so hard.?

One of the things we teach on our CTO Impact Accelerator is that these skills, even if they don’t come naturally are, in fact, learnable.?

It’s like a jigsaw puzzle.

Once you understand some of the rules, and the approaches that work for different people you select your approach from your various options.?

Once you know how you need to be thinking, behaving and showing up, then you can apply the tools you need for each situation.?

Yes, it needs practice, but it is possible to become relevant, interesting and valuable to those around you.? Even if they are not Tech people.?

They need you, and the business needs you.??

You need to be integrated into their world and they yours. Because when that happens you are then less likely to be cast off to one side but brought in from the cold.?

They are going to be engaged, excited, and enabled to utilise Tech in all aspects of their business and trust you to lead them towards it.?

So, if you would like to learn how to make it easy on yourself, then join us in our next CTO Superpowers Workshop: Soft Skills Shouldn’t be hard work. You can register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tcOuuqDwrEtTGYp9Y-bk30NDbJ4WvtWhp

We are going to look at the top 3 skills you need to be play as a C-Level executive, get your point across and be heard.?

See you there!

Julie.?

Julie "Chief Impact Engineer" Hutchison

Email: [email protected]

P.S. Whenever you are ready...here are 4 ways I can help you increase your impact as a leader:

1. Join The "Quiet Leaders Lab? Facebook Group and connect with other leaders who want to grow

It's our Facebook community where those that are The Quiet Leaders can learn and share how to increase their impact, influence and outcomes – Click here

2. Grab a free copy of my leadership impact report: The Team Performance Engine?

It’s the Road Map to your journey to increasing your impact as a leader - Click here

3. Join our Leaders Launchpad? Mastermind Group Programme

This Mastermind is a selected group of like-minded leaders, in an online community, focused on growing your results.? With training, group coaching calls, guest speakers and more, supporting and challenging you to design and implement real team performance in your business.

Send me a message or email [email protected] with "IMPLEMENT" in the subject line and we can discuss how you can join us

4. Work with me and my team privately

If you or your team just need a little more one to one attention to make change happen in your business... just message and put "PRIVATE" in the subject line... tell me a little about your business and what you’d like to work on together, and I’ll get you all the details!