The Real Career Power Play Is Developing Soft Skills
Often undervalued or overlooked in favor of technical expertise, soft skills are increasingly essential in every profession. From entry-level careers to the C-suite, mastering soft skills opens up leadership opportunities.
Soft skills influence how you lead teams. According to a LinkedIn Global Talent Trends report, 89% of recruiters say that when a hire doesn't work out, it typically comes down to a lack of soft skills. Additionally, employers increasingly look for emotional intelligence and communication over technical credentials alone.
As the CEO of Tilting Futures, Erin Lewellen is accustomed to change and the skills it takes to lead through it. Formerly known as Global Citizen Year, the organization rebranded and expanded its mission in 2022 to create immersive learning experiences that prepare young people to become globally engaged leaders. Under Lewellen's leadership, Tilting Futures has focused not only on what students learn but also on how they grow, particularly through the development of soft skills.
'Every single high-stakes business situation I can think of absolutely requires adept deployment of soft skills,' Lewellen states.
She emphasizes three areas as critical for today's up-and-coming leaders:
The ability to professionally disagree is a powerful tool, especially for those wanting to secure a leadership role. It's not about constantly compromising; it's about engaging in constructive conversations even when opinions differ. Leaders who master this skill are able to challenge assumptions, test ideas and arrive at better decisions without damaging relationships.
Lewellen notes that disagreeing well is more than just managing conflict. It's about showing respect while challenging ideas. 'When a leader can disagree with her team in a way that shows fundamental respect for the team and for the goal at hand, all ships rise,' she explains. This skill, rooted in emotional intelligence and trust, is increasingly valued by employers who recognize that innovation depends on diverse perspectives and open dialogue.
How to develop it:
Erin Lewellen, CEO of Tilting Futures, is creating opportunities for younger generations to develop ... More a diverse leadership style.
Adaptability is key to both personal resilience and organizational success. This trait involves the willingness to shift approaches and remain open to new ideas. Adaptable leaders pivot when circumstances demand it. They anticipate and prepare for change. This mindset allows organizations to stay competitive.
This skill set is another trait Lewellen sees as non-negotiable. 'We don't live in a linear, slow-paced world,' she says. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tilting Futures had to pivot dramatically. Rather than closing its doors, the team launched new programming that met the moment—growing its reach and impact. 'Had we become too attached to our original, single story, we would have missed opportunity in ways we hadn't yet imagined.'
How to develop it:
Strong decision-making requires critical thinking. Leaders who make sound decisions can solve complex problems, balance risks and move forward with clarity. Importantly, they also know when to involve others and when to lead decisively.
Decision-making, often overlooked as a soft skill, is the thread that ties it all together. Lewellen believes well-informed decisions come from unpacking problems strategically and understanding stakeholders. 'This skill encompasses so many others like empathy, creativity and collaboration,' she reflects.
How to develop it:
Lewellen practices these skills herself and coaches her team to do the same. She fosters a culture where leaders are encouraged to ask difficult questions, share context freely and let ideas develop over time. She urges, 'Put the idea on the table and discuss—and disagree, please disagree—so we make the best possible decision together.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
4 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Trump's Fed battle is not like his other political tussles
President Trump is once again floating the idea of firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, ostensibly in objection to excessively high interest rates. But this debate is not about monetary policy. It's a power play aimed at subordinating America's central bank to the fiscal needs of the executive branch and Congress. In other words, we have a textbook case of 'fiscal dominance' on our hands — and that always ends poorly. I'm no cheerleader for Powell. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he enthusiastically backed every stimulus package, regardless of size or purpose, as if these involved no trade-offs. Where were the calls for 'Fed independence' then? And where were the calls for fiscal restraint after the emergency was over? Powell failed to anticipate the worst inflation in four decades and repeated for far too long the absurd claim that it was 'transitory' even as mounting evidence showed otherwise. He blamed supply-side disruptions long after ports had reopened and goods were moving. And as inflation was taking a stubborn hold, Powell delayed raising interest rates — possibly to shield the Biden administration from the fiscal fallout of the debt it was piling on — well past the point when monetary tightening was needed. If this weren't the world of government, where failure can be rewarded — and if there had been a more obvious alternative — Powell wouldn't have been invited back for another term. But he was. And so Trump's pressure campaign to prematurely end Powell's tenure is dangerous. I get why with budget deficits exploding and debt-service costs surging, the president wants lower interest rates. That would make the cost of his own fiscal agenda appear more tolerable. Trump likely believes he's justified because he believes that his tax cuts and deregulation are about to spur huge economic growth. To be sure, some growth will result, though the effects of deregulation will take a while to arrive. But gains could be swamped by the negative consequences of Trump's tariffs and erratic tariff threats. No matter what, the new growth won't lead to enough new tax revenue to escape the need for the government to borrow more. And the more the government borrows, the more intense the pressure on interest rates. One thing is for sure: The pressure Trump and his people are exerting on the Fed is a push for fiscal dominance. The executive branch wants to use the central bank as a tool to accommodate the government's frenzy of reckless borrowing. Such political control of a central bank is a hallmark of failed monetary systems in weak institutional settings. History shows where that always leads: to inflation, economic stagnation and financial instability. So far, Powell is resisting cutting rates, hence the barrage of insults and threat of firing. But now is not the right time to play with fire. Bond yields surged last year as investors reckoned with the scale of U.S. borrowing. They crossed the 5% threshold again recently. Moody's even stripped the government of its prized AAA credit rating. Lower interest rates from the Fed — especially if seen as the result of raw political pressure — could further diminish the allure of U.S. Treasuries. While the Fed can temporally influence interest rates, especially in the short run, it cannot override long-term fears of inflation, economic sluggishness and political manipulation of monetary policy driven by unsustainable fiscal policy. That's where confidence matters, and confidence is eroding. This is why markets are demanding a premium for funds loaned to a government that is now $36 trillion in debt and shows no intention of slowing down. But it could get worse. If the average interest rate on U.S. debt climbs from 3.3% to 5%, interest payments alone could soar from $900 billion to $2 trillion annually. That would make debt service by far the single largest item in the federal budget — more than Medicare, Social Security, the military or any other program readers care about. And because much of this debt rolls over quickly, higher rates hit fast. At the end of the day, the bigger problem isn't Powell's monetary policy. It's the federal government's spending addiction. Trump's call to replace Powell with someone who will cut rates ignores the real math. Lower short-term interest rates will do only so much if looser monetary policy is perceived as a means of masking reckless budget deficits. That would make higher inflation a certainty, not merely a possibility. It might not arrive before the next election, but it will inevitably arrive. There is still time to avoid this cliff. Trump is right to worry about surging debt costs, but he's targeting a symptom. The solution isn't to fire Powell — it's to cure the underlying disease, which is excessive government spending. Veronique de Rugy is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. This article was produced in collaboration with Creators Syndicate.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Tariffs have worried parents starting back-to-school shopping early
Back-to-school shoppers are worried about the economy and tariffs and starting their shopping early, according to The National Retail Federation. Shoppers are also pulling back on some purchases for back to school. "One of the ways that we know consumers respond to economic stress and uncertainty is that they move up their shopping around key events," whether that is the holidays or the all-important back to school season, said NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen during a media call on Wednesday. That happened in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when shoppers were uncertain whether schools would be back to in-person learning. It also happened in June of 2021 with supply chain concerns and again in 2022 with amid worries about inflation. "The reasons consumers start earlier are pretty consistent,'' Cullen said. "They do this because they want to avoid stress. They want to make sure they get items in time, particularly if they're worried about things being in short stock." Consumers are under economic stress Consumer sentiment remains at historical low levels, but consumer finances and net worth remain at near record highs, said Mark Mathews, chief economist and executive director of research at the NRF. There has been discretionary income growth, and wages continue to outpace inflation while unemployment remains historically low, said Mathews. There has also been reasonable job creation, though that is muted in the last few months and gives a cause for concern about where those numbers are headed, he said. Debt also remains incredibly high, said Mathews, but "it remains manageable from a servicing standpoint and lower-income households are a lot more challenged with debt, but overall economy wide, we don't see it. A challenge for consumers is that unlike two to three years ago, households no longer have a significant savings buffer, he said. The bottom 80% of U.S. households have been actively "dis-saving", or spending more than their discretionary income, since 2022, he said. "Consumers just don't have that buffer anymore to be able to deal with higher prices. So if we see incomes become a bit more challenged in the face of price rises, it's going to be problematic for consumers because they just don't have those savings to fall back on," Mathews said. Full effect of tariffs is still to come The full effects of tariffs have not yet hit, said Mathews. There are some price increases in some categories, but not all, he said. "We know retailers are trying their hardest to keep those back-to-school items in particular as low as possible," he said. Mathews also said historically, it takes a long time for tariff price hikes to work their way to the consumer. "One of the reasons for that is a lot of retailers' shelves remain stocked with pre-tariff imports. We know retailers increased imports dramatically at the start of the year," Mathews said. Additionally, some retailers may be "eating some more of those tariffs than expected," he added. But Mathews said that worries him because as businesses absorb tariff costs instead of passing them on to the consumer, that can lead to wage and job cuts, which then affects the economy. Back-to-school shopping has already begun Early-bird back-to-school shopping has already begun and has increased in July. This year, 26% of back-to-school and college shoppers had already started browsing and buying items by early June, according to a study by the NRF with Prosper Insights & Analytics of back-to-school consumer attitudes and expectations. That was up from 22% last year and 17% in 2019. Shoppers often say they like buying early to spread out their budget and to get early deals and promotions. A big change came in July, Cullen said, when 57% of families shopping for grade-school and college-students said they had begun their shopping. That's up from 55% last year. A big concern, shoppers say, are tariffs. Three-quarters or 74% of those surveyed said they are shopping earlier this year because they are worried tariffs will cause prices to go up later this season. "In June, people felt a little bit more worried about their finances and they decided, 'Hey, maybe I'll just buy what I need and then replenish later in the year,' " said Cullen. "That shifted in July when they felt 'No, I need to stock up and save because things might be much more expensive later in the season or later in the year.' " How much are shoppers expecting to spend on back to school items? According to the NRF, the average K-12 shopper is budgeting $858 this year on average per student, down from $875, while those buying for a college student this year are expected to spend $1,326, down from $1,365 last year. And although average spending is expected to be down, total spending is expected to go up as shoppers prioritize essential categories, said Cullen. Overall back-to-school spending is expected to reach $128 billion this year, up 2% from last year, she said. Still, there are categories shoppers will be pulling back on. The biggest is electronics, Cullen said. While they may spend on the core school items like laptops, tablets and even a smartphone, Cullen said some shoppers are holding off on accessories that may seem more discretionary like headphones or speakers or maybe even game consoles. They may be looking for hand-me-downs from family members, she said. Save money: Back-to-school shopping is tax-free in some states with specific dates. See the full 17-state list. How are back to school shoppers spending differently? Here's some other highlights from the NRF's call: Sales Tax Holidays help save money Shoppers may be able to save some money on their back-to-school shopping if their state has a sales-tax holiday. Seventeen states have designated times in July and August when certain items can be purchased tax-free. Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at blinfisher@ or follow her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher and @ on Bluesky. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include consumer news on Fridays, here.
CNN
7 hours ago
- CNN
Republican nominee for Virginia governor names new campaign manager
Republican Winsome Earle-Sears is bringing on a new campaign manager as the GOP nominee for Virginia governor seeks to quell concerns about the direction of her campaign ahead of the high-profile off-year election this November. Pennsylvania-based political strategist Corey Barsky will take on the role, CNN has learned. A campaign spokesperson says Barsky will take over for Will Archer, who the campaign announced last week was moving into a different role. Barsky has already been serving as a senior adviser for the campaign. According to his LinkedIn page, he is currently a strategist at the political consulting firm ColdSpark and a 2021 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. The staffing shift comes as Earle-Sears, the state's lieutenant governor, trails her Democratic rival, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, in fundraising and public polling. Spanberger announced last week that her campaign raised $10.7 million in the second quarter, eclipsing the $5.9 million brought in by Earle-Sears. A recent poll by Virginia Commonwealth University found Earle-Sears trailing Spanberger by 12 points, 49% to 37%. Republicans have publicly criticized her fundraising and outreach to donors, including in a Politico magazine story published Wednesday. Core to Earle-Sears election argument is an emphasis on creating jobs and pursuing policies to benefit the working class. She's also leaning on the record of incumbent Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin though her campaign has also noted she cannot self-finance much of her campaign like Youngkin, who had a long business career before entering politics.
