Why Every Leader Needs Soft Skills

In this episode of the Sound Leadership podcast, leadership experts Dan Boniface and Darren Draper unpack one of the most misunderstood areas of modern leadership — soft skills.

Drawing on decades of experience coaching senior leaders across industries, they reveal why soft skills aren’t “nice to have,” but the superpower behind high-performing teams and cultures.

 Together, they explore:

• The surprising origins of soft skills — from the U.S. Army to today’s boardroom.
• The five most powerful human skills every leader needs in 2025: active listening, storytelling, adaptability, resilience, and emotional intelligence (EQ).
• Emerging skills like cognitive flexibility and reflective thinking that separate good leaders from great ones.
• How to build and practise soft skills using the Awareness → Responsibility Model.

🎧 Listen now to discover Dan and Darren’s Top 3 Leadership Soundbites — and learn how to develop the human side of leadership that truly drives performance, trust, and culture.

📩 Contact: [email protected]
🌐 Visit: thebcfgroup.co.uk/sound-leadership
💼 Connect: Dan Boniface | Darren Draper

 #soundleadership #communication #leadership #coaching #emotionalintelligence #radicalcandor #SBI #teamperformance #trust #collaboration #awarenessresponsibility #HR #L&D

And if you want to get to know the team more then head over to The Sound Leadership YouTube channel.