Harvard Business Review LogoApril 15, 2026HBR Staff/LaylaBird/Getty ImagesThere’s a growing leadership gap that few are talking about. Many leaders are relying on skills that no longer match the needs and demands of their role and today’s workplace. The unintended consequences are popping up everywhere. Trust is eroding, employee engagement is at an all-time low, talent is leaving, and innovation is suffering. Even well-intentioned decisions have tone-deaf landings. The reasons for these problems are not moral failures or personality flaws; they are skill gaps.
Why Leaders Need “Power Skills”
Many leaders today face a gap between their skills and the evolving demands of leadership, especially in fostering trust, engagement, and innovation within teams. Mastery of soft skills, or power skills, is essential for sustained leadership success beyond technical expertise. There are three ways leaders can build these essential skills. First, do leadership listening tours, by meeting employees where the work actually happens through small group conversations, informal walk-arounds, and one-on-one discussions. Second, try empathy shadowing. By visiting employees where they actually work, you can wrap your head around problems in real time and see them, and their response, as they unfold. Finally, take part in reverse mentoring. Identify people whose experiences differ from your own, and hold regular conversations, small group discussions, or structured mentoring sessions where you intentionally learn from their experiences.
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