One Interpersonal Skill to Master for Better Leadership

Effective leadership is built on the foundation of a pursuit of understanding.

Excellent interpersonal skills are perhaps one of the most important qualities of a good leader. The best leaders are almost always people about whom others have very little bad to say. That alone speaks volumes — it suggests they’re able to connect with a wide range of personalities, backgrounds, and temperaments.

This doesn’t mean they’re simply nice people who try to please everyone. Quite the opposite. Strong leaders know the weight of their responsibility and the scope of their authority — and they don’t shy away from either. What sets them apart is their ability to earn trust while holding that authority.

People are diverse, and as a result, our preferences in leaders can vary. Some value confidence, others prefer humility. Some look for structure, others seek inspiration. But there’s one trait that tends to unite people across the board: the desire to be understood.

The best leaders understand this at their core. They look beyond surface impressions. They don’t reject ideas outright. They explore. They listen. They offer space for perspectives that differ from their own. They don’t assume others’ opinions are automatically less valuable — they see them as equals in the exchange.

They make a deliberate effort to understand the views, motivations, and concerns of others. They aren’t blindly attached to their own thinking. Instead, they recognize a deeper truth: there is more intelligence, insight, and strength in the group than in any one individual — including themselves.

This pursuit of understanding isn’t a soft skill — it’s the cornerstone of effective leadership. It’s the foundation on which trust is built, where commitment takes root, and where real cooperation begins.