Lynne StephensCEO / Managing Director| Australasian Leadership Academy (ALA) RTO 41012Noosa, Queensland, Australia
Project Managers are now expected to wear many hats – from change leaders to strategic thinkers and team coaches. 💬 What do you think is the most underrated skill in project leadership today? At ALA, our Project Management programs go beyond the fundamentals – we build adaptable, people-focused leaders ready for modern challenges. Saving Changes...
You're absolutely right. Technical skills are important, but they’re not enough on their own. The human element is what often determines the success or failure of complex projects. One of the most underrated skills in project leadership today is emotional intelligence, which is the ability to lead with empathy, build trust, and navigate team dynamics. In today’s fast-changing environments, the ability to connect with people is just as critical as the ability to manage tasks.
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1 reply by Lynne Stephens
Aug 11, 2025 9:07 PM
Lynne Stephens
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"Absolutely — emotional intelligence really is a cornerstone of effective project leadership. As you’ve said, it’s about far more than managing tasks; it’s about building trust, leading with empathy, and navigating the often complex human dynamics that influence project success.
In fast-changing environments, that ability to connect with people can make all the difference when guiding teams through uncertainty and change.
I’m curious — in your experience, which aspect of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, or relationship management) has the biggest impact on project outcomes?"
Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
No!
I led a program without any knowledge of the technology involved, which forced me to recruit good technical people. Leadership is about making it happen through people, not yourself.
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2 replies by Christopher Whaley and Lynne Stephens
May 19, 2025 2:41 AM
Lynne Stephens
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Absolutely - Leadership in Project Management is essential, in my view.
Aug 12, 2025 2:37 PM
Christopher Whaley
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This is some great insight. Not many people are able to "take the backseat" and build others around them. Most tend to want to do the work. From what I've learned about leadership, it's all about empowering others to get the job done!
Saving Changes...
Lynne StephensCEO / Managing Director| Australasian Leadership Academy (ALA) RTO 41012Noosa, Queensland, Australia
May 19, 2025 1:28 AM
Replying to Thomas Walenta
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No!
I led a program without any knowledge of the technology involved, which forced me to recruit good technical people. Leadership is about making it happen through people, not yourself.
Absolutely - Leadership in Project Management is essential, in my view. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Lynne, technical knowledge is 25% at most, the rest is all dependent on your soft skills as. Project or Program Manager.
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1 reply by John Nash
May 20, 2025 9:10 AM
John Nash
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ideally you need just enough technical knowledge to spot the bullsh*t
Saving Changes...
Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Excellent reflection. In today’s landscape of volatility, ambiguity, and accelerated change, technical competence is necessary but no longer sufficient. One of the most underrated — yet essential — skills in project leadership is sensemaking: the ability to interpret complexity, connect fragmented signals, and guide the team through uncertainty with clarity and confidence.
It’s not just about delivering outputs; it’s about cultivating shared understanding, adapting to emerging realities, and creating the conditions for collective resilience. Programs like ALA’s that emphasize adaptability and people-centered leadership are aligned with what the future demands: not just managers of tasks, but architects of transformation.
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1 reply by Lynne Stephens
May 19, 2025 7:31 PM
Lynne Stephens
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Thank you for your excellent repsponse & feedback. I love the architects of transformation.
Saving Changes...
Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
If technical skills was sufficient to lead complexprojects than any Engineer could lead one. Experience shows that's usually not the case, however. Saving Changes...
The best idea will go nowhere unless the inventor can do everything themselves. Once the team grows larger than 1, communication and leadership are required to achieve a shared goal.
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1 reply by Lynne Stephens
May 19, 2025 7:33 PM
Lynne Stephens
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I agree ...communication and leadership are required to achieve a shared goal. Such a passion of mine
I would say that technical skills alone have never been enough to lead complex projects.
While not something I've personally run into, I've been hearing from younger IT/Technical Project Managers that they are expected to have coding and more physical technical skills, but these seem to be more niche positions.
The most underrated skill in project leadership? That's a tough one. Is a skill underrated if a lot of articles, books, and videos talk about how important it is? For me, the skill that's paid off the most has been persistence to keep digging into what really happened or is actually needed when nobody seems to know, or admits to knowing the answer. Saving Changes...
Lynne StephensCEO / Managing Director| Australasian Leadership Academy (ALA) RTO 41012Noosa, Queensland, Australia
May 19, 2025 3:40 AM
Replying to Luis Branco
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Excellent reflection. In today’s landscape of volatility, ambiguity, and accelerated change, technical competence is necessary but no longer sufficient. One of the most underrated — yet essential — skills in project leadership is sensemaking: the ability to interpret complexity, connect fragmented signals, and guide the team through uncertainty with clarity and confidence.
It’s not just about delivering outputs; it’s about cultivating shared understanding, adapting to emerging realities, and creating the conditions for collective resilience. Programs like ALA’s that emphasize adaptability and people-centered leadership are aligned with what the future demands: not just managers of tasks, but architects of transformation.
Thank you for your excellent repsponse & feedback. I love the architects of transformation. Saving Changes...
Lynne StephensCEO / Managing Director| Australasian Leadership Academy (ALA) RTO 41012Noosa, Queensland, Australia
May 19, 2025 3:10 PM
Replying to Keith Novak
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The best idea will go nowhere unless the inventor can do everything themselves. Once the team grows larger than 1, communication and leadership are required to achieve a shared goal.
I agree ...communication and leadership are required to achieve a shared goal. Such a passion of mine Saving Changes...
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