Soft skills examples: 5 famous managers who master them

1. Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO) – Emotional Intelligence:

When Nadella took over as CEO in 2014, Microsoft was struggling with internal conflicts and a stagnant product line. He emphasized the importance of empathy and understanding the needs of others, both within the company and in terms of understanding what customers wanted. This emotional intelligence has been credited with helping to turn Microsoft around and bring about a more innovative, cooperative culture.

2. Indra Nooyi (Former PepsiCo CEO) – Communication:

Nooyi is well-known for her exceptional communication skills. She was always clear and concise in conveying her strategic vision for PepsiCo, and she was equally adept at listening to feedback from employees at all levels of the company. Her clear and effective communication helped to drive PepsiCo’s success during her tenure.

3. Richard Branson (Founder of the Virgin Group) – Teamwork and Collaboration:

Branson has long advocated for the importance of teamwork, often stating that the success of the various Virgin companies is a result of the hard work of all employees, not just the top executives. He often works directly with his teams and values their input, demonstrating his belief in collaboration.

4. Mary Barra (General Motors CEO) – Problem-Solving:

Barra has shown her problem-solving skills numerous times throughout her career, but it was most evident when she took over as GM’s CEO during the company’s ignition switch crisis. She quickly took responsibility for the issue, testified before Congress, and set about solving the problem by initiating one of the largest auto recalls in history. She demonstrated a clear ability to navigate and solve complex problems under pressure.

5. Reed Hastings (Netflix CEO) – Adaptability:

Hastings has overseen Netflix’s transformation from a DVD-by-mail company to a leading streaming and content creation platform. His ability to adapt to changing market conditions and consumer preferences has been a key factor in Netflix’s success. He’s also instilled this value of adaptability in the company culture, as demonstrated by Netflix’s agility in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by releasing more content for home-bound viewers.