7 Leadership Competencies

90% of CEOs master spreadsheets and strategy.

Only 10% master the skills that actually matter.

The difference?

They’ve developed 7 core competencies that separate leaders from managers.

After coaching 100s of CEOs, I’ve noticed the same pattern:

The struggling ones have impressive resumes.

The thriving ones have these capabilities.

1. Emotional Intelligence

Your IQ got you the job.
Your EQ keeps you there.


Reading rooms, managing reactions, navigating politics. This is 80% of leadership.

2. Critical Thinking

Everyone analyzes problems.
Few ask “What am I missing?” before deciding.

That pause? That’s where breakthroughs live.

3. Vision Setting

Strategy without vision is just a to-do list.
Great CEOs paint futures so compelling that people volunteer for the journey.

They make tomorrow feel inevitable.

4. People Development

Your job isn’t to be the smartest person in the room.
It’s to build a room full of smart people.

Coach by asking questions, not giving answers.

5. Managing Change

Change fails when you start with process.
Change succeeds when you start with why.

People don’t resist change—they resist being changed.

6. Accountability

Weak leaders track activity.
Strong leaders track outcomes.

Make metrics visible. Let results speak louder than excuses.

7. Clear Communication

Not just talking. Creating understanding.
The best CEOs explain complex strategies like they’re telling stories to friends.

They repeat key messages differently until everyone gets it.

Technical skills get you promoted.
These competencies get you remembered.

You can have the perfect strategy, flawless execution, record profits.

But if you can’t communicate clearly?
If you can’t read a room?
If you can’t develop others?

You’re not leading.
You’re just occupying an office.

The CEOs who last don’t just run companies.
They master themselves first.

Your legacy won’t be your quarterly results.
It’ll be the leaders you created along the way.