5 Underrated Skills Every Leader Needs

Being a leader isn’t for the faint of heart. You’re managing projects– and you’re managing people. And while there are plenty of leadership books out there preaching about vision and strategy, some of the most impactful skills often fly under the radar. Let’s break down six underrated skills every leader needs to master. 

1. Running 1:1 Meetings
2. Translating Ideas
3. Delegating Authority
4. Being Transparent
5. Managing to Motivations

1. Running 1:1 Meetings

Many leaders dread 1-on-1’s because they’re uncomfortable. Or, maybe they don’t see the point. Solving external problems is straightforward, but employee relationships? Not so much. These meetings often lack structure, making them feel like an awkward check-in rather than a productive conversation.

How to Execute

Go into your 1:1’s with purpose. Start with a simple framework: What’s going well? What’s challenging? What can I do to support you? Use this time to engage and coach your employee, not just review their task list. Feedback—good or bad—is an essential part of these meetings.

When done right, 1:1’s build trust, accelerate performance, and increase engagement. Employees feel heard, supported, and motivated. Plus, you’ll gain insight into potential roadblocks before they become full-blown issues.

Explore more: How to have effective 1:1’s

2. Translating Ideas

Big-picture thinking is great—until it’s not. Many leaders excel at crafting a grand vision but struggle to translate it into actionable details. This is especially problematic for detail-oriented teams that thrive on clarity and structure. Without specifics, your team is left guessing what you actually want and you’re left wondering where the miscommunication happened.

How to Execute

Balance your visionary ideas with clear, actionable instructions. During meetings, ask questions like, “What else do you need from me to get started?” or “Is there anything I can clarify before we wrap up?” This not only helps you provide clarity but also empowers your team to ask for what they need.

Clarity leads to fewer misunderstandings, better productivity, and happier teams. By giving your team the structure they need, you’ll spend less time micromanaging and more time focusing on what you do best.

Explore more: Working with High Formality Colleagues

3. Delegating Authority

Delegation is one of the only skills that can get you time back in your schedule, if you do it right that is. Many leaders are great at delegating tasks but terrible at delegating authority. The result? A bottleneck where every decision still flows through you. Delegating decision-making power is how you truly empower your team.

How to Execute

Identify tasks or projects where your team members can own the outcomes, not just the process. Make it clear that they have the authority to make decisions, and step back to let them lead. Resist the urge to swoop in and “fix” things unless absolutely necessary.

Delegating authority builds trust and strengthens leadership at all levels. It frees up your time while giving your team members the confidence to step up and shine. Plus, you’ll avoid being the bottleneck for every decision.

Explore more: 5 steps to Delegation Mastery

4. Being Transparent

Transparency builds trust. Trust builds better teams, which leads to higher performance. But let’s clarify: we’re not suggesting you spill your deepest secrets during team meetings. Being transparent means owning your strengths, weaknesses, and work style, so your team knows what to expect.

How to Execute

Start by sharing how you’re wired. For example: “I know I’m more of a big-picture thinker, so feel free to point out if I’ve missed something in the details.” This kind of honesty shows vulnerability and creates an open environment where your team feels comfortable communicating.

When you’re transparent, you create a culture of trust and psychological safety. Your team will feel more comfortable sharing their own challenges, leading to better communication and collaboration.

Explore more: How to use PI for personal development

5. Managing to Motivations

The golden rule—treat others as you’d like to be treated—doesn’t cut it in leadership. Enter the platinum rule: treat others as they want to be treated. Managing to your team’s motivations instead of your own preferences ensures everyone gets what they need to succeed.

How to Execute

Get to know your team members’ strengths, weaknesses, and work styles. If you’re naturally assertive but your employee thrives on encouragement, adjust your approach. Ask questions like, “What motivates you?” or “How do you like to receive feedback?”

When you tailor your leadership to individual needs, you boost morale, productivity, and retention. You’re also validating your team members’ unique strengths, which creates a more cohesive and high-performing team.

Explore more: Motivation through meaningful connections

Bonus #6. Growing Employees, Not Enabling

A growth mindset is essential for both leaders and their teams. But there’s a fine line between meeting employees where they are and enabling them to stay stuck. Great leaders challenge their team members to grow without setting them up for failure.

How to Execute

Identify opportunities for growth and gently push your team members outside their comfort zones. If someone struggles with details, coach them to reasonably improve rather than allowing dropped balls to become the norm. Offer support and resources, but hold others accountable.

Focusing on growth helps your employees build new skills and confidence. Over time, this strengthens your team’s overall capabilities and prepares them for bigger responsibilities. Plus, it creates a culture of continuous improvement.

Final Thoughts: Lead Smarter, Not Harder

Leadership isn’t about doing it all yourself—it’s about empowering your team to thrive. By mastering these six underrated skills, you’ll create a happier, more productive team that’s ready to tackle any challenge.

Ready to take your leadership skills to the next level? MindWire’s coaching programs can help you become the leader your team needs. Let’s get started—because great leaders never stop growing.