Or sometimes persuade a party member to stay in my group even if he doesn't like some other party member so much.

Only if I really want some captured town I could talk to all the lords and try to persuade them to support me. It is easy enough to get upgrades by fighting Me and some of my mates have 1 to 3 (mostly 0). That's why I improved my pathfinding skill even I have a scout expert too (she works normally as my scout). The reason is that if the person is so badly wounded that his/her health drops to red, he/she cannot provide any help. Healthcare atributes (three in total) I find so important that I try to increase them bit on three persons. For example engineering can be left to one companion. Most of the other tasks can be delegated to your friends (those you can find in taverns). My dude is on level 40 and I think it has 9 tactics and 5 strength related fighting skills Of course some improvement but you can get armour by buying too. The fighting skills I find bit less important for a leader. Quicker to reach places where your help is needed or run away if hugely overnumbered. High value gives bigger party, better morale and lower wages (supports having bigger party without burning a hole in your pocket) High level on this allows you to take bigger enemies in 1 to 1 You are the commander and so your 1st task is to command and do so effectively. I suppose it depends bit on how you play.

Mount and blade warband skills