Every organization needs talented business people to succeed. However, not all business people are created equal — or at least, not all business people can perform all jobs equally well! There are a variety of positions within business that favour specific skill sets.
We’ve identified five “types” and the personal traits associated with them. Each type of business person is ideally suited for different roles within the corporate world: leader, outgoing, helping people, organized, and analytical.
Let’s Take a Look at Leader
Do you usually find yourself in a position of leadership? Are people often looking to you to provide guidance? Do you enjoy leading a team of people?
Here are some traits a leader should possess:
- Has integrity
- Able to see peoples’ strengths and know how to use them
- Is positive and encouraging
- Good listener
- Passionate
Of course, traits alone don’t guarantee success. Beyond these personal traits, there are specific skills to master in order to be an effective leader:
- Communication – A leader must be able to communicate in a manner that gets people to work toward a common goal.
- Motivation – A leader understands the team dynamic by knowing each person’s strengths and weaknesses and how to motivate them. A good leader will use each person in a position that makes the most of their strengths.
- Planning – A leader has a plan to achieve the goal. He/she is able to view scenarios from a high level and not get too bogged down by the details.
- Delegation – A great leader acknowledges that he/she can’t do everything and is be able to delegate effectively.
Check out Ben Yoskovitz’s blog for a list of more leadership skills.
Leaders are concerned with developing others to reach their potential, and use that potential to reach the corporate goal. Here is a great video that helps to explain what leaders focus on: top 10 differences between managers and leaders. Often, leadership traits are most easily recognized in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
SMEs are the fastest growing sector of the economy, internationally and locally. Strong leadership skills are essential for running a successful business, whether as an entrepreneur or part of a senior management team. If you’ve considered owning a business or working for an SME, check out our diploma program in Management and Entrepreneurship.
If you’ve given thought to a career in international business, our graduates find employment opportunities in a wide range of international fields including government, banking, financial services, industry, logistics, supply chain management, marketing, sales, and management consulting.