Development Dimensions International recently published their annual Global Leadership Forecast on trends worldwide and how countries compare. With more and more companies and organizations requiring broad-based skills to work in an international environment, how can you prepare yourself with the skills needed to succeed?
Besides having a curiosity and an international outlook, a global leader needs to be very versatile in their skill base, their management style and their approach to problem solving.
Here are five skills needed to succeed as a global leader:
Critical thinking. An ability to analyze different scenarios, data and research as well as patterns in behaviors or systems is vital. You will constantly be assessing projects, goals and expectations across many countries; an ability to identify trends or outliers will enable you to be more efficient.
Global mindset. Being open to new ways of working and seeing the world is essential as well as being able to view challenges and opportunities through a global lens. It will also make your day-to-day interactions with your colleagues more pleasant; however, do not expect to be a pro at this from the outset. That comes with practice.
Communication skills. An ability to speak clearly, write clearly and to listen intently will be the key to your success. If English is the official language of your business, remember to slow down and be much more clear in your use of language than you would normally be to ensure all of your colleagues understand your message.
Cultural dexterity. This one takes practice and it is what I call “leaving your country behind on the tarmac”. You must be able to step outside of cultural constructs. A great tip for doing so is by telling yourself – constantly if needed – that you may be the only Canadian, Singaporean, South African that your colleagues and/or clients ever work with, so leave them with a positive experience.
Team leadership. Having a team mindset and experience leading teams is a must. Your management style may need to adjust depending on the business culture. Mastering an ability to be patient – observe and listen when in meetings and in your daily interactions with your team – will help you decipher expectations, cultural understandings and ways of working.
