In today’s modern world, everything that we know about businesses has essentially changed. Global businesses have become increasingly efficient, competitive and dynamic. And to manage a successful business in this world, it requires excellent global leaders. Business life in Dubai is constantly evolving and fast-paced; and to survive or thrive, one needs to be a dynamic global leader.
If a company is like a ship across unknown waters, then a global leader is akin to a lighthouse. Constantly guiding and navigating it to its destination.
Jack Welch, an American business executive and the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of General Electric (GE) once said:
“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.”
The saying stands true to changing times. A good global leader has a broad vision and does not get stuck in a tunnel vision. He must have the creativity and the confidence to articulate that vision comprehensively. And most importantly, after owning that vision, charge the entire team and the business towards its ultimate success.
The RFS HR Consultancy, the top recruiters in UAE, brings you the most important characteristics that define the excellence of a global leader in today’s changing times.
Table of Contents
Key Leadership Tips
Insightfulness and Self-awareness in Global leaders
Navigating the complex and fast business world of today, a global leader must be keenly self-aware about himself and his surroundings. He must know that in this environment, people from all over the world come from different cultures and thinking.
He must be sagacious enough to be acceptful of those ideas and be ready for a debate. He must be fully self-aware of his surroundings and be ready to interact with different people on a positive note.
Otherwise, a global leader can only lead if he can adapt to different ideas. Remember! There is no ‘I’ in a team.
Sensitivity to Other Cultures
Being a global leader, the organization or company that you’re leading must be integrated internationally. You must be ready to frequently travel around the different parts of the world, and interact with other global leaders all over.
However, you’ll only find success when you’re able to be sensitive to other cultures and their different lifestyles. This tolerance of diversity is only gained through experience.
For instance, developing curiosity about diverse lifestyles and traditions, and acknowledging the absence of inherent superiority in one’s cultural background, are essential for thriving in the global business landscape. According to Deloitte research, 80% of respondents believe that inclusivity is an essential aspect of hiring.
Open Communication
In a global business environment of today’s changing times, communication can often be complex and difficult to grasp. However, excellent communication skills are a key trait of any good global leader. Now remember, this communication will be across the barriers of different cultures.
You must successfully collaborate with people you’re managing in different parts of the world. You can only reach your goals when you successfully communicate with them. Make them understand your expectations and keenly listen to their concerns. Distinct workplace culture is important to business success, according to 94 per cent of executives and 88 per cent of employees.
Adapt to Change
Given that, today’s business world is evolving rapidly and the challenges have increased as well. Therefore global leaders must be readily available to adapt to changing circumstances.
If you’re strategy was something else and now the situation is demanding something entirely else. You must be able to calm down and actively observe the surroundings. Find out new solutions and re-invent your strategy.
Any good business leaders or global leaders can adapt to changing circumstances and find innovative solutions to different problems.
Have Patience in a Tough Environment
The best trait for global leaders to have which would help them, in the long run, is developing patience. When dealing in a global business environment, one must be patient and tolerant of all situations.
Because acting hastily or panicking could very much increase the risk of making a wrong decision. An effective global leader recognizes that patience is important in a rapidly changing world and to manage the people that are under you.
This characteristic will give you an edge over others and significantly improve your chances of getting an even bigger management position.
Emotional Intelligence in a Global Leader
In tough circumstances, global leaders have to sail across many challenges and difficult circumstances. Emotional intelligence is by far one of the most important factors in leadership. To be in control of their emotions rather than emotions controlling a person is significant.
When it gets tough, a logical and balanced approach is the best strategy rather than being emotional and making a mistake in decisions.
Managing and leading diverse teams where people have different expectations and emotions is easier said than done.
But with good emotional intelligence, you can effectively understand your employees’ emotions and add to their experience in positive terms.
When global leaders master EQ, they also add immensely to their self-awareness, self-regulation, and social skills.
Unfettered Curiosity
Global leaders must have a keen curiosity in nature because this trait is something that will help them discover and implement innovation. They should have a thirst for knowledge. They should be able to recognize hidden talent in people.
Global leaders must be open to new experiences and ready to explore new opportunities in any situation. Focus more broadly on things rather than micro-managing.
Curiosity leads to innovation and global leaders have expansive innovative solutions to dynamic challenges.
Wide Networking
The significance of networking in a global capitalist environment cannot be emphasized enough. The best global leaders are the most well-connected leaders. You must not have a narrow vision of just managing people vertically; from top to bottom. Rather a good leader leads with extensive networking everywhere in every department horizontally and vertically.
One of the key aspects of networking is that you can identify the top talent and acquire that talent yourself. An excellent professional network filled with highly skilled individuals means that global leaders can use them when the hiring season comes around.
This can be particularly helpful during times when an organization cannot work through its regular recruitment process—for instance, the sudden departure of a key player, or during the rapid development of a new project.
Conclusion
The global business has evolved into a rapid and dynamic environment today and as such global leaders must have certain qualities to thrive in this inter-connected diverse world. The best global leader is one who’s openly communicating, inclusive of diversity, has wide networking skills, innovative curiosity, emotional intelligence and is adaptable to change in tough circumstances. We at RFS HR Consultancy can help you become the global leader that you need to be to be a success in this complex interconnected world.
