We asked the leadership community what are the most important qualities for leading a company in today’s diverse industries.
Ever wondered how leaders in aerospace, technology, and travel navigate their unique challenges?
We reached out to the leadership community to discover the most important qualities for leading a company in today’s diverse industries.
From visionary thinking and adaptability, to empathy and resilience, our experts shared insights that reveal what it takes to inspire and guide a team effectively, and turn these qualities into secret weapons for success.
Samraat Mann
Founder and CEO: MISX
Within the space industry the ability to harness ferocious tenacity towards your goals through pragmatic implementation is the key to succeed. Reaching for extraordinarily complex innovations and making them a reality is simply an everyday task in aerospace. How do you rationalise strapping, basically, several metric tons of dynamite behind a tin can on its way to the most hostile habitat known to man? You don’t. You simply innovate at a rapid pace and think not one or two, but several years ahead, and of all the calamities you may encounter.
Doing this all the time without rest or failure is the key. I know it sounds overstated, however, you have to be…not passionate…but obsessed in order to be able to do this for a prolonged period of time. Risk is not bad, but instead a needed force multiplier that will get you to your aim. Those who are crazy enough to dream about daring possibilities are the ones who will, at least, have an idea of what is conceivable. So to every business, in aerospace or not, the single quality for leadership is vision and a daring one at that, because without one you have nothing.
Also on The Big Smoke
Abdul Cardoso
Founder and CEO: SpeakShift
In the rapidly evolving language translation and communication technology industry, effective leadership demands a combination of visionary thinking, adaptability, and technological acumen. A leader must possess a clear vision to anticipate market trends and drive innovation, ensuring the company stays ahead of competitors. Adaptability is crucial, as the industry is subject to rapid changes in technology and consumer needs. Leaders should foster a culture of continuous learning and agility to pivot strategies as necessary. Strong technological understanding is vital to make informed decisions about product development and integration of cutting-edge solutions.
Additionally, excellent communication skills are essential to articulate the company’s vision and motivate the team. A successful leader must also demonstrate empathy and inclusivity, valuing diverse perspectives to create a collaborative and supportive work environment. Lastly, ethical leadership is critical to maintaining trust and integrity in handling sensitive data and ensuring privacy and security in all operations.
Also on The Big Smoke
Matthew Coyle
Director and Founder: Travel Project
In today’s dynamic travel industry, flexibility stands out as the most essential quality for leadership. Travel is all about cherishing life’s moments, and as leaders, we need to embody this philosophy. Whether it’s allowing team members to work from home to care for an unwell child, or enabling them to head off early to attend a school play, these moments are irreplaceable. Prioritising them over a rigid routine not only enhances job satisfaction but also fosters a culture of trust and respect. As leaders, we must champion the importance of these moments, understanding that a happy, balanced team will naturally be more dedicated and passionate about delivering unforgettable travel experiences. Flexibility isn’t just a perk; it’s a fundamental part of nurturing a thriving, resilient team in the ever-evolving world of travel.
Also on The Big Smoke
James Packham
Managing Director: Harcourts Packham
My view is that good management relies on being connected to all departments of your business, whether that be directly or through upline reporting. You cannot extract the best from your people conducting yourself like the Wizard of Oz hidden away behind the great curtain, you need to be present and engaging. You need to ask a lot of questions and educate yourself in all facets of the business. Invite your own people to better educate you in what they do. This gives you better situational awareness and gives your employees the sense that you are engaged in the work that they do. The key is to notice everything and provide regular feedback. Whether it be positive or negative, the important thing is to be observational and engaging. Provide fair and accurate feedback often and immediately.
Also on The Big Smoke
Rob Roberts
Executive Director, Business Development: Message Stick
Leadership qualities – Tech industry
An effective leader requires three key qualities: an entrepreneurial spirit, inspirational leadership, and excellent engagement skills.
Entrepreneurial spirit
It is vital to be grounded in market and product trends. This means being fully focused on the things that have brought success (we call it “sticking to the knitting”), as well as being opportunistic, where this aligns to broader strategic goals.
Inspirational leadership
Business survival is possible with people who show up. Business success is only possible with people who go beyond their role requirements, to deliver when everything seems to be against you. Employees will do this if they feel inspired by their leaders.
Excellent engagement
Increasingly, delivering client requirements requires partnerships across the value chain. Building the best partnerships requires an ability to engage outside your comfort zones, to leverage the capability and capacity of others to complement your own.
Also on The Big Smoke
Michael J Perez
Head of Customer Service: The Fast 800
In terms of leadership, I think the distinction between leadership and expertise is an important one. Ideally, we (as leaders) are surrounded by subject matter experts, and our role is to project manage their contribution. To achieve this the most important quality in a leader is facilitation, and by that I mean, being associated, and ultimately responsible, without taking credit.
When we facilitate a result we aren’t dragging it out of people. There aren’t threats or intimidation. There is collaboration. When our people feel trusted and relied on for their input, they continue to input and even find more ways to contribute.
The age-old rule of people adhering to the processes and results they create is true. So, if you are leading, start by facilitating contribution and end by reminding people of the part they played in group achievement.
Also on The Big Smoke
Florian Poppe
Head of Operations: InvertiGro
I believe that resilience and “nice” determination are some of the most important qualities in leadership. They are important in running a startup company, especially in the vertical farming field, which has had some setbacks and is really still in its infancy.
But, also important is teaching these traits to the employees and business partners on the way. I feel we tend to “give up” or “move on” way too fast in the current times. It is important to stick with something for a while, especially something that many know is the right thing to do, to try it in different ways, really being resilient and going through some pain to make it work.
The determination in the work will pay off, once looking back or from the outside in, to see that it was not just luck or an easy road but an effort that one can be proud of – and for which one can be seen as a great leader.
The post Expert opinion: The most important leadership qualities in your industry today? appeared first on The Big Smoke.