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The Essential Skills for International Leadership

Leaders aiming for success in guiding their teams and organizations through the complexities of international landscapes must embrace two distinct sets of skills for effective international leadership.

Most leadership programs focus on what I call the ‘usual suspects’:

  • Intercultural Competence
  • Leadership of High-Performing Teams
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Techniques in Motivation, Inspiration, and the Utilization of Power and Influence

These foundational skills equip leaders with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to effectively navigate their daily professional interactions. They are tangible and concrete, providing immediate and measurable business outcomes.

The Deeper international leadership Power skills

However, to truly excel in international leadership, one must also cultivate a second set of skills or mindsets that impact the deeper layers of leadership performance. These include:

These advanced skills are more challenging to develop, yet their impact is profound and enduring. Vertical leadership, in particular, shapes our worldview. At the achiever level, leaders often operate with a competitive mindset, focusing on measurable achievements, direct results, and efficient problem-solving. This approach, while effective in many scenarios, can be limiting in complex, global contexts.

In contrast, at the strategist level, leaders think beyond immediate competition to embrace long-term, systemic thinking. They are adept at recognizing broader patterns, anticipating future trends, and crafting strategies that account for a multitude of variables. This shift from a competitive achiever mindset to a strategic thinker is critical for leaders who navigate the multifaceted challenges of international leadership.

In my years of experience working with leaders, many have expressed a lack of clear purpose or found their current purpose insufficiently inspiring or concrete to guide their career decisions, team leadership, or personal development. This often directly affects their motivation and hinders their ability to persevere in mastering new skills.

The influence of these deeper skills unfolds over time, yet the return on investment they offer is substantially greater.

Succes in international leadership is combining both skill sets

To thrive in the international arena, leaders need a blend of both skill sets – the practical skills that yield direct business results and the deeper, more introspective skills that foster lasting impact and personal growth. This combination is the cornerstone of successful international leadership, balancing the immediate efficacy of the achiever mindset with the long-term vision of the strategist.

Global Leadership Programme

Navigating the global market demands more than just skill—it requires exceptional leadership at every level. Our Global Leadership Programs aim to fast-track your transformation from knowing to being.

We hone in on four key areas: organizational alignment, advanced leadership practices, team performance, and personal mastery. With us, you won’t just learn new skills; you’ll embody them.

The result? A dramatic increase in learning transfer and a cadre of leaders who are not just engaged but also skilful. Take the leap to the next level of leadership and drive organizational success like never before.Search

About Tom Oor

I’m a Learning and Development Business Partner specializing in creating and facilitating leadership and organizational development programs with global teams. My focus is on Purpose-Driven Leadership and Organizations. We transform business value gaps into impactful learning solutions such as offsites, journeys, and global hybrid programs.

Core Expertise:

  • Accelerating people development for higher returns and faster results
  • Leading high-performance international teams
  • Purpose-driven leadership and organizations
  • Cultivating high-performance cultures

We have worked with amongst others ABN-Amro, Google, PwC, Booking.com, ASML, Scotch & Soda, and Top Employers Institute to design and deliver transformative programs.