Among the fundamental vocations of ESCP Business School, there has always been the mission to provide the Economy and Society with professionals capable of embracing and triggering change. Thus, the recent evolution of the organizations’ ecosystems has also transformed how ESCP forms its future leaders.
In recent decades, social responsibility and the entrepreneurial spirit have become, along with competence and commitment, priority development objectives for students and professionals aiming to make a difference.
Developing these transversal skills means perceiving organizational reality differently, in a more comprehensive and human way. But also, at times, more critically, even challenging one’s own beliefs.
In this process, the role of an educational institution as ESCP is to guide through change by raising awareness and incentivizing innovative pedagogies.
The consciousness about the evolution of its role and scope has led ESCP Business School to outline a white paper on the 7 Management Skills for a Changing World. These seven transversal skills are also the seven main lines of strength that now link, through pedagogical experiences, all the courses offered by ESCP in all its programmes.
The 7 Soft Skill Markers of a Responsible Leader
Future leaders need to concentrate their efforts in preparation for a challenging career by training their soft skills through human, diverse and collaborative hands-on experiences in the real world.
Let’s see together what are the characteristics and personality traits to which to aspire to reimagine, redefine and remap business as we know it.
Download here the 7 Management Skills for a Changing World white paper
1.) INTERDISCIPLINARY
Great leaders know how to draw on the talents and knowledge available in different fields. Most importantly, they know how to bring it all together for a common purpose, regardless of the individual’s cultural background or geographic location.
A Brazilian programmer and a Japanese web designer might not share an office, but the interdisciplinary international leader will be capable of guiding their distinct and contrasting approaches to generate a winning solution.
2.) IMAGINATIVE AND CREATIVE
Imagination is the ability to create from scratch. Today, this skill is as rare as it is important: when it comes to business, it will be a choice between reimagining or disappearing.
To imagine something new means bringing knowledge and ideas from seemingly opposite domains to the table. At the same time, creativity allows us to transform these ideas into reality.
Rich, diverse, and mind-opening international experiences are the best way to train these strategic capabilities.
3.) SYSTEMS THINKER
A systems thinker takes a holistic perspective to develop a unique global vision while maintaining a concrete connection with all levels of the structure. Whether at the project, department or organisation level, the systems thinker is uniquely positioned to drive transformation forward.
4.) SHARING AND COALESCING
Information is no longer a synonym for power since open source technology makes it available to everyone. The real challenge, today, is to share and coalesce.
The international leader will lead by example in collaborating freely and promoting the exchange of ideas and knowledge. This skill’s power to transform will be all the more impressive in a multicultural and international setting.
5.) FOCUSED AND PERSISTENT
Staying focused on tomorrow’s goals while tackling today’s challenges is undoubtedly an ability to develop as much as possible. Operationally, the focused and persistent leader finds solutions here and now without waiting for the next release, review, or project.
This rapid action is matched by tenacity, adaptability, and clarity of vision. So that, whatever the path taken, projects deliver results that match real and important needs.
6.) MEANING-ORIENTED
Defining the purpose of what we do is critical. But even with a clear definition, it can be forgotten in everyday business. Here the meaning-oriented international leader intervenes, keeping actions and purpose aligned.
This means a strong connection between today’s actions and tomorrow’s vision, even in the smallest task.
7.) TRUSTING AND LIBERATING
Helping teams to build resilience and autonomy in the face of adversity starts by raising trust within the team. The trusting and liberating leader collaborates with confidence to bring the very best out of every single contributor.
Teams composed of empowered members, allowed to act freely and to believe in their own analysis and intuition, will stay strong in even the most challenging situations.
The Bachelor in Management (BSc). Taking concrete action starts now
The 7 soft skills can and should be acquired from the earliest stage.
The Bachelor in Management (BSc) gives you the opportunity to develop them while diving into a multicultural and challenging programme of studies that opens up an international high-level management career.
ESCP has constructed an innovative educational approach that imparts the skills the only way they can be learned: holistically. Along with the fundamentals of business theory, students develop the seven skills through engaging, meaning-oriented and deeply formative extracurricular experiences.
For example, the School encourages its students to participate in social impact projects, like volunteering for a charity or participating in a humanitarian mission abroad.
Develop practical managerial and leadership skills by getting involved in the causes that matter to you. Discover the 7 Management Skills for a Changing World and how you can make the difference as a mindful future leader by choosing ESCP Business School for your education.
Take action. Now.
