In our final instalment of our series exploring skills which can advance careers in international trade, we consider the importance of leadership.
In ‘Seven Skills for Success in Global Trade’, a report published by the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade last month, our trade experts outlined the value of developing different trade skills.
Importance of leadership
The report notes that even for those not in management roles, international trade often requires competencies that are foundational for leadership, such as “sound decision-making and team co-ordination”.
This is necessary for navigating the unexpected challenges that can arise in the sector:
“Unexpected and often stressful situations can arise, such as unforeseen geopolitical events delaying a shipment or a missing document preventing goods from crossing a border.
“Thinking fast and acting calmly, while drawing on support from others to get things back on track, are vital, making it important to cultivate this skill in your team.”
As mentioned throughout this series, the complex nature of today’s global supply chains, which involve working with a number of geographically dispersed teams, demands many skills.
The particular interpersonal challenges raised by this complexity make “building and motivating teams, learning how to support those you lead and encouraging them” especially important.
Shaping strategy
The Chartered Institute’s apprenticeship success manager Steve Horrell discusses the value that strong leadership can have to the strategic direction of the company, emphasising the cascading effect that leadership can have.
“Strong leaders create stronger teams that can ensure long-term strategic goals are met through effective management, providing the right level of tactical competencies to deliver on strategic goals.”
Learn more
For those in appropriate job roles aspiring to hone their leadership skills, the Chartered Institute offers several apprenticeship courses through IOEx Ltd designed to develop capable leaders.
At Level 3 we offer a Team Leader qualification and at Level 5, there’s an Operations Manager qualification.