Boardroom leaders need new skills

The skills required of the business leaders of the future are changing rapidly, according to leading Lancashire based executive and management recruitment specialists Walmsley Wilkinson.

With the onset of working from home, and an increasing need to understand the issues that go with new ways of working, the company is seeing a rise in the skills required for successful managers in organisations large and small.

Linda Walmsley, director of Walmsley Wilkinson, said: “A few years ago the emphasis on recruitment of leaders in business would have been on decision-making and being bold in the boardroom. Today, organisations realise they need leaders who can still make decisions but with other softer skills such as emotional intelligence, authenticity, kindness, self-awareness, consensus, engagement and supportiveness.

“This means understanding people, how they work including home working, empathy and at the same time the courage to make decisions through the challenge of Covid or other crises and how they can bring that to bear.

“Senior managers also need to be savvy and aware of the digital world. We shouldn’t underestimate how we are all very transparent in what we do and how we do it in our business and private lives through the rapid connectivity of online and social media.”

Linda said the company balances its personal profiling techniques with the latest technology to its processes including the McQuaig Psychometric System which is validated and registered with the British Psychological Society.

Walmsley Wilkinson offers a professional partnership across all executive, management and specialist recruitment needs for all types of organisations in the private and public sector including Private Equity-owned businesses, large corporates and SMEs. 

The company’s services extend across sectors including building technologies, advanced manufacturing and engineering, aerospace, health and social care, professional services and FMCG / distribution.

www.walmsleywilkinson.com