QUALITIES TO BE A SUCCESSFUL DIRECTOR

The top qualities to be a successful company director may vary depending on the specific industry, company, and role. However, some general qualities that are typically associated with successful director level executives and the upholding of directors duty include:

Strategic thinking:
Director level executives must have the ability to think critically and strategically about their company’s long-term goals and objectives, and make decisions that align with these goals.

Leadership:
Effective leadership is essential at director level. Director level executives must be able to inspire and motivate their teams to achieve their best results, and set a positive example for their employees to follow.

Communication skills:
Director level executives must be skilled communicators who can articulate complex ideas and strategies to a range of stakeholders, both internally and externally.

Adaptability:
The business landscape is constantly changing, and director level executives must be able to adapt quickly to new situations and challenges.

Financial acumen:
Director level executives must have a strong understanding of finance and accounting principles, and be able to make informed decisions based on financial data. Directors should have ‘Finance for Non Finance Director’ knowledge at the least.

Customer focus:
Successful Director level executives prioritise the needs of their customers and strive to provide the best possible products or services to meet those needs. A successful director must have customer facing skills and participate in customer meetings.

Ethical standards:
Director level executives must have strong ethical standards and act with integrity in all their dealings, both within their company and with external stakeholders.

Further readings about how to be a successful director:

Real Business Rescue’s advice on succeeding as a company director

Board ethics here: THE ROLE OF THE CHAIRMAN IN COMPANY ETHICS