Is experience enough to climb the corporate ladder?
Dr Corné Meintjes, senior lecturer and head of the Master of Business Administration Programme at Monash South Africa gives advice on how to climb the corporate ladder.
With intimidating competition and an ever-evolving economy, it is important to relentlessly refresh and update your skills and knowledge to progress in your career and grow in the corporate world.
But, can that be achieved through experience alone? Dr Corné Meintjes, senior lecturer and head of the Master of Business Administration Programme at Monash South Africa gives this advice.
“It’s important to consider the tools required to excel as a business leader. Interestingly, many of the key strengths could be considered ‘soft skills.’ While every industry needs specialist skills, adaptability and communication skills really set business leaders apart,” said Corné.
She added, no matter what your profession is, it is important to understand and internalise the basics of what makes a business tick. This knowledge will guide you in making sound decisions, while communication skills will ensure that you have the power to motivate and direct your team.
These skills can be honed both in the workplace and while studying. While many leadership qualities are learnt on the job, studying rapidly develops the depth and breadth of your knowledge. The reality is, while you may feel completely qualified to lead, you don’t know what you don’t know. A tertiary education exposes you to the latest information and developments quickly and efficiently.
“While it may seem daunting to study and climb the corporate ladder at the same time, most of our students in this position actually do better than full-time students.
This is often because they are studying a subject they are truly passionate about and know how the course will set them apart in a competitive job market,” she said.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at northsider@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites
