There’s no denying that ‘soft’ skills matter in the workplace.
In GMAC’s latest employability survey for example, skills like being able to work with a variety of people, think critically, and manage a demanding workload, were highlighted as the most important a professional could have.
But which soft skills will help you be a better leader?
To find out, we spoke to Aarti Ramaswami, Academic Director of the ESSEC Global MBA, Management Professor and Deputy Dean of ESSEC Business School’s Asia-Pacific campus, and Patti Brown, Director of the ESSEC Global MBA.
1. Empathy
According to Aarti and Patti, empathy is vital for successful leadership.
“One of the most important skills you can develop at business school is being an empathetic leader,” Patti (right) says.
On ESSEC’s Global MBA program, for instance, participants have the chance to develop this particular skill early on, through regular personal branding and development workshops. Here, they’re encouraged to open up about personal strengths and weaknesses, so they can better understand themselves and each other.
“Sometimes there are tears,” Patti says, “everyone really opens up, and this creates empathy.”
Aarti (below) agrees that this emotional intelligence is crucial for leaders. “Having empathy, humility, and even a bit of vulnerability, are key drivers for good communication and connection,” she explains.
Being able to connect on this personal level, and understand the needs of your team, will make you a better leader, the pair conclude.
2. Communication
It may sound cliché by now, but being able to communicate effectively is another essential soft skill. Whether it’s delivering presentations or writing a persuasive report, being able to communicate in an engaging, understandable way is important for any leadership role.
To improve your communication skills, Patti recommends remaining humble, and learning to listen. An MBA is one way to hone these skills.
“If you want to get projects and group work done, you’ll need to have those listening skills,” she explains.
Being able to communicate with people from a range of different backgrounds is another aspect of this skill that you should bear in mind.
Because of the diverse group MBA programs tend to attract, participants are well set to learn this particular skill. On ESSEC’s Global MBA, for example, roughly 85% of each cohort is international.
3. Motivating a team
For Patti, learning how to motivate a team is one of the most challenging—and important— skills you can have as a leader.
Through frequent group work, MBA programs can teach participants to do this in a hands-on way, she explains, motivating each other to complete projects on time, to the best of everyone’s ability.
This skill is highly sought after in today’s employment landscape. One Gallup survey revealed that only 20% of employees felt motivated by their manager to do their best work.
Since motivation is key to overall job performance, today’s employers are keen to hire MBAs who can bring this energy to the workplace.
Aarti cautions that there’s no one-size-fits-all leadership style, though.
“Every participant’s leadership journey will be quite distinct from that of their classmates,” she says.
4. Accountability
For today’s business leaders, an awareness of how your decisions can impact the world around you is also vital.
“Life is full of trade-offs,” Aarti explains. “Knowing when and what kind of tradeoffs to make will enable graduates to make good decisions, and live with the consequences of those decisions.”
Patti agrees that leading with an eye on sustainability is essential for future leaders.
“Participants who want to work in leadership roles need to know about every aspect of sustainable business,” she says. “These initiatives are everywhere, so it’s about being prepared for the future.”
At ESSEC, Patti notes, sustainability is deeply integrated into the Global MBA program, both in and out of the classroom.
From the beginning of the program, a sustainability workshop is an important part of integration week, during which participants learn about how the consulting and fashion industries can be made more sustainable.
Participants from the Luxury Brand Management major also have the chance to attend the annual Circular Fashion Summit at Station F, Paris’ startup hub.
The summit presents new advances in sustainable fashion, from biodegradable cotton to using blockchain technology to trace a garment’s origin.
Keeping an eye on initiatives like these will help MBAs be leaders in a business landscape that emphasizes sustainability.
5. Networking
In the FT’s skills gap survey, effective networking ranked among the top five skills that employers look for in their hires—and for good reason.
Leaders who network effectively can build and maintain mutually useful, meaningful connections. Networking isn’t as easy as it might appear though, Patti notes.
When participants first enter the Global MBA at ESSEC, they are often unsure how to introduce themselves, join a conversation, and follow up, she explains.
To help, the school offers personal coaching, and networking events where participants can put their new skills into practice.
“Once a month we organize a networking dinner for participants and industry leaders.” Patti reports. These professionals are brought in from sectors and functions that each year's participants want to work in specifically.
There are more than 50 nationality in the grade, so there are opportunities to interact with people from all around the world. In terms of academics, the BBA course offers diverse courses for the 1st
Student
Verified
6/04/2022
On Campus
Creativity, adaptability and entrepreneurship
The Master in Management program at the ESSEC Business School allows the students to choose their courses accordingly to their preferences and their professional targets. We can also go through international exchange and take part in internships with companies that are also partners with the school. The school is also next to the city of Paris.
Prithwiraj
Verified
17/11/2021
On Campus
Top business school in France
Doing PhD in essec took some time, to be precise about five years. But the experience was very good and cost effective too. There are opportunities for the student for teaching assistantship and that helps both financially and in career. In the final year I could manage to teach marketing to M1 students and this helped shape my career
Student
Verified
30/10/2021
On Campus
Great college
The program is well suited for early professionals with an engineering degree preferably or a degree in economics. I would suggest taking the ceasure irrespective of the experience level as it helps you take your time to adjust to the job market.
Student
Verified
30/10/2021
Blended
Good school in France
I am currently enrolled in M2 in Essec business school. I am specialising in marketing management. The Grande Ecole programme is valued in France and my school ranks very high up. There are a lot of opportunities for internships and CDD.
Student
Verified
9/02/2020
The program curriculum
BBA program. The program is really practical and useful, provide us many international opportunities. Like internship and humanitarian experience, and the flexibility is also really cool, we can choose different campus and tracks as we want.
Véronique
Verified
11/12/2019
International Course
This school is very international and business oriented. Highly recognized by the companies The campus has been renovated and is very functional and modern from now on. Excellent atmosphere. Reputation of essec is a plus
kevin
Verified
11/11/2019
Friends, Career opportunities.
The program I did gave me the opportunity to start in Singapore. I got the chance to know all the students that started there and we bonded and made some friends for life. The career opportunities that ESSEC also gave me were unbelievable.
Student
Verified
25/09/2019
Practical and useful
I think the best thing about Essec is that it's not focusing on academics rather it emphasizes on future job mindset and professional experiences..
The classes are interesting and we have plenty of workshops attributing to different sectors..
The campus is very nice with a good cafe and wonderful library.
The only problem is the location of the campus. It's quite far from Paris.
Kartik
Verified
14/02/2024
On Campus
Amazing experience! Must try
I think its a very amazing school with great and experienced faculty. Also the alumni network is very solid and useful. The school has a great balance of studies and work experience which is really essential for a student.
Ali
Verified
28/05/2024
On Campus
GBBA: Diverse, Enriching, and Career-Boosting
My experience at ESSEC Business School has been outstanding. The Global BBA program offers a rich academic curriculum and diverse learning opportunities. I appreciated the chance to study on different campuses, including an international exchange, which broadened my perspective. The social environment is culturally diverse and vibrant, enhancing both my personal and professional growth. The administration is attentive, constantly offering new academic and student life opportunities. The campus facilities and classrooms are excellent. I highly recommend ESSEC for its excellence, global exposure, and career opportunities.
Maximilien
Verified
5/06/2024
On Campus
ESSEC BS BBA REVIEW
The English track BBA program at ESSEC is simply exceptional. Courses are taught by internationally renowned professors who are experts in their field. The subjects taught cover a wide range of disciplines from marketing to finance, strategy and entrepreneurship. The English track is a major asset because it allows you to develop perfect mastery of professional English, essential in today's globalized business world. Some students love student life at Essec, which is one of the best in France, but it all depends on taste.
Clément
Verified
14/06/2024
On Campus
Great program, incredible school
I love almost everything about this school, from the student life to the academic program and the opportunities it provides.
I'm currently at the Paris campus, in Cergy, and I'm really enjoying it.
The BBA program is very rich and diversified, you can start with geopolitics and then finance, what I mean is that there's a great balance between the subjects in this program.
I was also lucky enough to spend a semester at the Singapore campus, and I loved that experience on the other side of the world.
ESSEC is also known for its dynamic and rich student life, with access to several parties a week and the various associations within the school.
If I could recommend just one school, it would be this one - I'm 100% satisfied.
Rayane
Verified
21/10/2024
On Campus
Great experience
First of all, what I appreciate the most is the academic environment. The courses are extremely stimulating and are taught by high-level professors, often experts in their field. The diversity of subjects offered, ranging from marketing to finance, including entrepreneurship, allows you to acquire a complete and versatile education. The group projects, although sometimes stressful, are also an opportunity to learn to work in a team, which is essential in the professional world. One area that I feel could be improved is the management of student events. Although many activities are organized, I have noticed that some events can lack organization or communication, which can frustrate those who want to get involved. Better coordination between the different student associations and the administration could really improve the overall experience.
