Top Attributes of a Businessman

While there is no magic formula for success in the business world, some characteristics are common to top businesspeople. Hard work and determination are two of them, but several other traits are important if you are going to stand out above the sea of suits in the business world. Some of the most important attributes include integrity, an understanding of time, creativity and the right mix of confidence and humility.

Integrity

  1. Perhaps the most important characteristic of businesspeople who climb to the top and stay there is integrity. The simple fact is that no one wants to do business with an individual or firm she doesn't trust. Co-workers and managers are just as turned off by someone who is dishonest and undependable as a client. Honesty and dependability are especially important qualities in small business owners, who set the example for and often work closely with all of the firm’s employees. Integrity makes a businessperson easy to work with and fosters valuable word-of-mouth business.

An Understanding of Time

  1. Time is an asset we can never get more of. Successful businesspeople have an acute understanding of time and value it highly. A valuation of and respect for time prevents people in business from wasting both their time and that of others. Co-workers, clients and others with whom a businessperson has contact are far more likely to give time to someone they know will not waste it. A healthy respect for time is also a good motivator for learning to manage it well, allowing for tasks to be prioritized and managed well for maximum work performance. It is important to note that time is also fluid. The most successful people know that dwelling on the past or bogging down after a bad meeting does nothing to help make the most of the present situation.

Confidence and Humility

  1. In the business world, decisions must be made every day. Although it is important to know your limits, it is equally important to trust in your ability to make the right decision. Businesspeople who make good choices and execute them with confidence are natural leaders. Business teams, advisers and consultants can provide research and recommendations, but the leader ultimately must make the decisions and see that they are carried out. Those who take too long to make decisions and are meek in their conviction do not rise to great heights in the business arena, The flip side of confident decision-making, however, is humility. Know when you don’t know something and bend to those who are better informed on a certain subject than you. When a mistake is made, the best businesspeople are willing to acknowledge it and take responsibility for it.

Creativity

  1. Though it may sound cliché, thinking outside the box is a trait that successful businesspeople share. Creative people tend to see possibilities others miss. Free thinkers are more likely to try something new or come up with a creative solution to a specific client problem. They are always on the lookout both for new things and for ways of improving things already in use. Every product or service that has ever been sold got its start as an idea, proving that creativity is an important business asset.