SA's entry into the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) group of major emerging economies will demand greater leadership and management skills for it to keep pace with its partners, according to training group AstroTech.
AstroTech CEO Liza van Wyk adds that leadership courses - and those for new managers especially - covering tricky human resources and emotional intelligence issues and export skills were heavily subscribed in 2010.
“Early bookings for 2011 show businesses are still concerned about the level of expertise of new managers. And managers in turn are concerned about the skills capacity of staff.”
Van Wyk says BRIC countries have very hard-working, low unionised and highly skilled workers that in most instances earn less than their South African counterparts.
“For SA to be recognised as a true partner, and not just a gateway to the continent, we need to become more competitive in prices, wages, productivity and passion - passion to succeed and a willingness to endure short-term sacrifices for long-term growth and development.”
“It is imperative that we reduce the amount of joblessness in our society.”
Van Wyk says the decisions made in 2011 by business and political leaders will have a profound effect on economic growth or stagnation.
“The growing economies of the world, like China, are giving us a shove forward. We already sit on key bodies like the United Nations Security Council, now South African leaders and citizens need to provide the sort of impetus that the country needs to rebound out of recession and back to sustained growth.” - I-Net Bridge