1.- Reading Activity.

There are many qualities that shape a successful leader. Consequently, there is no single recipe for guaranteeing top management skills. If there were, there wouldn't be so few truly international success stories.

Obviously, a great decision-maker possesses the ability to inspire his employees. A charismatic boss can motivate employees to give that added-extra that puts a company over the top. This leader is energetic while at the same time being thoughtful when it comes to important, strategy-changing decisions. This of course does not mean that balanced leader is without his impulsive side. In fact, it is exactly this adventurous spirit that separates true genius from run-of-the-mill management.

Take Bill Gates for example, if he hadn't left Harvard University before graduation he might never have become the stellar public figure that he is today. His ruthlessness, combined with a passionate conviction has made him the envy of many an industry captain today.

Many would say that Apple's Steve Jobs was taken advantage of. While this may be true in a certain sense, if Gates had decided to become a hardware manufacturer, as well as a software pioneer, as was the case with Jobs, he probably wouldn't have had his past resounding success with Microsoft software products. Nowadays, however, the tables have turned with Apple being incredibly successful in both hardware and software developments for the computer, as well as innovative mobile phones and tablets.

The lesson to be learned is that leadership can make the difference between a good company and a great company.