(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Qatar entrepreneurs should focus on opportunities that could help them add value to their companies in order to support the country's diversification strategy, senior executive leadership coach Mark Thompson told Gulf Times.
"When you're trying to do something big and dramatic, and there's been nothing but a history of one way of thinking and working, I would be amazed if initially there wasn't a considerable amount of hand-wringing or controversy and arguments," Thompson said on the sidelines of the three-day Go Global Organisation Conference, which concludes at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) today.
He said, "It's human nature and frankly, part of the 'creative destruction' process as it is often called where you start to rethink about the way to do something; there's going to be different opinion and a lot of discomfort."
Thompson was explaining that successful entrepreneurs are often those who face many adversities and challenges when pursuing excellence in business.
"That's what entrepreneurs do € they embrace that discomfort to get out of their comfort zone and they think about the areas where they could actually have the most value and where they can unlock value first," he stressed.
He also noted that the "discomfort" should only serve as a starting point for dialogue: "If you focus on the discomfort, you don't get anywhere in life or certainly, transform an economy."
Asked what industry should the private sector focus on this 2015, Thompson's advice was to consider three factors: areas that have the most talent, vision for a long-term framework in place for diversification, and identifying passions.
"I'd say that the assessment that you make to try to decide that point has to do with taking a step back and evaluating just as you would in your individual career. It's also true for an economy," he said.
Aside from focusing on human capital, Thompson recommended looking into areas that could quickly develop subject matter expertise in order to be world-class.
"Where would you go first for that? Now, that's not the only criteria because certainly you may want to have new ones that you may not be as well-evolved in but the low-hanging fruit would be a natural place to first start making the assessments, depending on the current education levels or access to capital resources, and ideas to look at the low-hanging fruit," he further said.
Thompson also noted that the opportunities in Qatar are "remarkable" and said, "How often the opportunity to actually reinvent a nation while holding on to your cultural values."
The conference will be concluded by Dr Marshall Goldsmith, who is one of the world's top 10 most-influential business thinkers. Goldsmith, who will deliver the topic "What got you here won't get you there," has developed a reputation as a practical, insightful, and inspirational thought leader and executive coach. Also, professional coach and trainer Dr Rashad Fakiha, who served as an adviser to renowned business leaders will in the GCC region, will speak during conference's culminating rites.
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