Being a good businessman isn’t just about crunching numbers or closing deals. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that the truly great ones—the ones who inspire trust, build lasting relationships, and achieve sustainable success—have something deeper going on beneath the surface.
I’m Lachlan Brown, founder of Hack Spirit and a long-time psychology enthusiast. I’ve spent years exploring what makes people tick, and when it comes to business, it’s not always the flashy skills or bold moves that set someone apart.
Often, it’s the subtle traits—the quiet qualities most people overlook—that make all the difference. In this article, I’m going to share 7 of these subtle traits, as explained by psychologists.
Whether you’re running a business or just trying to navigate life with a little more clarity, these insights might just change how you approach everything.
Let’s dive in.
1) They listen more than they talk
One of the most subtle—and powerful—traits of a genuinely good businessman is the ability to truly listen.
It sounds basic, but think about it: how many people actually listen to understand, instead of just waiting for their turn to speak? Great businessmen don’t just hear words; they tune in to what’s being said, what’s not being said, and the emotions behind it all.
When I spoke with a psychologist about this, they explained that listening isn’t just about being polite—it’s about building trust. People naturally gravitate toward those who make them feel heard and valued.
In business, this skill can be a game-changer. Whether you’re negotiating a deal, leading a team, or talking to a customer, listening shows that you care and creates stronger connections.
If you want to level up your listening game, start small. The next time you’re in a conversation, resist the urge to jump in with your response. Instead, focus on what’s being said and ask thoughtful follow-up questions.
It’s amazing how much of an impact this one shift can have—not only on your relationships but also on your success as a businessman.
2) They stay calm under pressure
I’ll admit, this one didn’t come naturally to me. Early in my career, I had a habit of letting stress get the better of me. I’d panic when things didn’t go as planned, and that energy would ripple out to my team and make a bad situation even worse.
But then I came across a quote from Viktor Frankl, the renowned psychologist and Holocaust survivor, that completely shifted my perspective: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
It hit me like a ton of bricks. I realized that staying calm under pressure wasn’t about suppressing emotions or pretending everything was fine—it was about recognizing that I had the power to choose how I reacted, no matter what was happening around me.
One time, I was pitching a big client when everything went sideways. My laptop froze mid-presentation, and I could feel the room tensing up as everyone waited for me to fix it.
Normally, I would’ve spiraled into panic mode, but instead, I took a deep breath and owned the moment. I cracked a lighthearted joke about technology failing at the worst times, walked them through the rest of the pitch without slides, and ended up closing the deal anyway.
That experience taught me that calm is contagious. When you keep your cool, it sets the tone for everyone else and shows that you can handle whatever comes your way.
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If you struggle with staying calm under pressure, start by practicing mindfulness or focusing on your breathing when things get stressful. It’s not easy at first, but over time, you’ll get better at finding that “space” Frankl talked about—and using it to your advantage.
3) They value relationships over transactions
Early in my career, I made the classic mistake of focusing too much on the bottom line. I thought being a good businessman was all about landing deals, hitting targets, and moving on to the next thing. And for a while, it worked—I was getting results. But something felt off.
One day, I lost an important client. Not because of pricing or competition, but because they didn’t feel like I genuinely cared about their needs beyond the deal we were working on. That stung.
It made me realize that the best businessmen don’t just chase transactions—they build real, meaningful relationships. People want to work with those they trust and connect with on a human level, not just someone who sees them as another number on a spreadsheet.
After that experience, I started shifting my perspective. Instead of diving straight into business talk in meetings, I took the time to get to know people better—their challenges, goals, and even personal stories.
One client I worked with was struggling to balance running their business with raising a newborn, and instead of rushing through the meeting, we spent some time talking about that. Months later, they told me it was that moment of empathy that sealed their loyalty to me.
Here’s the thing: relationships are the foundation of long-term success. Deals come and go, but the trust and goodwill you build with people stay—and often lead to opportunities you couldn’t have predicted.
So if you’re always chasing the next number or deal, take a step back and ask yourself: Am I treating this person as a partner or just another transaction? That small shift in mindset can make all the difference in your business—and your life.
4) They practice emotional intelligence
I used to think that being successful in business was all about strategy and intellect. But the more I worked with people—clients, colleagues, and even competitors—the more I realized how important it is to understand emotions, both yours and others.
This is where emotional intelligence (EQ) comes into play. It’s the ability to manage your own emotions while also recognizing and responding effectively to the emotions of others. And it’s not just a feel-good idea—there’s solid research backing it up.
A study published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior found that leaders with high emotional intelligence are better at building trust, resolving conflicts, and fostering collaboration within their teams (Côté & Miners, 2006).
For me, learning to improve my EQ was a game-changer. I remember a situation where a team member was struggling with a project deadline. My initial reaction was frustration—I wanted to push them harder to get it done.
But instead of snapping, I took a moment to step back and ask what was really going on. Turns out, they were overwhelmed with personal challenges outside of work.
By showing empathy and helping them prioritize their workload (instead of just pressuring them), we not only met the deadline but strengthened our working relationship in the process.
If you want to sharpen your emotional intelligence, start by paying attention to your reactions during stressful situations. Are you reacting impulsively, or are you pausing to reflect before responding?
Learning to navigate emotions—both yours and others—isn’t always easy, but it’s one of the most valuable traits you can develop as a businessman.
5) They stay curious and keep learning
One thing I’ve noticed about genuinely good businessmen is that they never assume they know it all. Instead, they approach every situation with curiosity, constantly looking for ways to improve, adapt, and grow.
I learned this the hard way early in my journey. I hit a point where I thought I had “figured it out”—I knew my industry, my market, and the right way to do things.
But that mindset quickly started holding me back. The world was shifting, and I wasn’t keeping up because I was too stubborn to admit there was more to learn.
Then I met a mentor who completely flipped my perspective. He told me, “The moment you stop learning is the moment your business starts dying.” That stuck with me. Successful people don’t see challenges or mistakes as failures—they see them as opportunities to learn something new.
For example, when one of my marketing strategies flopped a few years ago, instead of brushing it off or blaming external factors, I dove into researching why it didn’t work. I read articles, reached out to experts, and even took a short online course on modern marketing trends.
What I learned didn’t just help me fix that one campaign—it gave me insights that reshaped how I approached marketing altogether.
Curiosity keeps you adaptable in a world that’s constantly changing. Whether it’s reading books, taking courses, or simply asking questions from people who know more than you do, staying open to learning is one of the most underrated traits of a great businessman.
So next time you feel like you’ve got it all figured out, ask yourself: What don’t I know yet? That simple question can unlock doors you didn’t even realize were there.
6) They take responsibility, not credit
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in business is that real leaders own their mistakes and share their wins. It sounds simple, but it’s harder than you think—especially when things go wrong and your ego wants to point fingers elsewhere.
I remember a time when a project I was leading completely fell apart. Deadlines were missed, the client was unhappy, and the team morale was at an all-time low.
My first instinct was to shift the blame—maybe the team didn’t communicate properly, or the client wasn’t clear about their expectations. But deep down, I knew I had to look in the mirror.
That’s when I came across a quote from psychologist Carl Rogers that stuck with me: “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” Owning my role in what went wrong wasn’t easy, but it was liberating.
Instead of wasting energy deflecting blame, I focused on what I could do better next time—like setting clearer expectations and improving communication within the team.
When I took responsibility, something interesting happened: my team started stepping up too. They saw that accountability wasn’t something to fear—it was something we could all embrace together.
By being honest about my own shortcomings, I created a culture where improvement became more important than perfection.
On the flip side, when things go well, I’ve learned to give credit where it’s due. Nothing builds trust and loyalty faster than recognizing the efforts of others instead of hogging the spotlight for yourself.
Taking responsibility isn’t about beating yourself up; it’s about owning your part in the process—good or bad—and using it as a stepping stone for growth.
7) They know when to say no
Here’s something that might surprise you: one of the most important traits of a genuinely good businessman isn’t saying yes to every opportunity—it’s knowing when to say no.
Early on, I thought success meant taking on every client, project, or partnership that came my way. I figured the more I said yes, the more opportunities I’d have to grow my business.
But what actually happened was the opposite. I spread myself way too thin, overcommitted to things that didn’t align with my goals, and ended up delivering mediocre results because my focus was all over the place.
It wasn’t easy to admit, but I had to learn the hard way that saying yes to everything often means saying no to what truly matters.
One of the most counterintuitive lessons I’ve learned is that saying no isn’t about closing doors—it’s about protecting your time, energy, and resources for the opportunities that align with your values and vision.
For example, there was a point when I turned down a lucrative partnership because it didn’t feel like the right fit for where I wanted my business to go. It was nerve-wracking at first, but looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
That decision freed me up to focus on projects that were more meaningful—and ultimately more profitable—in the long run.
Conclusion: Small changes, big impact
Becoming a genuinely good businessman isn’t about mastering flashy tactics or chasing quick wins—it’s about cultivating subtle traits that set you apart in the long run.
Start small. Pick just one of the traits we’ve explored—whether it’s listening more, staying calm under pressure, or learning to say no—and commit to practicing it daily.
Growth doesn’t happen overnight, but little by little, these changes will transform not only how you do business but also how you connect with others and navigate challenges.
Remember, success comes from who you are, not just what you do. Lead with intention, focus on relationships, and keep learning. The rest will follow.