Building Your Skills As A New Business Professional

Being a new business professional can feel incredibly empowering - and perhaps more than a little intimidating. It feels like there’s so much to learn and very little time to do it. However, this feeling stems from anxiety and low self-confidence. Understanding what skills to learn first is a great way to handle any lingering fear.

Many common and underestimated skills are helpful for business professionals, regardless of their given industry. Focusing on these first will help take a career far, especially if one continues to round out their skills as they go. That leaves the question, what skills should one focus on first, and what’s the best way to improve them?

Communication

Communication is, without a doubt, one of the most important skills a business professional can have. After all, businesses are run by and for people. Knowing how to communicate with those people is a requirement.

Increasing one’s communication skills can help in many ways. It makes it easier to communicate with higher-ups and with a team while making you a more valuable employee. Remember that many companies have roles that require communication with customers and vendors, emphasizing these skills.

The best way to increase your communication skills is through practice and patience. Try focusing on listening skills first, as this is an effective way to earn respect and knowledge simultaneously. One can also reach out to a mentor for further help.

Time Management

Time management is another critical skill for business professionals. Whether you’re in a team of one or managing an entire team, the odds are good that, at some point, planning a whole day or week will fall to you. The best way to keep work flowing smoothly is through time management skills.

Time management can come in many forms. For example, a leader needs to learn how to delegate. This allows for the most efficient use of a team’s time, ensuring the work gets done. Alternatively, an individual may need to focus on daily time management skills. Utilizing to-do lists, scheduling, and time management apps can help make this easier.

Finance and Accounting

Finance and accounting skills will quickly prove essential in a business setting, even for those who don’t specialize within that industry. Running a business (or becoming part of one) requires one to understand what makes a business successful. It also requires one to be able to follow the numbers, knowing when it is time to expand or step back.

Many business professionals may be asked to manage balance sheets, cash flow charts, or communicate financial results. This sounds more intimidating than it is. A little bit of practice and some exposure will go a long way. Consider taking a quick accounting course online to jumpstart the process for those feeling intimidated by this prospect.

Leadership

Admittedly, not every position within a business is a leadership role. However, it is better for those who want to climb their way up the corporate ladder to plan for this type of role. Planning ahead is something that any aspiring business professional should be willing to do, as it will help their career.

Leadership skills are essential when it comes to managing a team or department. These skills can also be applied outside of a leadership role, as it enables one to feel confident when taking charge, making bold decisions, and moving forward with a plan.

Mastering leadership skills can take some work, starting with finding the right style for your personality and needs. A mentor can help with this. Alternatively, one could utilize many other leadership resources, such as books, podcasts, or online classes.