~ by Hannah Whittenly ~.
As a new entrepreneur or business owner, you are probably well aware of any flaws that you may have and might even lack the complete confidence that you need. Such feelings are completely normal for those first stepping foot in the business world. However, you can overcome that by compensating with strengths — especially when it comes to the way that you run your business. In this game, efficiency is key, and those who do it better come out as the winners. A huge part of that efficiency is your ability to manage.
To help you gain the management skills that you absolutely need to come out on top, here are a few tips:
Determine Which Skills You Need
As the Management Skills List indicates, there are hundreds of management skills that you should try to learn. To optimize your ability to move forward in your career sector, you need to know which of these management skills are the most applicable within your field. As noted in the aforementioned article, most management skills pertain to five basic functions.
- Planning
- Organizing
- Coordinating
- Directing
- Oversight
Within each of the five major categories is a subset of skills that can include things like:
- Persuasion
- Research
- Presentation
- Responsibility
- Productivity
- Qualitative Skills
- Problem Solving
- Sales
- Project Management
- Public Speaking
You’d be better off determining which major and minor skill sets will help you rise in your specific industry rather than trying to attain general management skills.
Entrepreneurs, for example, often have great ideas and come up with very useful products. Getting it out to the public, however, can be difficult — especially if you’re not a well-known person or have some significant competitors. In this case, it might be best to step up your game when it comes to sales, presentation, and persuasion. If you’ve ever watched “Shark Tank” on TV, then you know that those three things are very important. Study up on different techniques and strategies that will make you stronger in those areas, but don’t forget to practice them! Grab a few of your friends or family members and practice pitching your products and business services to them. Little by little, you’ll get stronger at those skills and see your business profit for it.
Develop a Team Mentality
One of the best ways to gain management skills is by working effectively with others. You can either do this through networking or working with whatever size team that you have available to you, small or big. You can collaborate with them on new products, event planning, and business strategy. Doing so can help you develop management skills such as…
- Conflict Resolution
- Adaptability
- Collaboration
- Division of Work
- Emotional Intelligence
- Engagement
- Flexibility
With this idea in mind, make sure that you operate with a team mentality. There are several ways that you can learn to work effectively in a team. As noted in Inc., effective teamwork necessitates that each group member understands what the team is trying to accomplish. Therefore, one way for you to operate effectively as a team member is by remaining up to date regarding the group’s professional objectives.
Pursue an Additional Degree or Certification
When you’re an entrepreneur or new business owner, you’re pretty much on your own, and learning the skills that you need is pretty much all up to you. Therefore, if you’re serious about gaining the management skills necessary to rise in your industry, consider the value of pursuing an additional degree or certification. Engaging in an ongoing education process will always provide you with some or several management skills that you can use and list on resumes when you apply for jobs. If you’re an entrepreneur providing a service to the healthcare industry, for example, it would be beneficial for you to get your healthcare administration degree online. Whatever industry you’re in, you can find some way to become more educated in it. Not only that, but pursuing an education is one of the best ways to become up to date within the industry you’re trying to work in. It could also help to establish your legitimacy.
Hopefully, the above tips have helped you understand how you can go about becoming an effective business person with managerial skills that can only take you upward to success. Just remember to practice every newly obtained skill at every available opportunity.
Meet the Author: Hannah Whittenly
Hannah Whittenly is a freelance writer and mother of two from Sacramento, CA. She graduated from the University of California-Sacramento with a degree in Journalism.
