Sonia Colon offers the six essential skills to business success. Sonia says you may not have developed all of these skills, but like most things in life, you can by learning, practicing and determination. Implement them and you’ll be on the right track.1. Personal Skills
A healthy self esteem is necessary for you to tackle the day to day tasks of business. As an entrepreneur, you will spend a great deal of time working solo. Listen to your heart but consult your head before making final business decisions. Keep motivated by staying on track of plans and organization.
2. Communication Skills
You must sharpen your communication skills if they have become a little rusty. You may find yourself needing to communicate with lawyers, accountants, bank managers etc. You need to be able to get your message across clearly. Good communication will reduce the chance of being misunderstood. It’s essential to be able to communicate effectively at a variety of levels, in a variety of manners, to a variety of people. There are many self-help books on this topic.
3. People Skills
People will make or break your business. You will make or break your business. You are Your business. The way you deal with people will determine much of you business success. Good manners, politeness, and attentiveness to your customers’ needs are what will ensure repeat business. Customers need to feel that they are important to you.
4. Marketing Skills
To round off your entrepreneurial skills, you will have to have a sound knowledge of marketing your business. Marketing is the ability to communicate to your potential customers and inform them of your products and or services. Know how to define and target your market. You need to know what will work for your business. Read books, talk to others and observe how other types of businesses successfully market their businesses. Usually effective marketing involves a combination of many techniques that can change from time to time.
5. Technical Skills
Read books, attend seminars, workshops, trade shows and conferences to add to your technical knowledge and keep a leading edge on your competition. Don’t make the mistake of working at your business and forget to work on your business. Never cease your education in your area of expertise, and remember to keep up with the changing technology within your chosen field.
6. Financial Skills
You have to be financially knowledgeable in the business world. Your entrepreneurial knowledge should include basic accounting, organizational and administrative skills, an understanding of all tax laws, federal and provincial requirements, and an in-depth knowledge of the business that you are running.
It may sound like a lot to learn, but take heart. You can learn everything you need to know to run a successful business. No one was born a business HOT-SHOT. There are an abundance of courses offering business management training. There are also self-help books that can assist you with the financial aspects of your business needs.
Sonia Colon is writer/publisher of My Fashion E-Mall Blog & The Biz Buzz of a Latina Mom Blog! Writing & sharing powerful business articles & successful Internet marketing tips on starting & maintaining a lucrative work-at-home business is a passion.
4 comments:
Hi Alan,
Great post! I agree with the portion of communication skills completely.
One thing I would like to add to this is to reiterate the information that the receiver is telling you, if you don't quite understand. This way, both of you will be on the same page.
Thanks,
Richard Rinyai
www.theprofessionalassistant.net
Alan,
Not one mention of the customer in the 6 needed skills!
All the other skills, without a customer are meaningless.
Why oh why do all the Guru's leave the customer to last?
The People Skills heading should read Customer Service Skills and be No. 1 on the list!
Steve Coleman
Thanks Richard,
Would definately agree with the reiteration of the information, as it goes a long way to confirming understanding, and avoiding the inevitable confusion that can otherwise arise.
Steve,
Thanks for your comment also, however, "Not one mention of the customer in the 6 needed skills"?
Call me picky, but surely the comments in point 3; "Good manners, politeness, and attentiveness to your customers’ needs are what will ensure repeat business. Customers need to feel that they are important to you" do go some way to addressing that point.
Sonia is giving us a brief insight into some of the core skills involved in running a successful business. I don't think she, or, indeed any of us, would suggest anything other than the fact that the customer is the key factor around which all of our business planning and development should revolve.
The customer is king, that's very true, but we won't be able to provide them with the level of service they require and deserve if our business is not in a position to do so, which is why we need to focus on all of the key areas together, to ensure its ongoing success.
Alan
communication could very well be the biggest factor in business successful theirs 3 types of communcation visual verbal and text.
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