Business skills you'll need in 2019 and beyond
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Here are the latest employer-pleasing business skills that may get you across the line in an interview.
Develop all five and you’ll be gold for a promotion in no time.
Introspection
Do you think too much? From time to time, we’re all guilty of this, chewing over situations or conversations, actions taken and untaken, things we wish we said or those we did say…humans are thinkers. Even the most decisive people occasionally take a moment to check in with themselves. Instead of viewing this self-analysis as a negative side-effect, embrace it and use these ‘what ifs’ and ‘oh no’ moments as personal architecture. Build your future by tuning into your strengths and weaknesses and striving to seek true clarity in your career and life outside the office.
Be flexible
Flexible bodies aside, a fluid and adaptable mind will be one of your greatest assets, as employers are beginning to look at possible recruits who display mental agility, opposed to established expertise. It’s great to be an expert, and you should always drive towards a goal of complete excellence, but being able to demonstrate a worthwhile and sustained impact across a variety of functions will look just as good on that CV you spent hours developing. Instead of saying, ‘I can’t do it,’ or ‘I don’t know’, try saying, ‘I’ll give it a shot and let me find out all I can.’
Embrace the unknown
Job hopping is no longer looked down on as one of those signs of a lazy or troublesome employee. Indeed, most up and comers will be faced with career changing decisions on a semi-regular basis, as new opportunities or side-ways movements come up and fresh ground presents itself. Don’t worry if you’re changing jobs or taking on multiple contracts at once, the market is heading in that direction – the movers and shakers of the recruitment sector are calling it uncertainty,but really, it’s an opening for you to really take control of your direction. Develop your own vision.
Assertive communication
Companies are packed with people; those people have voices and agendas, they’re looking out for their way forward, occasionally riding your coat-tails or hoping to sway your opinion to their side. It’s good to give in occasionally, but make sure those concessions aren’t hurting your own arguments and projects. Be bold and work on your communication skills to ensure you can construct and sell a case, idea or project.
Lock down organisation
If you’re not an organised go-getter already, it’s time to snap up a post-it note pad and start planning your days. Some business skills are difficult to perfect over a short period of time, but with a dash of diligence and self-control, organisation is well within your grasp. It’s all about breaking down your day into digestible tasks, easily ticked off – looking at the whole meal can leave your working mind hungry for a break. Start small and set yourself goals for the morning, mild incentivising yourself to reach those goals – if you go for a run, go through the motions and walk out the door ten or fifteen minutes earlier, reward yourself later on by catching up with a friend or reading a book.
