There are some transferable skills essential in career development. Starting and maintaining your own company is a huge job, so what skills do you need to succeed? There’s a lot to think about, from workforce management to monitoring operational IT systems to managing your time and keeping consumers satisfied. The good news is that many of them are abilities you’ve most likely already earned in past positions. Here’s a list of them.
Transferable skills in career development
Here are some transferable skills essential in career development:
1. Teamwork skills
Teamwork is extremely important in the workplace. Working as a group to achieve a similar objective may be quite empowering. It may also improve the efficiency of your operations and the culture of your company.
Playing nice with people is beneficial for business, whether you’re a sole trader operating in a team with suppliers and contractors or running a larger company with employees.
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2. Leadership skills
Taking leadership and inspiring people isn’t always easy, but chances are you’ve honed this talent in past positions – even if you weren’t a manager. Maybe you oversaw a group project, managed a review of end-of-day processes, or planned social events for your department.
If you dig a bit further, you’ll probably find the activities that have aided in the development of your natural leadership qualities for operating your own firm.
3. Information Technology skills
When you start your own firm, you’re generally in charge of IT chores that were previously delegated to the IT department. It might be a frightening responsibility if IT isn’t your strong suit. But here’s the thing: owing to previous work experience, you probably know a lot more about computers than you believe.
Consider the many programs and applications you’ve used, the times you’ve solved challenges, and the confidence you’ve earned through time.
4. Communication skills
Most job advertisements nowadays include a prerequisite for good written and verbal communication skills. It’s easy to understand why, because being able to communicate well with others opens possibilities in both life and work.
Consider your prior salaried jobs: did you spend a lot of time engaging others, such as in meetings, emails, phone calls, or creating documentation?
5. Presentation skills
Even when you’re not, you’re ultimately advertising your company as the face of it. However, whether speaking to a group of two or 200, some people find public speaking and giving elevator pitches unnerving.
Fortunately, this is a readily transferrable business ability that you’ve most likely acquired in the past. Have you ever taken part in a team meeting? Are you being hired? Mentored younger employees? Attending a conference? Then you’re ready to go – but keep in mind that practice makes perfect.
6. Time management Skills
When it comes to beginning your own business, planning and time management are key. You can’t successfully organize or manage your time throughout the day without them, let alone boost your productivity. Don’t worry if you don’t think time management is your strong suit.
Whatever your professional experience, you’ve probably spent years honing your time-management abilities, whether at school or university or simply while arranging your daily activities – whether at home or on vacation.
7. Customer service skills
Customers are the lifeblood of every business, so if you’ve worked for a customer-facing company before establishing your own, you’ll be well-versed in keeping this vital stakeholder satisfied.
You already know that the key to providing excellent customer service is to develop meaningful relationships with those who buy your products or services. A satisfied consumer is more inclined to buy more frequently and spend more money.
8. Negotiation Skills
Mostly everyone engages in informal negotiations on a regular basis without even realizing it. Negotiation is a talent that can be learned through practice and experience. People who negotiate on a regular basis are more proficient than those who haven’t participated in many formal or informal discussions.
People with greater experience are more likely to know what to say when to say it, and when not to say it, as well as when to make compromises. The goal is to understand how to establish a win-win strategy in talks with all parties while also keeping in mind that you want the best potential outcome for yourself.
Final thought
Starting a business is only the first step; growing it needs time and expertise. Even if you’re a first-time company owner, these transferrable abilities show you could already have what it takes to make your idea a reality.
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