The business and employment skills landscape is constantly evolving. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep on top of your game and ensure you develop the right skills to succeed in business or employment, regardless of being an entrepreneur or employee. 

You have probably wondered what skills makes people successful in business and employment. And there is never a straight forward answer as it is a combination of multiple factors. However, it is indisputable that you need to have the right skills to succeed in either business or employment.

In this article, I will highlight 8 skills that will contribute to your self-development and ultimately succeeding in business and employment.

Articulation & communication 

Almost every aspect of business and employment boils down to communication and the “people” factor. Whether it’s sales, leading a team or a job interview, communication is a core element. Success in business and employment is highly dependent on fostering mutually beneficial relationships. Therefore, it’s a skill that you must actively develop.

Now you notice that I used the verb “articulation” here, and it’s because you may be a good communicator, yet lack articulation. 

Being articulate is an evolving progression that will come with time, and it encompasses both verbal and written communication. 

Moreover, being articulate is subjective. For instance, the use of the correct words is fundamentally important to being articulate. Your choice of words will significantly differ if you are presenting at a sustainability conference, in contrast to presenting to a team of junior salesmen. Articulation boils down to identifying the correct language for your audience and applying it with confidence.

Cultural awareness

We live in a globalised world, whether you like it or not. Being culturally aware not only opens doors to new opportunities, but it is also important in being a good communicator (refer to the first point above). 

If you live in a multi-cultural society, which applies to most developed countries, cross-cultural awareness is a vital skill to master in both business and employment. 

Critical thinking 

Success in business and employment is, in many instances, reliant on problem-solving. Unfortunately, one shortcoming of educational systems is not enabling pupils to develop this skill, and encouraging a one-dimensional perspective. 

Critical thinking skills enable you to see the bigger picture, identify problems and solutions and subsequently influence others, whether in business or employment.

Confidence

Ever heard of the phrase “nice guys finish last”? Well let me elaborate: niceness is not bad in itself. However, in many scenarios, niceness derives from a lack of confidence. 

Sadly, I had to learn this one the hard way, as I was a “nice” person before and it only allowed others to cross my (non-existent) boundaries and take advantage of my “niceness”. 

Again, I am not telling you to be a jerk. However, it is important to understand your strengths and weaknesses as an individual and build relationships based on mutual value. 

Remember: today’s world is extremely competitive and there are many not-so-nice people out there. By mastering confidence as a skill, you will set better boundaries and form better relationships.

Financial literacy

Financial literacy is a skill that is mostly relevant to business and entrepreneurship in a professional context. And it really does not need to be explained in detail as any venture’s success will ultimately depend on its financial health. 

However, this does not mean that it is not applicable to your personal life. Being financially literate will enable you to avoid stress, create more opportunities and achieve better health.

Legal competency

Okay, now I am not asking you to do a law degree or read every single legislation that exists. However, both business and employment operate within legal frameworks, and it’s a skill that will get you far. 

The key principle here is awareness of the existing legislations, your rights, obligations and applying critical thinking to them (see above)

Sales 

I have run two businesses over the last seven years. One lesson that I have learned is that “cash is king”. The purpose, or one of the primary purposes, of business and employment is making money. Nevertheless, allow me to be clear that “sales” skills is not just limited to selling products/services. I am also referring to sales in an interpersonal context. I’ll break it down by asking and answering these two simple questions:

How do you make money? By selling 

How do you land your dream job? By selling yourself and your competencies 

Writing 

Writing skills are, in most cases, crucial for succeeding in business and employment. 

Writing competencies are vital in becoming a better communicator, and communicating your thoughts, values and skills. Whether it’s writing your resume, cover letter, a blog article on your website or an email to a client, writing skills will help you a lot. 

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About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size with the digital marketing strategy around SEO, copywriting and content.