Develop these business skills to earn more and advance your career
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Relevance has always played an important role in business, and it applies not only to companies and products, but to individuals. In 2020, employers will seek out people who exhibit a well-rounded skill set that includes some interpersonal savvy in addition to hard skills. In particular, I recommend working on the following business skills to advance your career in 2020:
Presentation and Storytelling
You might not be in line to deliver the next TED Talk, but I guarantee you need to utilize presentation skills in your day-to-day work life. From staff meetings to one-on-one status updates with your boss, you need strong presentation skills to deliver information clearly.
Learning how to develop a presentation – and to tell a compelling story – helps you prepare for everything from sales calls to networking events. Whether you need to speak for five minutes or 50, know what information your audience needs from your talk. The most memorable presentations use stories that help people relate to the information, even if the material is mostly data-driven. Your presentations may also need to help your audience take action so in those situations stay focused on inspiring them through your stories.
In addition, managers often tap employees with strong group presentation skills for highly visible opportunities that can lead to more exposure and, ultimately, career growth within the organization.
Sales and Negotiation
Even if you don’t participate directly in sales calls or closing deals for your organization, an understanding of the sales process will serve you well. Face it, your company wouldn’t be successful without sales, so it helps to understand how your role plays a part in the sales process.
In addition, knowing the ins and outs of how to sell or negotiate with others will serve you when asking for a promotion or a raise, or while interviewing for a dream job. At the very least, you will need to know how to sell yourself.
Within your organization, you might need to sell your team’s vision to the executive team or negotiate a new contract with a vendor that could save the company money. Sales and negotiation skills help you understand how to deliver a compelling message that leads to a yes from a variety of audiences.
Personal Marketing and Influence
Finally, do not wait patiently for people to notice your great work. Both within your organization and throughout your broader network, make sure to share and highlight the valuable results you deliver. Some people struggle a lot with the misconception that sharing professional wins amounts to bragging, but you owe it to yourself to spread the word. Not only that, but sharing your work accomplishments helps establish you as an expert in your field.
As you enhance your influence and promote your value within your network, your boss and leadership team will appreciate that you understand how your role contributes to company goals. In addition, someone in your network might realize that you hold the key to solving a nagging business problem, and that can land you a new contract for your company or even a job offer with a new company.
Finally, sharing your thoughts and ideas can help spark conversation and connect you with people who can support your goals. Whether you want to learn new skills or advance in your field, talking about your projects and unique set of skills can help open doors.
Understanding Your Role within the Big Picture
In my work coaching individuals to achieve career success, I remind them of something I call the Prosperity Exchange. In this exchange, employees provide time and talent while the employer rewards them with salaries, bonuses and other attractive rewards.
A key component to this exchange is the employee’s understanding of the employer’s goals and metrics of success. When you go beyond the letter of your job description to help your employer meet those goals and attain greater success, you stand a much better chance of advancing your own career.
Managers and company leaders value – and reward – people who view individual goals through a big-picture, organization-focused goals. When you provide well-rounded skills and consistently deliver results aligned to the larger business goals, you become a valuable asset to your organization.
Ready to take your career to the next level in 2020 and beyond? Reach out to me to schedule a career coaching consultation.