This piece was written by Taylor Tomita from Analytics8.
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Successful business professionals are always doing two things – Improving their craft and looking ahead. With summer winding down and the new year on the horizon, business professionals are starting to plan 2019. As a businessperson, there are some top skills that you should focus on in the new year. Rise above your competition by identifying them now, so you’re ready to shine in 2019!
1. Visualizing Data
Sure, you can easily run a report in your CRM tool, and check on your clients’ performance, but do you know what to do with that data? If you can’t take the data and work with it, you will sadly find yourself behind the pack in 2019. If visualizing data seems like a daunting task, there are companies that can assist you with analyzing your business plan and provide you with the best results.
2. Creativity
In the past, creativity and business were like oil and water – Two very different things that didn’t mesh well. However, with the explosion of technology over the past few years, companies are actively searching out creative minds to join their team. They want imaginative people who can “think outside of the box” and apply new ways of thinking to new products and services.
3. Emotional Intelligence
We’ve all read the stories of robots taking our jobs, but there’s one thing humans have that robots don’t – Emotional intelligence. When companies are interviewing, they are also analyzing their candidate’s ability to make an emotional connection. Businesses want employees who are aware of their clients’ reactions and aware of their own actions.
4. Cognitive Flexibility
In the business world, it is very important to know who you are speaking to. Employers want to know that you’re not using the same playbook with every client. A strong businessperson will be able to tweak their sales strategy depending on their client’s needs. It will be very advantageous to think about who you are speaking to, and to be able to tailor communication as needed.
5. Complex Problem-Solving
As technology evolves, we will most likely run into issues that we have never encountered. It is important to not only look at the big picture, but also the details, and to find a solution that flawlessly seams the two together. Problem-solving is not a skill that one wakes up with. Like most life skills, it is one that constantly needs work. Luckily, brushing up on problem-solving skills doesn’t have to be boring. Studies show that playing video games and solving brain teasers can advance your problem-solving skills!
6. Negotiation
Negotiation has always been vital in the business world, and its’ importance is not going away anytime soon. Like emotional intelligence, negotiation is one of those skills that robots lack. Negotiation isn’t just reserved for clients. It’s also important to use in situations with colleagues, managers, and teams. Interpersonal skills will be a highly sought-after trait in 2019 and the importance good negotiation skills can’t be overestimated.
7. People Management
Motivated business professionals never want to be stuck at the bottom of the ladder. To boost your position (and salary!), great people management skills is a must. You’ll need to know what makes your team tick, how to maximize their potential, and most importantly, how to relate to them. Employees are the most important part of a company, and mismanagement can cause hostility. By knowing how to delegate and manage your team, you’ll not only have happy employees, but a higher success rate.
With the addition of new technology and robots, emotional skills will soon be more valued than traditional skills. Taking time to work on your interpersonal skills now will set you up for success in 2019 and beyond.