1.01 Skills and traits

Math skills. Many business careers involve computation and numbers. You may need to calculate an amount for an order, manage an expense account, or analyze a sales report. This doesn’t mean you have to be a math genius, but basic math skills are a necessity.

Communication skills. Communication is at the core of most business activities, especially in marketing. Successful businesspeople know how to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Read more in the article “The Importance of Communication Skills in Business Links to an external site.” by Dom Barnard.

“People” skills. You’ll work with many different coworkers and clients during a career in business, maybe even thousands. Being able to get along with others can make or break you at your job. Employees with good “people” skills treat others with respect and appreciate diversity.

Computer/Technology skills. Today’s business world is fast-paced and high-tech. It’s impossible to keep up if you don’t know your way around basic computer software programs. Certain positions will also require more specialized technology training.

Decision-making/Problem-solving skills. Successful businesspeople are able to think fast and don’t always need supervision to tackle a task or create a solution.

Creativity. A career in business often requires you to use your imagination to generate new ideas, processes, products, etc. Richard Florida explains the increase in jobs requiring creativity in the following Big Think video: Richard Florida: Want Job Stability? Get Creative. Links to an external site.

Enthusiasm/Good attitude. No one likes a grouch. Employees who are enthusiastic and optimistic tend to rise to the top in any career they pursue.

Trustworthiness. Employers value ethical, reliable employees a great deal. Coworkers and clients must be able to depend on you.

Flexibility. Can you “go with the flow”? The business world is always changing, and successful businesspeople accept this with ease.

Self-confidence. The business field can be very competitive. If you want to accomplish your career goals, you can’t be easily discouraged by setbacks and disappointments. Successful businesspeople believe they can do it, and they go for it!