We live in a time where entrepreneurship is on the rise, however, the drive, commitment, and dedication to make your business successful is a notion that's easier said than done. If your dreams have to lead you to be the captain of your own "solopreneurship", then you want to ensure you put your best foot forward on all fronts.
Focusing on developing your skillset is vital to your growth professionally and personally. If you really want to be successful as an entrepreneur, you need to invest in yourself and build valuable skills over time.
So just which skills should you master on your #sheboss journey?
Skill #1 - Time management
For the average person, a lot can get done in 24 hours. When you're a one-woman show, 24 hours isn't even enough time to get the k-cup in the coffeemaker and go through your inbox. Time management is critical when you juggling different aspects of your business. Planning, prioritizing and execution can be a savior or your evil arch nemesis.
Having proper systems and project management tools in place allows you to allocate the appropriate amount of time for each task. Think of your time as being as valuable as money. Spend your money wisely, or you kiss your business and you coins buh-bye.
Skill #2 - Good Communication
Good communication skills should be a no-brainer, but for the sake of reallllly driving how important this is to your success, let's just have a quick refresher, k?
No matter what your profession is, your success in said profession is largely dependent on your ability to effectively communicate. Communication with your clients, customers, peers and even employees. You can CRUSH. IT. at what you do, but if you miss the mark by not communicating effectively, you could be missing out on opportunities to take your business to the next level.
From writing to speaking, there are many different ways to look at communication in the business realm, but no matter the context, being able to articulate your points in a crisp and concise manner is paramount for each and every interaction.
Skill #3 - Resilience
If you want a quick lesson in humility, become an entrepreneur. On the road to calling the shots and making big moves in the name of following your dream, you're going to be with unique obstacles. For every "no", every push back, every unexpected roadblock, you must be willing to push past adversity and keep traveling down the road to success.
There are a lot of ups and downs along the way, and that's okay. Your resilience is one of the defining skills of people who make it, and people who give up and let defeat consume their goals. Handling rejections, managing stress, coping with burnouts, and proactively handling slow progress are all things you become familiar with. Determination and eagerness to fight the same fight every day are instrumental when it comes to building a business from scratch.
Skill #4 - Performance Consistency
While consistency is more of a trait than a skill, consistency in your work performance is definitely a skill that if learned can be mastered to take your business to new levels. Being consistent in your work does not mean perfection. It means that you are dedicating yourself to the non-stop betterment and building of your business.
Consistency is one thing you have complete control of when it comes to your brand. Being active and purposeful in your routine builds visibility, fosters community and opens new doors of opportunity for you as a business owner.
When your business is consistent, others take notice. If you are willing to be dedicated to your business, you subsequently build trust with your potential consumers. They will feel confident in trusting that you will also have that same dedication to their needs and demands. There is no substitute for persistent and consistent effort.
While consistency may sound like the easiest skill to master, it's often not the case. If it were, there'd be a ton more brands taking up space in the market. Being disciplined enough to do the same thing over and over until you reach success can be daunting and honestly boring if you're not seeing the results you want when you want them. But sticking with it is what will drive you to grow.
Let's be real ladies, "fake it until you make it" will only take you so far. If you REALLY want to make your mark on the world and be taken seriously as a boss, then you have to take yourself just as serious. That means making a dedicated and consistent effort to develop the skills you need to take your business to new heights.
4 IMPORTANT SKILLS TO MASTER AS AN ENTREPRENEUR