Employers are always on the lookout for candidates with high-level business administration skills.
Companies need people in their organization who can manage daily operations with specialized skills and provide oversight to company goals. Candidates who possess an array of these valuable skills can be highly prized on the job market.
Whether you lead your own venture or work in a key position in a professional organization, these business skills will help you progress in your career.
1. Communication Skills
Communication is one of the most important skills you can have in business. As a business leader, you will have to communicate ideas and initiatives to investors, stakeholders, partners, employees, and management.
Employers value communication skills in sought-after candidates. A 2018 study by the Economist Intelligence Unit found that:
- 52% of respondents said poor communication affected stress levels in the workplace.
- 44% said bad communication negatively affected project launch dates.
- 31% reported that poor communication created poor company morale.
- 25% stated that bad communication caused teams to miss performance goals.
Effective communication is the foundation of becoming a successful manager, working with a team, and accomplishing goals.
2. Technology Skills
Even if you are not in a technical role, understanding technology is a necessary skill for modern business professionals. For many business leaders, being able to understand the concepts will be sufficient, though for positions such as a Chief Technical Officer, hands on experience will be necessary.
Business professionals should be able to operate a computer, troubleshoot common issues, and be proficient in office management software (Word, Excel, Google Docs/Sheets, databases, customer relationship management software, email clients, Zoom, etc.) Familiarity with technology is a must, as most companies rely intrinsically on technology to coordinate business plans and communicate daily with co-workers.
3. Problem Solving
Business management requires critical thinking and problem-solving skills, regardless of your position on the organizational chart. Business objectives are not always easy to solve, and formulating a solution requires analysis, communication, observation, and decision-making.
When problems arise, you must come up with a viable solution. Proactive planning, contingency plans, and getting to the root of problems will make you a valuable member of the corporate team.
4. Administrative Skills
Business managers and administrators are usually excellent at administrative duties, as they maintain records, data, receipts, and documentation. Organizations need people in key positions who are good at record-keeping and oversight of operations.
5. Attention to Detail
A recent survey by ZipRecruiter showed that attention to detail is one of the main characteristics that companies look for in a business leader. One of the key business administration skills, attention to detail allows managers to complete initiatives accurately, consistently, and responsibly. This also means that quality control of a department is under the close watch of an attentive business manager.
6. Organizational Skills
Organizational skills, in a management position, can entail creating systems for maintaining order and efficiency in the company. These systems may include methodologies for filing data, completing projects, or doing quality assurance for ongoing tasks. Business administrators are responsible for making sure operations run smoothly.
7. Customer Service
Customer relationships are one of the most valuable assets to a company. Maintaining stellar customer service is paramount to an organization’s long-term success. The higher-performing business professional will provide outstanding service to clients and customers, listening to concerns with courtesy and empathy. The end goal is to retain customers and build a relationship between the client and company, ensuring they keep their account with the company. A strong customer service culture can help a company grow it’s revenue base over the long term.
8. Interpersonal and People Skills
People skills, and interpersonal skills will help business leaders cultivate connections and networks of people. Throughout each day, the leader must motivate and persuade people to work towards common goals. Collaboration and interpersonal communication is used on a daily basis by businesspeople to effectively lead, manage and motivate people in the organization.
9. Collaboration and Teamwork
Organizations must have their teams on the same page when it comes to achieving business objectives. The savvy business administrator can organize team roles and responsibilities, foster a culture of teamwork, and get the entire team involved in solving problems.
When employees work together to solve issues and reach goals, it drives the whole organization forward. Effective business leaders will use processes, communication, and collaboration to unify their teams in their efforts towards a common goal.
10. Scheduling and Time Management
Whether you work for yourself, or work for someone else, time management is an essential skill. Productivity and efficiency are key when resources are limited. Planning and organizing your time in a fashion that allows you to complete your necessary tasks when you have the most focus is the crux of time management. Those who have mastered time management and scheduling learn how to work when they have the least amount of distractions, even when multi-tasking is unavoidable.
11. Decision-Making
One of the most important roles a business leader undertakes is the ability to make tough decisions in critical situations.
A McKinsey survey of over 1200 managers showed that 61% of respondents thought decision making was a prime concern.
Elite business leaders can sift through reams of analytical data and statistical information, and make informed decisions that move an organization towards meeting it’s business objectives.
12. Innovation and Creativity
In today’s business landscape, companies that innovate have a competitive advantage. Corporate teams that can think outside the box and create new ways of retaining customers, driving engagement, and adding revenue streams will flourish. The ability to innovate is a major asset for any business candidate.
13. Delegation
No one can accomplish everything by themselves. Business administrators must be comfortable with assigning tasks to others. Knowing which tasks to assign to specific team members is also a skill. Less experienced team members may be assigned certain tasks, and more experienced teammates may be given more challenging and crucial tasks. Decision and administrative tasks should be reserved for yourself if you are in management. Certain things only you can do. Delegation is the art of know who should be responsible for each task that needs to be completed.
Learn Essential Business Administration Skills at Campus
The Business Administration Degree programs at Campus, formerly known as MTI College, provides students with business training in general administrative skills and business management principles. Students will receive a diverse set of skills, equipping them to enter a successful career in business administration and management.
Our business administration classes are offered in a fully Online format. Students can complete all of the coursework online.
If a career in business administration is something you are interested in, click the links below for more information today!