Challenging circumstances usually offer opportunities to learn, and the outbreak of Coronavirus is no exception to this rule. In fact, this is a good time to hone your business abilities, so you can emerge from this uncertain time a more effective and productive entrepreneur.
Keep reading to discover what are the skills you can work on during quarantine and to get specific suggestions about how to improve.
Adapt
Those who know how to adapt, thrive. Adaptability is a key business skill, and one that many companies will have to use over the next months. If you would like to learn how to deal with change more effectively, you can read “Who moved my cheese?”. This classic business book will teach you in very simple terms what are the best strategies to react to change.
Negotiate
As every entrepreneur knows, we negotiate all the time. Whether you want to get your children to do their homework or you need to decide who does the dishes, there is always some form of negotiation involved. To improve as a negotiator, try this simple trick: During a negotiation think of your goals as opportunities to gain. That way you’ll have a greater motivation to negotiate and you’ll feel more comfortable taking risks.
Networking
This is a good time to work on your networking skills. Even if you consider yourself a consummate networker, there are always new strategies to learn. For example, if you’re not very familiar with LinkedIn, you can set aside time to learn how to use it. Social media is a trove of contacts and very few people exploit it to its full capacity.
Leading a Team
Companies are changing, and leadership is changing as well. Startups and technology companies are upending traditional management concepts. It’s not clear whether this will lead to a shift in paradigm, but it’s always better to stay up to date with any new trends. To gain familiarity with this novel way of understanding leadership you can check the history of Netflix, Amazon, Facebook and Google. Their approaches are not identical, but all of them differ from the most orthodox ways of looking at human resources and administration.
Data Analysis Skills
If you feel that your data analysis skills need work, Excel is an excellent tool to get started. Although it’s widely used, this program has a lot of potential and is a good way to grasp the basics of data analysis. Besides, you can improve without spending much, because there are many Youtube tutorials available with lessons for all users, from beginners to advanced.
Emotional Intelligence
Data and the “hard” side of entrepreneurship are important, but you also want to have effective “soft” skills. Making business means dealing with people, and that requires a good level of Emotional Intelligence, that is, the ability to identify your own emotions as well as the emotions of others. Daniel Goleman’s classic book “Emotional Intelligence” will provide you with the groundwork to develop this essential trait.