We’re always looking for ways to better ourselves, ways to set ourselves apart from the crowd - whether in our personal or professional lives. At times we get discouraged along the way because we take such a complicated approach to it, but we’re here to break it down for you in three (3) simple steps. It’s time to level up and do it the easy way! The first step is to identify the skills you need to improve on or gain. Self-assessment is always the first place to start when thinking of any kind of improvement. You can do this by answering a few simple questions:
Take a few minutes to complete our quiz to see what area you might want to focus on first. If you've already made up your mind, then let’s get into identifying some of the key skills that will give you a professional (and personal!) edge! Communication skills are at the base of all interactions - personal and professional. Being an effective communicator entails more than just enunciating or projecting your voice well. It requires you to know how to address the different types of people you interact with, listening to what they have to say in order to craft appropriate responses. Improving your communication skills will help you improve other skills such as negotiation, problem-solving, critical thinking and interpersonal skills. All these areas are key to being an effective leader. It doesn’t matter what role you play within your organization - strong leadership skills will always give you an edge. Some of the marks of a leader (and strong leadership skills!) are the ability to take accountability, remaining level headed under pressure, being solutions-oriented, being decisive and being able to command the respect of others. There are many benefits that come with honing your leadership skills that go beyond getting that promotion you’ve been eyeing😉 It allows you to stand up for your team or an idea, you’re better able to influence others which is quite handy in navigating the various personalities you encounter. With these new skills you will also be considered more reliable, thus getting you more responsibility within your job. Repeat after me: "Everything is a project. Every project needs managing". That is by no means an exaggeration, especially in the world of work. With so many moving parts in each task, there are many ways things can slip through the cracks. By effectively managing a project, you minimize the possibility of this happening and allow yourself to catch it early, if it does happen so you can do damage control. The first step in effective project management is being organized. This means identifying the project at hand, breaking down the steps to complete it and delegating tasks where necessary. Here, your leadership and communication skills will come in handy in helping you manage your team. There are many online tools that can help the process flow smoothly, so a little tech know-how will be an added benefit! It’s time to crack the code on technology! It can ether be the enemy or your greatest ally - if used right. With so many social sites out there that seem to just eat away at our time we often forget what useful tools are available at our fingertips. Many project management, accounting apps and software can help you reduce your workload in a few clicks. Being able to connect with clients via communication software, makes for better interactions and helps keep them in the loop, as you execute tasks on their behalf. These communication tools can also help you tap into a fast growing resource - virtual personal assistants, who can help you do more, in less time. So, ready to move on to the next level? Keep following! Our Account/Production Manager, Emjae, is a self-proclaimed wordsmith who fell in love with words thanks to Dr. Seuss. She's an avid reader and a recovering screen junkie, and is fueled by coffee and sarcasm. Her work ranges from recounts of her adventures as a mom, her take on trending topics and deep pieces that she weaves from experiences and sheer imagination. |