12 Things Every Professional Should Know
Business know-how to help you manage professional situations with confidence and poise.
By Meghan Casserly
There's no denying the business world can be tricky to navigate. Career coaches, managerial strategists and even layoff consultants are experiencing a boom in business as more and more professionals, employed or not, try every trick in the book to achieve success.
At ForbesWoman, we know that no person enters the workforce with her skill set fully developed. For most of us this education is trial-by-fire. We're thrown into interviews, conference calls and business events eager but ill-equipped. Mistake by mistake, new lessons are learned--quitting a job unceremoniously and having to return, tail between your legs, to ask for a letter of recommendation will fast teach you a lesson in grace and professionalism. Likewise, a missed opportunity with a potential client due to insecurity and hesitation can lead you to realize the importance of defining your role and your company--and being able to share it.
With that in mind, we reached out to our vast network of authors and experts to collaborate on a top 12 list of skills that are all must haves in your professional toolkit.
In Pictures: 12 Things Every Professional Should Know
Some of the items mentioned in our list are soft skills, social graces like knowing when to pay the check at a business dinner or how many pumps make a perfect handshake. Others require a high level of guts--knowing when to say no is one thing, saying it aloud to a supervisor is another thing altogether. Still others guarantee your professionalism and polish, like introducing yourself and your job or business with a well thought out elevator speech. It can be daunting, but we believe it can be a make-or-break moment in your professional career.
Some of our experts offered tips that, beyond traditional business advice, addressed the emotions that tend to spring up in the workplace. Separating personal feelings from business decisions is something we all struggle with over the course of our careers--numerous experts tell us that women are, believe it or not, hardwired for more emotional responses than their male colleagues. But as "taking things personally" in the workplace can often lead to unnecessary tension, we've included The Male Factor author Shaunti Feldhahn's personal tips for heading off dramatic reactions before they take place.
Will every lesson apply to your current job? Certainly not. But one thing is for sure--with women on the verge of outnumbering men in the workforce, your career path is opening up. And having these skills at the ready certainly can't hurt.
Click here to see the 12 Things Every Professional Should Know.
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