Change Management: Critical Business Skills

The Critical Business Skills to improve job performance include Change Management, Project Management, Internet Marketing, Leadership and Business Acumen.

Change Management:
The new economy is requiring that we drop the old style of change management referred to as the process planning, organizing, influencing and control, for a more nimble approach. The old style is ineffective because of the rapid nature of change in this current environment. As most are aware, change is continuous; change management must embrace a new model. The new model is known as the 4As. The first A take ACTION. Whenever an issue surfaces, be it a threat or opportunity, take advantage of being the first mover. The second A is Audit. As you take action, it is important that you monitor or audit your actions to see if the third A is necessary. The third A is Adjusting. You may need to make adjustments on the fly to ensure positive outcomes. The final or forth A is Alignment. Once you take action and made any necessary adjustments it is now time to align yourself and your resources to the new reality.

Project Management:
Project management is both a science and an art. The process includes establishing a project team with the knowledge to execute the project. You must establish clear objectives. Plan the details and deliverables. Lead through the change issues listed above avoiding project scope creep. Finally, managing and leading the task so that they are done on time and within budget. Start with the end in mind, the project will have three major components:
1. A Budget
2. Deadlines
3. Objectives
The three components must be balanced with data (the science) the political, interpersonal and organizational factors (the art) to be successful. You can certify your project management skills by passing the PMP Certification Exam. To test your project management knowledge, sign up and take this FREE 50 question quiz by clicking here: Click Here!

Leadership and Communication:
What's the difference between Leadership and Management? Leadership focuses on doing the right thing, whereas, management is about doing things right. Both require the foresight and discipline to deliver results. Leadership often relies on clear concise communication. This communication, be it written or oral, must be honest and developed with the end-user in mind. The same "what's in it for me" that works with sales will also work for leadership.

Internet Marketing and Social Media:
Advances in technology caused a tremendous change in manufacturing processes. The same can be said about the internet and social media on the impact of Marketing. No longer is the"4Ps" or"If we build it they will buy", the standard. Social Media and the internet combined to create the best word of mouth advertising that can touch any market segment overnight. Marketing and Sales must develop closer ties to both their customers and product end-users. This connection is the only way to ensure long-term growth in the new economy.

Business Acumen:
Business Acumen is where all the competencies meet to form a synergistic outcome. Business Acumen is a considerable more than business analysis. Business Acumen is what you do with the information to create value for your customers and stakeholders. In short, Business Acumen is your ability to take data and shape it into meaningful information with which you formulate plans of action and execute. The combination of all of these skills sets is how you develop a sense of urgency with your team and deliver superior results in a new economy.

This site is designed to deliver Educational and Training materials to improve your Critical Business Skill sets and increase your performance. Your development is more like a chapter in a book versus a single snap shot in time. Consider it a journey instead of a single event. Whether you're looking to improve performance in your current role or venture into another area of business, you should seek to master the following Critical Business Skill Sets:

1. Internet Technology and Social Media - Embracing technology and the innovation of Social Media Sites like Facebook and Twitter.
2. Change and Project Management - Managing both the business process and the people responsible for implementation.
3. Leadership and Communication - Connecting with co-worker's hearts and minds.
4. Business Acumen - Not just doing the math but understanding the impact of transactions and developing action plans to deliver results that exceed expectations.

I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts and hearing your opinions on leveraging these Critical Business Skill Sets to improve performance on the blog: http://www.criticalbusinessskills.blogspot.com/
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