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How to develop business savvy?
Posted on 6/12/16 at 5:02 pm
Posted on 6/12/16 at 5:02 pm
I have a technical/operations background in both education and work experience. Tell me what you want or what your need is and I can solve it. I'm very good at dealing with customers in that regard. But when it comes to the business side (sales, negotiations, etc) I just feel like I'm lacking. I have a more "take it or leave it" mentality when I give someone an offer or a quote. I gave you my best, why would I leave room to move. You told me what you wanted and here it is.
That being said, when I sit in meetings or have dealings with people that are more business savvy than me, it makes me want to get better in my own right. Not that I embarrass myself or my company, just that I'm very basic in this spot. Most of the time, these people have years of experience under their belt.
Since this is not something I deal with on a day to day basis, is there something I can do (read a book, online classes, etc) that can help me grow in this direction as well. I'm working on getting into real estate investing and it's going to be a trial by fire if I don't work on this now.
That being said, when I sit in meetings or have dealings with people that are more business savvy than me, it makes me want to get better in my own right. Not that I embarrass myself or my company, just that I'm very basic in this spot. Most of the time, these people have years of experience under their belt.
Since this is not something I deal with on a day to day basis, is there something I can do (read a book, online classes, etc) that can help me grow in this direction as well. I'm working on getting into real estate investing and it's going to be a trial by fire if I don't work on this now.
9
Posted on 6/12/16 at 5:18 pm to poochie
Just start reading a lot of business/sales/leadership/etc. books. I'm sure others on here can recommend specifics.
Posted on 6/12/16 at 6:50 pm to poochie
There's no one-size-fits-all response or answer for this, and I think it's because there are many factors in play here. Without knowing you or your industry, it can range from your personality type, experience, and relations with others outside of your company/firm.
There are plenty of books you can pick up, but I'll be direct in saying that you can't just read about it. You have to be intentionally trying to improve this area. Words on a piece of paper are great to spark ideas or to help motivate you, however, you need to step outside of your comfort zone. I do suggest reading books to help with this as I think they are great resources. I just know from experience that it doesn't open doors for the reader, the reader needs to do that him or herself.
That's my best advice for not really knowing what you need from my own experience which I'm still going through.
There are plenty of books you can pick up, but I'll be direct in saying that you can't just read about it. You have to be intentionally trying to improve this area. Words on a piece of paper are great to spark ideas or to help motivate you, however, you need to step outside of your comfort zone. I do suggest reading books to help with this as I think they are great resources. I just know from experience that it doesn't open doors for the reader, the reader needs to do that him or herself.
That's my best advice for not really knowing what you need from my own experience which I'm still going through.
Posted on 6/12/16 at 7:02 pm to poochie
Life experience, business books, YouTube, and mentors have worked for me.
Posted on 6/12/16 at 9:58 pm to kaaj24
Confidence.
Posted on 6/13/16 at 7:48 am to lynxcat
Great that you want to become better.
I would suggest anything by Brian Tracey regarding sales. His best in my opinion is The Psychology of Selling. I liked the audio version.
And the Secret of Power Negotiating by Roger Dawson.
Both can be found on Ebay. Tape sets are inexpensive.
I would suggest anything by Brian Tracey regarding sales. His best in my opinion is The Psychology of Selling. I liked the audio version.
And the Secret of Power Negotiating by Roger Dawson.
Both can be found on Ebay. Tape sets are inexpensive.
Posted on 6/13/16 at 9:24 am to poochie
First of all, congrats on having self awareness. I think this is a huge key to becoming successful. Finding a mentor would be a good start, a lot of it will come from experience but surrounding yourself with smart people will accelerate it.
Posted on 6/13/16 at 9:37 am to poochie
Experience is the biggest thing here. I would identify individuals in your company who you feel are "good" with these skills and ask them for help, ask if you can tag along for presentations and meetings, etc.
If you have not read it yet, I would read How to Win Friends and Influence People. There are a number of books on negotiating and people management as well.
If you have not read it yet, I would read How to Win Friends and Influence People. There are a number of books on negotiating and people management as well.
Posted on 6/13/16 at 12:14 pm to LSUFanHouston
Read about organizational structure from both top level management and the manager point of view.
Trying to understand the following has helped me
1) What do other people want and how I can help/hurt them
1b) How your role in the company sheds company and operations
2) How and why bureaucracy exists in your business, who it protects and hurts
3) How people to respond to how you say/do things
Trying to understand the following has helped me
1) What do other people want and how I can help/hurt them
1b) How your role in the company sheds company and operations
2) How and why bureaucracy exists in your business, who it protects and hurts
3) How people to respond to how you say/do things
This post was edited on 6/13/16 at 12:16 pm
Posted on 6/13/16 at 12:35 pm to LSUFanHouston
Be careful to think experience = business savvy. Those two things are not necessarily correlated.
There are plenty of young people who are as or more business savvy as their superiors but they haven't got enough gray hairs yet to get to that seat.
There are plenty of young people who are as or more business savvy as their superiors but they haven't got enough gray hairs yet to get to that seat.
Posted on 6/13/16 at 4:58 pm to poochie
Are you thinking business savvy means a more complex vocab?
The most business savvy people I know are emotional intelligent. You don't need to be the smartest person in the room, just the best problem solver. More times than not to figure out the root of these problems you have to play psychologist.
One of my best friends dads owns a very successful labeling business. What makes his dad so successful is his ability to juggle 100 things at once. My best friend doesn't have that skill.
The most business savvy people I know are emotional intelligent. You don't need to be the smartest person in the room, just the best problem solver. More times than not to figure out the root of these problems you have to play psychologist.
One of my best friends dads owns a very successful labeling business. What makes his dad so successful is his ability to juggle 100 things at once. My best friend doesn't have that skill.
Posted on 6/14/16 at 12:24 am to barry
This. Want to=Savvy.
The ole saying of "selling ice to eskimo" directly correlates to wanting to sell that item. I watch so many salesman now days blow more sales by simple laziness or lack of care about what they are selling. The reason the people you identify as having good skills is either they truly want to sell their product or they want to kick everyone else's arse in sales be it the competition or co workers.
Take it or leave it sales pitches only generally work on inelastic goods (milk, eggs, etc.), that's what i've always kept in mind with my product.
The ole saying of "selling ice to eskimo" directly correlates to wanting to sell that item. I watch so many salesman now days blow more sales by simple laziness or lack of care about what they are selling. The reason the people you identify as having good skills is either they truly want to sell their product or they want to kick everyone else's arse in sales be it the competition or co workers.
Take it or leave it sales pitches only generally work on inelastic goods (milk, eggs, etc.), that's what i've always kept in mind with my product.
Posted on 6/14/16 at 7:45 pm to poochie
quote:
I have a more "take it or leave it" mentality when I give someone an offer or a quote. I gave you my best, why would I leave room to move. You told me what you wanted and here it is.
Don't make your best offer your first offer. You'll get skinned alive
For specific books, Negotiate to Close by Karass will get you in the right mindset of those successful people
Also I would ask to go along to higher level meetings or be involved in strategy or organizational level projects. At worst, the boss says no but knows you are serious and interested. At best they say yes and you learn shite and get exposure. You can't lose
Posted on 6/14/16 at 7:48 pm to Porker Face
Also learn about risk management, insurance, legal exposure, HR, policy, best practices, taxes, regulations, setting precedent, etc as they pertain to your business or industry
It is often these "ancillary" items that end up driving decisions. People stuck in day to day operations don't think about these things, but it's all execs think about
It is often these "ancillary" items that end up driving decisions. People stuck in day to day operations don't think about these things, but it's all execs think about
Posted on 6/15/16 at 9:32 am to poochie
Get burned a couple times.
Posted on 6/15/16 at 12:43 pm to poochie
"Sir, how did you become such a successful business person?"
"By making good decisions."
"Okay, sir, how did you learn how to make good decisions?"
"By making bad decisions...."
"By making good decisions."
"Okay, sir, how did you learn how to make good decisions?"
"By making bad decisions...."
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