How to Develop a Strong Business Acumen
About This Course
Robert Brondo states, Over the past few years, the need for business acumen skills as a standalone competency has become a critical focus of most CEOs. Yet, some studies show that 90% of professionals don’t understand the key components that are important to CEOs and the overall success of the company. This topic will explain what business acumen is, why it is important for employees at all levels, and some things one can do to build business acumen in order to be recognized, valued, and respected within an organization, while also being instrumental in that organization’s success.
Agenda
How Do You Define Business Acumen?
- Ability to Make Effective Business Decisions Very, Very Quickly (Cheeky Scientist, Isaiah Hankel)
- Need to Recognize and Be Able to Create a Larger Picture in Order to Apply That to Solve Problems to Move the Business Forward
- Components Include Speed, Wisdom, Business Strategy/Success
Why Is Business Acumen Important?
- Employees Without Business Acumen Can Slow Down the Process for Fear of Making the Wrong Choice (or Make Uninformed Decisions)
- Every Employee Should Have the Ability to Think Like a Boss or Owner to Create a Successful Business for All
- In Order to Get Promoted Into Middle Management, and Definitely Upper Management, Need to Have Business Acumen
- Having Business Acumen Shows You Can Be Trusted and Creates a More Connected Organization
- By Demonstrating an Interest in the Business and Having Business Acumen, It Shows You Respect Your Teammates Which in Turn Gains You Respect
What Are the Core Elements of Business Acumen?
- Ability to Deal With and Understand Complexity and Uncertainty
- Transferable Skills Such as Product Knowledge, Market Awareness, and Familiarity With Trends
- Financial Literacy, Organizational Knowledge, Understanding of Customers
- Ability to Leverage Business Knowledge
- Comfortability With Ambiguity and Self-Awareness
- Capacity to Link Cause and Effect
How Can One Develop or Enhance Business Acumen?
- Improve Analytical Abilities
- Enhance Logical Thinking (Figure out the so What?)
- Remain Disciplined
- Attend Business School, Coursera, or LinkedIn® Learning
- Read Harvard Business Review
- Obtain a Mentor
- Participate in Business Simulations
- Join Chat Rooms
- Obtain Temporary Work Assignments/Projects
- Ask Questions and Request Feedback
*This program does NOT qualify, nor meet the National Standard for NASBA accreditation.
Your Instructor
• Owner/consultant at Game Changing Etiquette
• Has worked in higher education for over 30 years; currently Director of Academic Advising and Career Services for the School of Chemical Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Has presented etiquette dinners and workshops to corporations, universities, and civic groups for nearly 25 years including Dow, Champaign County and Shoals Chambers of Commerce, Busey Bank, First Metro Bank, Alabama JLDC, University of Dayton, Dominican University, and University of California Riverside
• Delivered and moderated webinars for groups of 1000+ for the American Chemical Society as well as a number of other professional organizations, multishow guest on ‘In the Know with the Shoals’ and WCIA’s ‘Current’
• Certified etiquette consultant through The Etiquette Institute©
• Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Award, Golden Shamrock Award, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Outstanding Service Award, University of North Alabama; Rotary International Group Studies Exchange; Pacquette Superior Leadership Award, Midwest Association of Colleges and Employers; Outstanding Placement Professional of the Year, Alabama Association of Colleges and Employers
• M.Ed. Degree, Azusa Pacific University, California; B.A. Degree, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN
• Can be contacted at 217-722-0286, plbsimpson@gamechangingetiquette.com or www.gamechangingetiquette.com
This course is covered under team memberships.
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