Basic Technical Skills Every Business Owner Should Have Nov 30th
Most business owners start out running their entire business all by themselves, which is a period in your life that can make for some exciting but very demanding times. The first few minutes of the day could have you clearing up your desk and dusting up here and there, but by the end of the day you might find yourself having played a range of different roles in your business, from being your own personal assistant to acting as an entire marketing team and emailing prospects, or even pushing sales yourself.
It has undoubtedly become a little bit easier to get through the legal requirements to start a new business, but as your business grows and you start delegating various aspects of the business, it’s very easy to lose touch with the individual cogs that make up the entire machine. That’s why it’s important for every business owner to have a basic knowledge of a small selection of technical skills that will help you better understand how to keep the machine running smoothly and perhaps astutely putting out fires and doing damage-control if and when the need arises.
Project Management
Every business owner must learn project management techniques to effectively plan and execute projects leading to their success. Traditional project management often follows a sequential approach with little flexibility. On the other hand, agile, an iterative approach, usually breaks the work into manageable parts, focusing on teamwork, and encouraging feedback at any stage – making it more suitable for modern businesses. Usage of agile techniques can also lead to effective communication with the team regarding the tools and technologies used. Consequently, taking courses, attending workshops, studying Agile & Scrum Resources can help them with understanding the project requirements. This may lead to a streamlined workflow and keep the business competitive.
Admin
If you built your business from scratch, you will already be acquainted with the dynamics of the often thankless task that is completing administrative work. Learn how to use the latest software and research modern admin trends as this could open up the door to a much more simplified way of doing things. To further alleviate the burden of these duties, consider taking help from a staffing agency specialized in providing virtual assistance. You can hire a virtual admin assistant who can transform the way you handle your daily administrative workload. With a virtual assistant, you can delegate a wide range of tasks, from managing emails to scheduling appointments, allowing you to focus on core business activities. This strategic move ensures that your admin tasks are taken care of by skilled professionals and also contributes to better business growth.
Bookkeeping
You don’t need to a qualified expert whose understanding of numbers is at the level of a Chartered Accountant, but basic bookkeeping skills are essential to the success of any business owner and their business. Learn some basic bookkeeping – even if you temporarily do the books by keeping a Cash Receipts Journal (CRJ) and Cash Payments Journal (CPJ), with all the records to be later handed over to a professional accounting agency that’ll officially complete your business’ accounting requirements in compliance with tax-filing laws and the like. Knowing what goes on as far as your business’ numbers goes is perhaps the single most important legal requirement you have to adhere to in the business world because you are ultimately liable for all your business’ dealings as the owner.
Staffing
As your business grows, effective staffing becomes crucial. Utilizing staffing agencies or HR specialists can further streamline this process, ensuring you have the right talent at the right time for your specific industrial requirements. For instance, in industrial businesses, where specialized skills are often required for various projects, understanding the basics of staffing and human resource management is essential. This includes identifying the right roles, crafting clear job descriptions, and conducting thorough interviews. Being informed about employment laws and best practices in recruitment helps build a strong, productive team. One valuable option would be to hire temporary staff for industrial projects. By doing so, you can efficiently manage project demands without committing to long-term hires, allowing you to scale your workforce according to project needs and budget constraints.
Coding
It’s no longer adequate to just be computer literate. In this day and age, those software applications which hold the most value are those which are tailor-made and often custom-built to complete a task specific to your business. You don’t have to become an expert Software Engineer, but a basic understanding of programming and coding principles will give you the advantage of knowing how to estimate the costs associated with specific code-dependent tasks. If you outsource the development part of some of your business’ offerings for example, a basic coding background will give you a good idea of how much you should be paying for those outsourced services. You can also diagnose and perhaps solve some minor internal problems as they arise, instead of having to call in an expensive consultant.
Nov 30th
Most business owners start out running their entire business all by themselves, which is a period in your life that can make for some exciting but very demanding times. The first few minutes of the day could have you clearing up your desk and dusting up here and there, but by the end of the day you might find yourself having played a range of different roles in your business, from being your own personal assistant to acting as an entire marketing team and emailing prospects, or even pushing sales yourself.
It has undoubtedly become a little bit easier to get through the legal requirements to start a new business, but as your business grows and you start delegating various aspects of the business, it’s very easy to lose touch with the individual cogs that make up the entire machine. That’s why it’s important for every business owner to have a basic knowledge of a small selection of technical skills that will help you better understand how to keep the machine running smoothly and perhaps astutely putting out fires and doing damage-control if and when the need arises.
Project Management
Every business owner must learn project management techniques to effectively plan and execute projects leading to their success. Traditional project management often follows a sequential approach with little flexibility. On the other hand, agile, an iterative approach, usually breaks the work into manageable parts, focusing on teamwork, and encouraging feedback at any stage – making it more suitable for modern businesses. Usage of agile techniques can also lead to effective communication with the team regarding the tools and technologies used. Consequently, taking courses, attending workshops, studying Agile & Scrum Resources can help them with understanding the project requirements. This may lead to a streamlined workflow and keep the business competitive.
Admin
If you built your business from scratch, you will already be acquainted with the dynamics of the often thankless task that is completing administrative work. Learn how to use the latest software and research modern admin trends as this could open up the door to a much more simplified way of doing things. To further alleviate the burden of these duties, consider taking help from a staffing agency specialized in providing virtual assistance. You can hire a virtual admin assistant who can transform the way you handle your daily administrative workload. With a virtual assistant, you can delegate a wide range of tasks, from managing emails to scheduling appointments, allowing you to focus on core business activities. This strategic move ensures that your admin tasks are taken care of by skilled professionals and also contributes to better business growth.
Bookkeeping
You don’t need to a qualified expert whose understanding of numbers is at the level of a Chartered Accountant, but basic bookkeeping skills are essential to the success of any business owner and their business. Learn some basic bookkeeping – even if you temporarily do the books by keeping a Cash Receipts Journal (CRJ) and Cash Payments Journal (CPJ), with all the records to be later handed over to a professional accounting agency that’ll officially complete your business’ accounting requirements in compliance with tax-filing laws and the like. Knowing what goes on as far as your business’ numbers goes is perhaps the single most important legal requirement you have to adhere to in the business world because you are ultimately liable for all your business’ dealings as the owner.
Staffing
As your business grows, effective staffing becomes crucial. Utilizing staffing agencies or HR specialists can further streamline this process, ensuring you have the right talent at the right time for your specific industrial requirements. For instance, in industrial businesses, where specialized skills are often required for various projects, understanding the basics of staffing and human resource management is essential. This includes identifying the right roles, crafting clear job descriptions, and conducting thorough interviews. Being informed about employment laws and best practices in recruitment helps build a strong, productive team. One valuable option would be to hire temporary staff for industrial projects. By doing so, you can efficiently manage project demands without committing to long-term hires, allowing you to scale your workforce according to project needs and budget constraints.
Coding
It’s no longer adequate to just be computer literate. In this day and age, those software applications which hold the most value are those which are tailor-made and often custom-built to complete a task specific to your business. You don’t have to become an expert Software Engineer, but a basic understanding of programming and coding principles will give you the advantage of knowing how to estimate the costs associated with specific code-dependent tasks. If you outsource the development part of some of your business’ offerings for example, a basic coding background will give you a good idea of how much you should be paying for those outsourced services. You can also diagnose and perhaps solve some minor internal problems as they arise, instead of having to call in an expensive consultant.