Dr Kulneet Suri, an MBA and an M.Phil in the English Language, with Doctorate in Management from LTSNU (Ukraine) is currently Senior Director-International & Business Development at Institute of Management Study (IMS) Noida, IMS-DIA and DIT which is part of UNISON Society and has 11 Institutes in Noida and Dehradun.
Hard skills or professional expertise can take you to only a certain distance in the path towards success. The best programmer can reach the position of the tech head but cannot become the CEO only with coding skills. The same applies to any field you can think about. You need something extra to reach the pinnacle. Something that will make you stands out in the crowd, establish your value in the company and help you to become an asset.
And when you join any of the top MBA colleges, you develop that something you need to excel. Soft skills – your ability to contribute to the company that goes beyond your technical prowess. The way you conduct yourself, how you gel with others and even what you speak during a situation, everything matters in today’s competitive environment. Here is a list of the top 5 soft skills that you must have in your arsenal which will not only help you to achieve professional development but also reach that peak of success. Take note and start working.
1. Public Speaking and Oration
If you have stage fright, work on it. If you cannot frame words in the common tongue, improve it. Public speaking is one of the must-haveskill for a manager and the top brass companies do look into your oration capabilities. Be it presenting a new idea or heading a product launch, a press conference or motivating your team, you will need excellent speaking skills to rise above and outshine others.
The best MBA or BBA colleges will provide you with enough opportunities to hone your oration ability. If you want to reach the CEO level one day, take up these chances and keep improving. The more you speak the better you become at it.
2. Leadership and team management
Leadership is a subjective skill and no two leaders can be the same. You need to have a strong personality and be empathetic at the same time. You need to understand and make hard choices. Not everyone can be a leader but you need to find your skill that can make you one. Even playing along with the team is a mark of a great leader and you always may not have to give out instructions.
Build your leadership quality so that you can manage a team. Every company has almost the same employee structure. Prove that you are capable of helping others and take the company forward; the recruiters will term you as a potential leader and recruit you without a second thought.
3. The ability to make a sale
In other words, the skill to negotiate. No matter which specialisation you choose in your MBA, you must develop sales skills. You understand how people buy a product, you are capable of creating a need and then negotiate to sell it at the best price possible. The same concept can work for an innovative idea, your intention to look for a pay hike or even while switching companies.
Being able to make your case sound convincing is one skill that will help you to move forward in every sphere of your professional life. The best way, again, to develop this is actually getting down on the field and selling an unsalable product. The skills you will get from your failures will be unparallel.
4. Time management
While this may seem trivial in this list, time management will help you in balancing both your professional and personal life. Most of the successful managers hold time management as their reason for productivity and you must start building this ability right from your college days. You will be efficient; your hours will be better utilised and you will get a lot done.
Have a fixed routine in your life. Develop self-discipline. The best business schools have sessions to inculcate such habits in their students that help them in their professional life. Managing time is vital and you will recognise its value in the long run.
5. Body Language
Or the way you express yourself every time you have company. No one will listen to a slouching manager. Your motivating speech will have a negative impact if you do not radiate the same positivity. The way you hold yourself while carrying on a task matters in your professional growth and you must take care to improve your body language.
There are numerous books on body language or you may seek expert help. Get access to online videos or scan through your college library. Do everything to improve your conduct as it has the power to override any other skill that you may be lacking at the time.
So, introspect and point out the skills you already have or need to develop. Work on them accordingly with a focus on your ambition. The best MBA college will hand these to you as a package and then it’s up to you on how you unfold it.
More about Dr Kulneet Suri
Dr Suri is the Vice-President for CEGR, Delhi-NCR Chapter. She began her career with AIRTEL and has thereon successfully risen by handling multidimensional assignments. On joining an educational institution, Dr Suri has been heading all the major functions in the education sector at various points in time. She has successfully handled operations from inception and then led them on a high growth path through meticulous strategy, planning and execution. She is responsible for the management and coordination of IMS Noida, IMS-DIA, and DIT and responsible for the development of new enterprise initiatives.