PPB August 2018

T he business world gets more competitive every day. To stay in demand in this tough environment, you need to perform at a higher level than ever before. You must get better results (and get them quickly), instantly recover frommissteps and garner the confidence to thrive in times of uncertainty. To do this, you need a modern-day skill set that gives you the edge over your competitors and helps you efficiently reach your goals. In addition to perfecting the hard skills you need for your industry, you must also focus on developing trust and engagement—two components lacking in many business interactions today. Keep reading to learn the seven best practices that are necessary for success. 1 Fine-tune your focus. Today’s employees have greater responsibility and less time to complete their work. This forces them to multitask, yet most people are terrible at multitasking. Plus, they are constantly interrupted by email, smartphones and social media. Success often comes down to your ability to tune out all this noise and get focused. To help you stay disciplined, get rid of distractions and temptations until your work is finished. Turn off media, remove clutter from your desk and limit office chitchat any time you have a task to complete. This creates an environment that best allows you to serve your clients and get your work done. 2 Engage with your clients. Building and nurturing solid client relationships is the cornerstone of any successful business. Commit to a personal code of integrity to assure clients that you will work hard for them and that they are in good hands. Strive to be honest and authentic with both your clients and your associates. People can tell whether you’re being friendly just tomake a sale or truly trying to establish a connection. You will earn your clients’ trust if you are upfront about products they don’t need and honest about the products they should use. Finally, show Hone these seven essential habits to stay relevant and in demand. by Paul G. Krasnow The Skill Set Of The Future 50 | AUGUST 2018 | GROW