Top 10 soft skills small business owners need for success

Building a successful business takes resilience, dedication and soft skills.

Here are the top 10 soft skills that will help small business owners thrive and stay competitive.

1. Adaptability

During times of uncertainty, approaching work with an open mind will help you succeed as the business climate changes and evolves.

2. Emotional Intelligence

Self-awareness and knowing how to manage your emotions will take you far in life and in business.

3. Communication

Being able to communicate your complex ideas clearly and give direction in a simple way will help others understand you and your vision, not to mention be able to effectively work for you. Miscommunication is the cause for wasted time, chaos and missed opportunities.

4. Negotiation

Knowing how to win at all costs is a crappy way to conduct business. But using healthy negotiation tactics so both parties win is a skill that is so valuable to small business owners, it is in their best interest to master negotiations both big and small.

5. Collaboration

Teamwork makes the dream work. People power will drive your business forward so it’s vital that you come from a place of collaboration over competition.

6. Can-do attitude

Leaders who roll up their sleeves and jump into the trenches will not only lead by example, but inspire their employees to be more engaged. A can-do attitude is infectious and will be at the foundation of building your company to new heights.

7. Tine management

Time is money. Perfect the art of managing your time by delegating tasks, saying no to unproductive meetings, and tracking projects in a project management software. It’s all a balancing act.

8. Conflict resolution

Having tough conversations will happen, whether you like it or not. Knowing how to resolve conflicts in a respectful manner will save you for further problems down the road.

9. Accountability

Be a grown up and don’t engage in the blame game. Own up to your mistakes and be transparent, you’re employees will do the same.

10. Empathy

Leaders with empathy have, by far, the best companies. They understand humans on a deeper level and make good listeners. Understanding and caring for others will help you build a thriving company that will attract customers and retain employees.

Being the best you can be as a business owner will pay off in dividends as you build your small business. Mastering these 10 soft skills will make you a better business person, and human, all around.