We see them all the time. Often times we will work with them. We can spot business savvy leaders anywhere. We recognize their knowledge, ongoing learning and understanding in their field. Yet how is it that we cannot see that same commitment to our own profession as our own ability to be that business savvy person? Developing your range of skills as a leader and extensive knowledge of your business are important. The intangible skills will come about as you grow. For instance, the ability to see the impact of one areas decision on another area and if it will be a positive or negative one. Lets look at a few attributes that make business savvy leaders….well savvy!

Communication

Successfully communicating with individuals across all business levels, your network and extended to the community are a few examples of getting the ‘savvy’ message out to the masses.

The savvy individuals here are always listening, learning and processing. They are keenly aware that listening is a skill that is as important as talking. The business savvy communicator is very adept at handling a variety of individual personalities and how best to communicate to each audience in attendance.

Asking the right questions, providing well thought out answers even if it means it won’t be right away, being direct without being confrontational and learning to read between the lines in a conversation are key to the communication component.

Processing and Planning

You will be recognized as a business savvy individual if you understand both the solution and all steps required to get there. This comes naturally as a by-product of your learning and understanding of your business in your own area and all other areas affected.

A business savvy individual here will have had an understanding not only of the present, but also of the past and how the transition to the future will progress. It is a high-level thinking process that works very well for planning the department, region or organization.

Sense of Ownership

This is a critical component to the business savvy individual. You take your work seriously, delivering your best with a sense of pride with the same feeling as if you actually own the company or organization. You display characteristics of an entrepreneur in an existing business. You understand that any course of action taken will affect the bottom-line. You believe that progress will require innovation at times through understanding of the business by studying the marketplace and competitive set to your products or services.

Believe in Yourself

A positive mindset is crucial. This is arguably the most important attribute, as to think you will fail before you even begin will de-rail your plan immediately and lead to disaster.

Acknowledge that negativity gets in your head. It is natural after all but staying positive and laser focused on the outcome you envision will quickly shove the bad thoughts off to the side.

Staying positive helps to prop up your confidence. Quickly stomp out self-doubt if it creeps up. Use fear as your fuel to motivate you and help you see it as only a tool to be used in the successful outcome of your plan. Mistakes are to be used as a learning tool only. See them as one way to avoid success and move forward from each one with confidence.