South Africans are increasingly turning towards entrepreneurship to provide for their families and make a meaningful contribution to their communities. Entrepreneurship takes many forms, whether it is a shop or business that employs community members or a person moving on from a corporate job to become a freelancer or a consultant.
The decision to become an entrepreneur is traditionally made after spending many years in a corporate job sharpening your skill set or off the back of studying towards a degree. However, the soft skills that are associated with entrepreneurship are often overlooked.
The soft skills an entrepreneur possesses may ultimately be the difference between success and failure. It is important to harness these skills throughout the entrepreneurship journey. An article by LSU Online (the online portal of Louisiana State University) discusses some of these skills in detail.
Communication
The LSU article points out that across industries, communication is one of the most essential soft skills for business leaders. As a practical matter, strong verbal communication is vital when providing direction for a particular program or project. A leader who assembles a team to create a marketing campaign should provide a clear vision upfront so all team members understand how the company wants to promote the product.
Clear verbal communication, using intelligent and professional language, is essential for productive employee engagement. Written communication is also important, as sloppy writing, confusing content, or unclear directions can lead to misinterpretation by staff.
The article adds that leaders should also be active listeners. They should be receptive to employees’ ideas, concerns, or complaints to promote a safe environment or prevent conflict.
Emotional Intelligence
The LSU article points out that working in the same environment daily can draw employees closer together as they share information about their personal lives and families. Individuals may go through difficult experiences, such as losing a loved one or navigating a divorce. Business leaders should be able to empathise with employees in distress or grieving and provide them with the support they need.
Exhibiting emotional intelligence should be on a leader’s mind during regular employee conversations and interactions. Delivering bad news—such as the need for budget cuts or layoffs—should be done tactfully and thoughtfully.
Training and Mentorship
The article adds that while employees generally have specific skill sets that qualify them for their jobs, they will always benefit from having a growth mindset. Employees can develop new skills, discover more effective practices, and learn how to use new technology by attending training sessions. By investing time and resources in training and development, leaders can help their employees overcome challenges or inspire positive changes in the workplace.
A leader can’t personally mentor every employee, but offering a mentorship program—in which senior staff members guide and regularly check in with junior staff members—can benefit a business in many ways. Experienced individuals can help newer employees in major and everyday tasks—from using specific software to sharing important information about long-term clients. Mentors can also help cultivate an environment that values relationship-building among employees.
Problem-Solving
Finally, the LSU article points out that problem-solving is another essential business soft skill.
Leaders should be able to approach workplace issues and conflicts and analytically work through them. If leaders think about a seemingly minor issue in the context of a larger ongoing or organisational challenge, they’ll know to address the larger problem to solve the smaller one. Soliciting staff members’ input regarding an issue demonstrates a leader’s willingness to hear multiple perspectives and not make decisions unilaterally.
Where does MANCOSA fit in?
MANCOSA has several courses that provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the necessary skills to realise their dreams of owning a business. Additionally, MANCOSA runs several business incubators where mentorship and guidance are provided to provide entrepreneurs with additional skills associated with the experience of running a business.
Finally, aspiring entrepreneurs can enhance their soft skills through the Honoris Career Centre, which offers practical guidance on enhancing one’s journey to success.
Hashim Bobat
Director: MANCOSA
