Discover important skills you’ll need when you’re self-employed, and ways to build them.
As a self-employed young person, you’ll be running your own business, whether you’re selling a product/service or your own skills through freelancing.
Just like working for a company, there are key skills you’ll need to be successful as an entrepreneur.
Let’s take a look at 9 essential skills you should learn to build.
1. Leadership and teamwork skills
While you may be choosing self employment because you would rather work alone, you’ll need to be able to work well with clients, and perhaps your own employees.Teamwork skills are essential for working well with others, and leadership skills will help you to manage your business and staff.
2. Organisation
Being organised will be key to achieving your SMART goals. You’ll need to be able to manage your own time to ensure you’re being productive, meeting deadlines, juggling projects and making time for your personal life.
3. Problem solving
Whatever kind of job you’re in, problem solving skills will always be essential. Whether it’s working around problems that have just popped up or managing the effect of situations you would have had no control over, you’ll need to be able to keep a calm head and possibly work under pressure as you find solutions.
4. Creativity
Being able to come up with imaginative, outside of the box ideas will help with problem solving and thinking of solutions. It will also be crucial to coming up with a successful business idea and being able to promote it to your customers.
5. Communication
Being able to share your ideas clearly with others (and to listen actively too) will come into all aspects of your business. From writing and presenting your business plan and negotiating business deals to marketing to customers and even
6. Money skills
Although these skills are all important and useful, this is arguably one of the most important skills. While you can outsource money management to accountants, you’ll need to be able to keep track of your money. This includes your costs, your income, return on investment (ROI) and tax (very important!). The most basic money skill you’ll need is being able to create, adjust and stick to a budget.
7. Digital skills
Technology is big! Lots of people are taking their businesses online through websites and social media, and there’s been a rise in customers buying things online too. At the most basic level, you should be able to communicate through email and use video conferencing software. Things like website building can be outsourced or created through automated services like Squarespace that make it easy for you. You’ll likely find social media is a great way to get your name out there too – you don’t have to be a pro to get started because you learn along the way.
8. Motivation
This is something we all have and you can get better at finding motivation over time. All it takes is a bit of discipline and finding your rhythm. Read these motivation tips to start building useful habits now.
9. Self-belief
Believing in your ability to succeed is crucial. The way you feel will affect the way you do things, including your motivation and enthusiasm. Remember that you don’t have to do everything perfectly the first time, especially if you’re just starting out. It’s inevitable that there’ll be bumps along the way.
How to build self-employment skills
You don’t have to be perfect at all of these skills right now either. You’ll build them with time and experience, and be able to explore the best ways to use them for your business. If you’re thinking of starting a business or have just set one up, you’ll want to be at least comfortable with most of these skills to use in your day to day operations.
To get started with skills building, use the free Young Professional training programe to learn about these skills and plan ways you can build them, use them, and show them off.
There’s always help when you need it. If you need support in getting your business started, explore this list of support and help available for self employment in the UK.
