If you had to ask your dad, he might have a pearl or two of wisdom that still stands true today. The same can be said about old school business rules. Times have changed but some principles haven’t and whilst a project administration course might help prepare you for the modern working world, we can learn a lot from how they did things back in the day.
Never ignore feedback
One of the most important business skills to hone is that of receiving feedback. Whether positive or negative, any advice should always be heard. If someone is taking the time to tell you something, you should take the time to listen. The chances are, you might actually need the advice. Don’t take it personally either. More often than not, the other party is simply trying to help.
Customers will always be the best advocates
Back in the day, word of mouth meant Suzy telling Sarah about your product at the hairdresser or on the phone. Today, one-on-one word of mouth still happens, only now it’s stronger than ever thanks to one thing: Social Media. Sharing of statuses, reviews and even comments on posts means that your brand and business is catapulted to the timelines of thousands of people at a time. If the feedback is good, this is amazing publicity. If it’s not, well, you might have a fire to put out. Either way, acknowledging the power that your customers have in the modern age is priceless. Especially if they have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.
You’re never too good to get the coffee
No matter how experienced you are or how much power you have, you should never reach a stage where you stop putting in effort. Whether it’s offering a client some water or trying your best to keep the office space tidy, doing your part is always positive. It also shows those around you that you aren’t entitled and you don’t see yourself as better than anyone else. This will make your peers more likely to respect you.
Organisation = speed
In an age where we always seem to be so short on time, it’s a common misconception that taking the time to get organised means sacrificing speed. The exact opposite is true. In investing a short amount of your day to get organised, you can be sure that the rest of the day can be spent doing what you need to do. This will happen without you pausing to evaluate what needs to be done before each task begins. Yes, we have technology that helps us prioritise things but don’t underestimate the power of classic to-do lists. These bad boys worked back then and they still work now. Some of the world’s most powerful people put pen to paper and make lists to help then get things done.
The future of business starts now
As the next generation, you hold the potential to do some incredible things in the business world. Don’t miss your chance to make your mark. If you’re interested in what the IIE Higher Certificate in Business Principles and Practice at The IIE’s Varsity College could offer your future, please click here. Varsity College is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE).