The global impact of Covid-19 has changed the landscape of the economy forever. Many industries have experienced catastrophic losses and a lot of businesses had to re-strategise quickly to continue trading. It’s never been a better time to study for a business degree!

Even prior to the 2020 global pandemic, vast developments in technology and changes in customer behaviour, presented challenges for businesses around the world. The virus has pressed the fast forward button, pressuring leaders to change the management and structure of their business operation almost overnight.

As a result of the previous year’s events, several key skills have been identified to determine what business now require from their leadership team:

INNOVATION

During the pandemic, it’s clear to see the companies who have responded well to changes and challenges. The ability to provide innovative solutions is a ‘must’ for almost every industry, because who knows what else is lurking around the corner!

LEADERSHIP

One significant difference to the workforce is what’s become the ‘new normal’. Working from home, socially distanced colleagues and flexible working are here to stay. This dynamic shift has made it increasingly difficult for leaders to motivate colleagues, build confidence in a team and lead projects. Now it’s the perfect time to find your way.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

A skill that is often overlooked, but couldn’t be more necessary in these times of uncertainty. Covid-19 has had a detrimental impact on people’s mental health and wellbeing. Emotional Intelligence is a key communication skill. It’s the ability to be empathetic and aware of other people’s emotions. This may come more naturally to some than others, but there are always ways to train and improve this skill.

TECH SKILLS

82% of jobs advertised now require a degree of digital literacy. It is paramount that any business leader has an understanding of technology. That doesn’t mean that you have to know every system or interface inside out, but with technological elements such as AI, the Cloud and Blockchain contributing to the daily running of many businesses, knowledge of modern tech usage is essential.

CRITICAL THINKING

This isn’t just making quick decisions, it’s about making smart decisions under pressure. Mastering this skill requires the ability to think clearly and rationally before making a decision, setting aside any emotion involved. Effective critical thinkers follow a process of asking questions: “What’s the problem?”, “What’s the level of importance?”, “How does it affect the business and its people?”

ADAPTABILITY

The pandemic has highlighted how the daily operation of a business can be thrown into chaos in just a matter of days. Businesses had to act quickly to adjust working styles, shift responsibilities and change methods of communication. Each business would have relied heavily on its leadership team to implement and oversee these processes. This skill set is now incredibly desirable.

This may seem like a lot to learn, but studying now for a business degree will offer an opportunity to learn and master these key desirable skills with the guidance and support of our professionally active and experienced faculty, who practise these skills daily.

At SSBR our Bachelor, Master and Doctorate programmes provide the knowledge and skills to prepare you for the modern-day business world. The online programmes are flexible and can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

Find out more by contacting our friendly enquiries team!

Email: info@ssbr-edu.ch
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