| As a budding entrepreneur building my own | | | | brands. |
| business and on the road to growing it | | | | So, for "Sam", what skills are most important? |
| corporate-size, with a background mainly from | | | | Basic accounting, staffing (recruiting, scheduling as |
| sales and self-employment, the above question | | | | well as training and managing employees), and |
| represents my initial attitude to executive | | | | marketing (including physical product display and |
| management training: what I thought was a | | | | personal selling). |
| fancy-shmancy name for truisms and blatantly | | | | As for "Kelly", of course marketing skills will be at |
| obvious stuff. However, when I looked into the | | | | center stage. Project management skills will also |
| subject and saw the wealth of solid information | | | | give her an edge, as well as presentation/selling |
| that's actually out there - sure, among lots of | | | | skills, not to mention Powerpoint software skills. |
| fluffiness, but even the softer aspects of | | | | "David" will need marketing skills (ok, EVERY |
| executive management training consist of skills | | | | business person needs marketing as well as sales, |
| and points that can be improved if trained | | | | there you have it!) but will also gain benefits from |
| effectively - I was gradually convinced that | | | | solid skills in logistics, manufacturing as well as an |
| executive management training is an area to be | | | | acute awareness of cultural differences between |
| looked into seriously to backup "pure street | | | | various markets. |
| smarts" with proven tactics and strategies that | | | | As illustrated by these examples, we're talking |
| have been used successfully by other big business | | | | about an immense variety of skills needed for |
| leaders before you. | | | | different kinds and levels of managerial roles. My |
| So, what kinds of managers (let's leave out the | | | | suggestion to you is to take a close look at the |
| redundant "executive" part for this time) can | | | | job description of your current position as well as |
| benefit from polishing their skills through | | | | the future positions you might be aiming for, and |
| "executive management training"? | | | | then begin shopping around on the internet as a |
| Let's take three examples to illustrate this. I'll | | | | first stop for valuable information in the areas |
| present our cases, and then point out how their | | | | that you decide to focus on. No need to be |
| differing skill requirements can be improved with | | | | unfocused - pick only one type of skill to start |
| the right training program: | | | | with, and begin immersing yourself one step at a |
| - "Sam", the store manager/owner of a small, | | | | time. |
| family-sized retail business. - "Kelly", the bureau | | | | There's lots to learn through executive |
| manager at a media consulting firm, in constant | | | | management training, and all kinds of media to |
| frenzied contact with clients as well as media | | | | absorb the information - from personal blogs and |
| players in all channels. - "David" The brand | | | | articles written by experienced executives, to |
| manager at a big corporation selling B2B tech, | | | | books, to courses and seminars to attend. I wish |
| responsible for one or a few of several product | | | | you a happy and successful career! |