5 Skills To Look For In A High-Performing Business Development Professional

The role of the agency new business executive has been called the “the most dangerous job in the agency” due to the short lifespan, stress, and confusion surrounding the responsibilities of the role.

Yet, it is one of the most important positions in the agency. The success of the new business person directly influences future growth and stability. Below are the 7 must-have qualities to look for in a high performing business development professional.

• Communication & Interpersonal Skills

A good business developer must have strong communication skills. They are required in order to communicate, present, assert and speak to all the different stakeholders involved. He must also be able to cold call prospects with confidence in order to gain new clients.

• Collaboration Skills

Business Development is not a one-man show. It involves collaboration with multiple parties from inside and outside the company. Any good business developer should be able to build relationships, influence, manage conflicts and navigate through office politics in order to get things done.

• Project Management Skills

Good Business developers are in some way also project managers. They have to be able to set goals, plan and manage projects, manage the risks involved, calculate budgets, cost, time and teams working on ongoing projects.

• Research & Strategy

A Business Developer will need to have strong research and strategic analysis skills. These are necessary in order to benchmark the competition and keep the company ahead of it.

• Computer Skills

This comes without thinking these days. Any decent employee needs to have at least basic computer skills. Nevertheless, a Business Development Manager must have high competency working with Microsoft Office. Even CRM software is a must for this job as well.

Olatorera Consultancy Limited provides business development services to companies looking to grow, enter or do business in Africa. We also provide consultancy services to high net-worth individuals including politicians, business executives and aspirants.