It's All About Skills: Business Acumen

Have you ever watched a colleague or competitor in action and wondered how is it that some people just seem to make all the right business moves?  They seem to flawlessly adapt and shift in any business scenario.  How do they do it?  Are they shaking an old Magic 8-Ball?  Ok – just Google it.  What’s their secret?  In simple terms, what they have…and what you want…is something called business acumen. 

Business acumen is a demonstration of savvy.  It embodies the skills of honed perception, quick-thinking wit, courage, adaptability and a wee bit craziness.  It’s willing to take the leap…confident that there’s a chance you just might bounce the landing.  So how do you get your hands on this elixir of business?  Sure, some people seem to be born with the gift.  It’s like mom and dad and the moon and stars all aligned to create a prodigy of savviness.  For the rest of us mortal business beings, the simple answer:  practice and patience.  Specifically, it is the combination of practicing critical thinking and creative thinking skills.  

Critical thinking is the ability to digest a situation to it’s fullest and then determine a course of action which gets you to the best outcome.  It’s like the tree-in-the-road scenario:  a large tree is blocking the roadway to your destination.  What are your options:  sit and hope the tree miraculously moves; reverse and then gun the engine in the hopes of jumping over the tree (not recommended); reverse course and/or look for an alternate route around the tree; or move the offending tree out of the way and continue on course?  The latter two options are the wisest and safest actions.  Creative thinking now comes into play.  What is the heft of the tree?  Is there space around the tree to swerve and continue forward?  Are others also affected by the roadblock and willing to team up to get it moved?  Anyone have the number to a utility company for removal?  Here’s a quick recap: 

• Critical thinking = make assessment > determine outcomes and                                              consequences > develop potential routes /                                                  solutions 

• Creative thinking = use innovation to apply solutions; learn from                                               others or create new ideas to get the desired                                               outcome

Business transactions can sometime look like a forest of trees.  Some may be oaks – others may be shrubs.  As we practice the skills of critical and creative thinking, we strengthen our ability to adapt to a variety of professional situations.  Magic 8-Balls won’t really help…but I do have one.  If business acumen had a mythical elixir, you would find it composed of a pinch of failure, a dash of hope and a shot of courage all mixed into a vat of practice.