Crosspost - Must-Have Skills to Succeed in 2013

Source - http://www.globalvis.com/must-have-skills-to-succeed-in-2013/

By GlobalVision International | Published: December 27, 2012

As 2012 draws to its end, many professionals in the translation localization industry are making new resolutions and revisiting their skill sets looking for ways to increase their success chances in 2013.
Here are 10 skills to consider outside language-related learning.

1- Lean – workers and companies have become very lean over the past four years. Everyone expects more for less and these expectations will continue in 2013. Streamline and optimize your cost structures to help reduce your fixed and variable costs.

2- Negotiation – negotiation skills can help you stretch the pie. Gone are the days where you can impose your own salary or price. Negotiating each deal has become the new norm. Every penny spent these days is scrutinized.

3- Win-Win – Learn the art of forging a win-win relationship with your boss, clients and partners. You can’t get ahead anymore at the expense of your peers or vendors.

4- Cash Management – Strong cash flow management is now paramount. Upfront payment terms and on time collections are becoming more important for many businesses. Watch your cash flow like a hawk and make sure your collectibles are current on a biweekly basis.

5- Flexible – Be willing to take on a new role or customize your service offering to meet special needs. By being flexible, you can win jobs that otherwise would go elsewhere.

6- Innovative – Don’t work for technology. Instead, have technology work for you to help you automate your processes and methodologies to cut costs.

7- Logical – Do you have clients that insist on a win-lose deal? Reason with them and use logic. Clients understand that you carry overhead and that you need to cover your expenses to stay in business.

8- Realistic – Don’t expect economic miracles to happen in 2013. Most companies have set their plans and budgets with the fiscal cliff looming. Hope for the best, but do plan for another slow year ahead.

9- Global – look for potential upside overseas in terms of either new revenues or lower costs. Overseas suppliers and workers can help reduce your cost and overhead and overseas clients can make up any deficit from local ones.

10- Patience – If things don’t pan out in the first quarter, work for the long haul. The economic recovery will take place, it is only a matter of time and the one that is equipped with all the above skills and with patience will persist.