Power Skills - What are They - Who has Them?

Power skills - what are they? Why do you need them? Power skills are the tools that help you achieve your goals in business and in your career. I see five groups of skills that create the power in you that propels you forward. Leadership skills; Connecting skills; Technical skills; Industrial skills and Competitive skills. #1 is always leadership. Demonstrating leadership is essential. Leadership means not only seeing where you want to go in the future, but inspiring others to see your vision of the future as well. People will follow your lead if they understand where you are going and why. You need to negotiate well to make others see your point of view. If you want to walk on the path to power, you need to learn how to lead others.

Connecting skills are also a key piece of the power pie. In order to lead others, they have to know who you are. Building a network of support and a group of advisors that help you see the right future is the first step on the path to power.

Technical skills are also a must in today's new economy. Taking the lead in technology and learning about and using all the newest avenues for doing business puts you ahead of the pack. You don't have to be an engineer to understand how to use today's technology, you just need to be open minded and an early adopter.

Industrial skills are important because you need to understand you industry well in order to see the future and have an impact in it, understanding how it will change as technology opens new doors for it. And did I mention being competitive?

Competitive skills are important because it can give you the "first-mover advantage". Being too early can often be as unsuccessful as being too late, so developing your competitive skills to understand when to move into a market is key to success. The path to power has many twists and turns, and these five skills will help you maneuver to the finish line.

Come hear more about bulding power skills and learn about how other powerful women are using them at the "Women and Power" event run by Women in the Boardroom November 19, 2012 in New York.