As marketing adapts to technological advancements, like the increased use of AI and data analytics, marketers are expected to adapt their strategies and campaigns as well. This often means pursuing learning and development opportunities to strengthen technical skills.
However, technical expertise and knowledge aren’t the only skills that lead marketing professionals to greatness. According to Forbes, soft skills are in high demand with 61% of professionals saying they’re just as important as technical, or hard, skills.
Developing these important marketing skills can help future-proof your career. The top soft skills needed for marketing professionals include communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem-solving and project management.
1. Communication Skills
Effective communication skills in marketing allow you to sell your ideas to stakeholders and customers in order to generate business. Listening, writing and speaking clearly and confidently can make all the difference when it comes to interacting with management, your team and customers.
Examples of communication skills to develop include, but are not limited to:
- Persuasion
- Active listening
- Professional language
- Emotional intelligence
- Transparency and honesty
Communication skills are developed with experience and practice. If you enroll in Concordia University Chicago’s online MBA in Digital Marketing program, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about effective communication in the course Ethics, Law & Communication in Decision Making.
2. Teamwork Skills
Although teamwork is found across all industries, these skills are critical for marketing professionals to possess. In a marketing team, nothing is accomplished individually. Organizations hire marketing professionals who thrive in a collaborative work environment, especially during times of technological advancements.
Examples of teamwork skills to develop include, but are not limited to:
- Honesty
- Empathy
- Awareness
- Collaboration
- Responsibility
- Communication
Without these teamwork skills, marketers often struggle to accomplish career goals and contribute positively to an organization.
3. Adaptability Skills
When a marketing professional is adaptable, this means they are able to be flexible and adjust to changing factors, conditions and environments. New forms of media tools continue to give marketers greater access to larger audiences and target markets. At the same time, consumers are becoming more accustomed to personalized experiences.
Examples of adaptability skills to develop include, but are not limited to:
- Teamwork
- Innovation
- Resiliency
- Organization
- Problem-solving
- Creativity and strategic thinking
Marketers must be adaptable to the changes in marketing, including changes in their clients’ strategies.
4. Problem Solving Skills
Marketers need problem-solving skills whether they’re making decisions that affect their team or creating solutions for themselves. Since problems are bound to arise in the marketing industry, this critical soft skill helps you move forward and grow as a professional as well as a person.
Examples of problem-solving skills to develop include, but are not limited to:
- Analysis
- Creativity
- Teamwork
- Judgment
- Evaluation
With these problem-solving skills in your toolbelt, there’s no stopping you from contributing unique ideas to your organization, achieving career goals and impressing stakeholders.
5. Project Management Skills
Project management skills prepare marketers to successfully create, run and manage campaigns for clients or their organization. Without these skills, marketers run the risk of common marketing campaign challenges such as project scheduling, scope creep and poor communication.
Examples of project management skills to develop include, but are not limited to:
- Strategy
- Communication
- Documentation
- Task management
- Time management
Up Your Marketing Skills at Concordia University Chicago
Taking note of your soft and hard skills in order to better your marketing career helps immensely. Concordia University Chicago’s online MBA in Marketing degree equips you with the coursework to develop these top marketing soft skills, as well as hard skills.
To learn more about the MBA in Digital Marketing program visit the program overview page today.
