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What skills are more important to succeed in business administration?
I am a hight school student interested in business administration and I want to learn how to succeed in this field.
18 answers
Updated
Gail’s Answer
The courses and guidance from others are great. One thing I would suggest adding is leadership skills. These skills are really important for your success after high school and college. You can learn leadership; it's not something you're just born with. Being able to communicate clearly and genuinely is key. Try to get involved in leadership roles with school groups, organizations, or projects. This will help you figure out the kind of leader you are now and want to become. Observe how people around you lead, ask them about their leadership style, and start developing your own.
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Michael’s Answer
A bachelor's degree in business gives you a strong foundation for almost any business field. Having good business sense is key to building a successful and profitable company. These core skills can lead you in many directions.
I chose to focus on business in my degree and used it in my career in the computer industry. I discovered that while technology evolves, business planning skills remain crucial. I keep learning about new technology, but applying basic business principles ensures long-term success.
Take advantage of math classes that you must master for the accounting side of business.
Understand macro and micro economics and how these affect business.
Take advtage of learning about how financial systems work, particularly the stock market.
Ask mentors to tell you what they learned about success and failure lessons.
I chose to focus on business in my degree and used it in my career in the computer industry. I discovered that while technology evolves, business planning skills remain crucial. I keep learning about new technology, but applying basic business principles ensures long-term success.
Michael recommends the following next steps:
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Scott’s Answer
Hello America! High school is a fantastic time for hands-on learning. I encourage you to dive into business and leadership experiences through opportunities like DECA or student government at your school or in your community. Seek out activities that push you to grow and learn. Not only will you develop personally, but these experiences will also look impressive on college business applications.
DECA and student government are great ways to start learning how to gain responsibility, outcome based realities and getting along with others. I second this!
Kelly Fry, MBA, PMP
Santiago Urra
Director of Communications, CSR and Strategic Projects
4
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Santiago’s Answer
I am sure you will have many different answers to this generic question about “how to success in B&A”. But first you have to stop and think deeply about your definition about what “success” is/means for you and in parallel think about your real likes, and dislikes and third in which of the areas of a business you are interested in. All these first deep inner knowledge of yourself which will define your path along the way Eg: success is to be rich and powerful at any cost :(, success is to have my own company , success is create employment, being innovative, succeed is to become the CFO of a big company…or CMO, etc… . Once you have your own definition of success for yourself and what B&A means for you, think your own strategic pro life plan and then ask your environment and experts about it. You can be your own first Advisor, then, the rest we can help you
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Lisa’s Answer
Hi America: There are likely others who can provide specific courses and direction for a career in business administration. Most likely you will want financial accounting, marketing, business administration, and a broad sampling of math classes. Success in business administration also requires excellent communication, critical analysis and judgement. Regardless of your education pursuits during high school and beyond, I strongly recommend taking a few classes in the humanities, such as literature, writing, history, philosophy. These foundational classes augmented by business and financial classes will provide you an solid foundation. you also should try to get experience working in some sort of business environment where you can see how businesses work, whether customer service, sales, etc. Good luck with your endeavors. Be open to trying to different things.
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Chriss’s Answer
If you want to succeed in business administration, it’s less about memorizing textbook material and more about building a mix of people skills, decision-making ability, and understanding how a business actually runs.
Here are the skills that matter most (and why):
1. Communication (Top Tier Skill)
You’ll use this every single day.
Talking clearly with employees, customers, and managers
Writing emails and messages professionally
Listening and understanding what people actually mean
A business can fall apart just from poor communication—even if everything else is solid.
2. Problem-Solving
Things go wrong constantly in business.
A customer is unhappy
A deadline is missed
Costs are too high
You need to stay calm, think logically, and find solutions quickly.
This is what separates leaders from followers.
3. Understanding Money (Financial Basics)
You don’t need to be an accountant, but you MUST understand:
Revenue vs profit
Expenses
Budgeting
Pricing
If you don’t understand the numbers, you can’t run a successful business.
4. Time Management & Organization
Business admin = juggling a lot at once.
Meetings
Deadlines
Tasks from different people
Being organized makes you reliable—and that gets you promoted fast.
5. Leadership & People Skills
Even early on, you’ll work with teams.
Motivating people
Handling conflict
Being someone others trust
People don’t follow titles—they follow how you treat them.
6. Adaptability
Business changes fast.
New technology
Market changes
Unexpected problems
The people who succeed are the ones who adjust quickly.
7. Basic Tech Skills
You don’t need to be a coder, but you should be comfortable with:
Excel / spreadsheets
Email and communication tools
Basic data tracking
Being “tech comfortable” gives you a big edge.
How you can start building these NOW (in high school)
You don’t have to wait:
Get a part-time job → best real-world experience
Join a club (like DECA or student government)
Help organize events or projects
Practice managing your own schedule and money
The honest truth
A lot of people think business success comes from degrees.
It doesn’t.
It comes from:
How well you work with people
How well you handle problems
How well you understand money
If you focus on those early, you’ll be way ahead of most people—even before college.
Here are the skills that matter most (and why):
1. Communication (Top Tier Skill)
You’ll use this every single day.
Talking clearly with employees, customers, and managers
Writing emails and messages professionally
Listening and understanding what people actually mean
A business can fall apart just from poor communication—even if everything else is solid.
2. Problem-Solving
Things go wrong constantly in business.
A customer is unhappy
A deadline is missed
Costs are too high
You need to stay calm, think logically, and find solutions quickly.
This is what separates leaders from followers.
3. Understanding Money (Financial Basics)
You don’t need to be an accountant, but you MUST understand:
Revenue vs profit
Expenses
Budgeting
Pricing
If you don’t understand the numbers, you can’t run a successful business.
4. Time Management & Organization
Business admin = juggling a lot at once.
Meetings
Deadlines
Tasks from different people
Being organized makes you reliable—and that gets you promoted fast.
5. Leadership & People Skills
Even early on, you’ll work with teams.
Motivating people
Handling conflict
Being someone others trust
People don’t follow titles—they follow how you treat them.
6. Adaptability
Business changes fast.
New technology
Market changes
Unexpected problems
The people who succeed are the ones who adjust quickly.
7. Basic Tech Skills
You don’t need to be a coder, but you should be comfortable with:
Excel / spreadsheets
Email and communication tools
Basic data tracking
Being “tech comfortable” gives you a big edge.
How you can start building these NOW (in high school)
You don’t have to wait:
Get a part-time job → best real-world experience
Join a club (like DECA or student government)
Help organize events or projects
Practice managing your own schedule and money
The honest truth
A lot of people think business success comes from degrees.
It doesn’t.
It comes from:
How well you work with people
How well you handle problems
How well you understand money
If you focus on those early, you’ll be way ahead of most people—even before college.
Updated
S’s Answer
To succeed in the real world, focusing on a few key skills can make a big difference:
First, communication is crucial. Being able to explain your ideas, ask good questions, and build strong relationships can take you far.
Second, problem-solving and good judgment are important. Business situations can be tricky, so being able to stay calm and make decisions, even without all the information, is valuable.
Third, emotional intelligence is key. Understanding how people think, handling tough personalities, and staying cool under pressure are important in any job.
Fourth, adaptability is a big plus. Things are always changing—like technology and team dynamics—so being able to adjust quickly helps a lot.
Lastly, basic business knowledge about finance, data, and operations is useful. You don't need to know everything, but understanding how a business makes money and how decisions affect outcomes is important.
By focusing on these skills, you'll be more prepared than most people starting out.
First, communication is crucial. Being able to explain your ideas, ask good questions, and build strong relationships can take you far.
Second, problem-solving and good judgment are important. Business situations can be tricky, so being able to stay calm and make decisions, even without all the information, is valuable.
Third, emotional intelligence is key. Understanding how people think, handling tough personalities, and staying cool under pressure are important in any job.
Fourth, adaptability is a big plus. Things are always changing—like technology and team dynamics—so being able to adjust quickly helps a lot.
Lastly, basic business knowledge about finance, data, and operations is useful. You don't need to know everything, but understanding how a business makes money and how decisions affect outcomes is important.
By focusing on these skills, you'll be more prepared than most people starting out.
Updated
Bill’s Answer
Kudos to you for thinking ahead and beginning to plan for your next step in education and possible careers! A business administration degree may include a wide range of subjects from economics and finance to organizational behavior and marketing. I found that a strong grounding in mathematics was especially helpful and that some of my fellow students who lacked a math foundation struggled a bit with the quantitative courses. So if you like math, take as much as you can while still getting a rounded high school education. Also, take economics if your high school offers that (or maybe a community college class?). It is also important to enjoy yourself in high school. If you don't like math, focus on what you do enjoy and see what that leads to. Don't worry if you have to adjust your plan along the way. Life is a journey for all of us and we usually land in a good place. Good luck!
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Neh’s Answer
Hello America, here are a few skills that I belive are more important to succeed in business administration
- Communication Skills: Being able to clearly express ideas and listen to others is crucial for teamwork, leadership, and customer relations.
- Organizational Skills: Managing time, tasks, and resources efficiently helps keep projects on track and meet deadlines.
- Problem-Solving: Identifying challenges and coming up with effective solutions is essential for making good decisions and improving processes.
- Leadership: Inspiring and guiding a team, even if small, shows initiative and helps achieve business goals.
- Financial Literacy: Understanding basic budgeting, accounting, and financial principles helps you make informed business decisions.
- Starting to develop these skills now will give you a strong foundation for a successful career in business administration!
Hope this helps!
- Communication Skills: Being able to clearly express ideas and listen to others is crucial for teamwork, leadership, and customer relations.
- Organizational Skills: Managing time, tasks, and resources efficiently helps keep projects on track and meet deadlines.
- Problem-Solving: Identifying challenges and coming up with effective solutions is essential for making good decisions and improving processes.
- Leadership: Inspiring and guiding a team, even if small, shows initiative and helps achieve business goals.
- Financial Literacy: Understanding basic budgeting, accounting, and financial principles helps you make informed business decisions.
- Starting to develop these skills now will give you a strong foundation for a successful career in business administration!
Hope this helps!
Updated
David’s Answer
La administración de empresas ayuda a organizar recursos, tomar decisiones y alcanzar metas. Para tener éxito, es importante ser responsable y organizado desde joven. También hay que aprender a trabajar en equipo y comunicarse bien.
El liderazgo es vital porque significa guiar y motivar a otros. Es importante resolver problemas y tomar buenas decisiones. Saber manejar el dinero, como ingresos y gastos, es muy útil. Con el tiempo, es bueno aprender sobre finanzas, marketing y estrategia. Participar en proyectos y seguir aprendiendo ayuda a crecer.
La constancia y la disciplina son clave para lograr objetivos. Con esfuerzo y preparación, puedes tener una carrera exitosa en los negocios. No necesitas tener todo claro ahora. Solo empieza, aprende y no te rindas. No se trata de correr, sino de avanzar poco a poco: mejorar un poco cada día lleva al éxito a largo plazo.
Saludos.
El liderazgo es vital porque significa guiar y motivar a otros. Es importante resolver problemas y tomar buenas decisiones. Saber manejar el dinero, como ingresos y gastos, es muy útil. Con el tiempo, es bueno aprender sobre finanzas, marketing y estrategia. Participar en proyectos y seguir aprendiendo ayuda a crecer.
La constancia y la disciplina son clave para lograr objetivos. Con esfuerzo y preparación, puedes tener una carrera exitosa en los negocios. No necesitas tener todo claro ahora. Solo empieza, aprende y no te rindas. No se trata de correr, sino de avanzar poco a poco: mejorar un poco cada día lleva al éxito a largo plazo.
Saludos.
Updated
Alexander’s Answer
The most important skill is communication.
You can have the best idea in the world, but if you can’t clearly explain it, convince others, or work with a team, it won’t take you very far.
Simple way to start now (in high school):
Practice speaking (presentations, class participation, clubs)
Work on group projects seriously
Take classes like business, economics, or even theater/public speaking
You can have the best idea in the world, but if you can’t clearly explain it, convince others, or work with a team, it won’t take you very far.
Simple way to start now (in high school):
Practice speaking (presentations, class participation, clubs)
Work on group projects seriously
Take classes like business, economics, or even theater/public speaking
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Stella’s Answer
Curiosity is a key skill in business administration. Successful business people always ask questions, explore how different industries operate, and find solutions to problems. By staying curious and honing your communication skills, you'll be set up for success in nearly any business field.
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Dana’s Answer
Great Question! So, I think Business administration is a field that requires a combination of technical and interpersonal skills. Some of the most important skills for success include communication, organization, problem-solving, teamwork, and adaptability. Communication is essential because professionals must share ideas clearly, listen to others, and work well with clients and coworkers. Organization is also important because business administrators often manage deadlines, projects, and multiple responsibilities at the same time. Problem-solving helps them make decisions and handle challenges effectively. Teamwork is valuable because many business tasks require cooperation with others. Finally, adaptability is important because the business world changes quickly, and successful people must be able to adjust to new situations and expectations. As a high school student interested in business administration, I believe developing these skills early will help you prepare for future success in this field.
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Priyanka’s Answer
To succeed in business administration, focus on building practical skills to manage decisions, people, money, and change. Business is about applying knowledge in real-life situations where things are always changing. As a high school student, you can start developing these skills by practicing them in everyday situations.
First, work on decision-making. In business, you often make choices without all the information. Learn to analyze situations, compare options, and pick the best action. Practice by thinking about your daily choices, like how you spend time or money, and consider how you could improve next time.
Next, improve your communication skills. You'll need to share ideas, give instructions, and work with different people. Clear communication helps avoid misunderstandings and keeps everyone working toward the same goal. Practice by explaining topics to others, joining discussions, and writing regularly.
Financial awareness is also crucial. Understand basic money concepts like profit, expenses, and savings. Start by managing a small personal budget and tracking your expenses. This will prepare you for handling larger financial tasks later.
People skills are essential too. Businesses run on teamwork, so learn to work well with others, resolve conflicts, and understand different viewpoints. Observe how people interact in group settings and practice cooperating with others.
Execution is about turning ideas into action. This requires discipline and the ability to complete tasks. Practice by setting small goals, following through, and finishing what you start, like organizing an event or managing a project.
Problem-solving is key in business. Learn to identify problems, break them down, and find solutions. Practice by analyzing everyday challenges and thinking of ways to improve them.
Adaptability is important in a fast-changing business world. Be open to new ideas, learn new skills, and adjust your approach as needed. Stay curious and explore different subjects and tools.
Consistency ties all these skills together. Regular practice leads to improvement over time. Build habits that support learning, like reading and reviewing your progress.
Seek guidance and feedback from teachers or mentors. This can provide valuable insights and help you avoid mistakes. Be open to suggestions and learn to evaluate advice.
Finally, connect these skills with a structured approach. Identify your interests in business, set clear goals, and break them into smaller steps. Review your progress and adjust as needed. This will help you stay focused and move forward effectively.
In summary, success in business administration depends on practical skills and consistent effort. Start early and practice these skills to prepare for future challenges in your studies and career.
First, work on decision-making. In business, you often make choices without all the information. Learn to analyze situations, compare options, and pick the best action. Practice by thinking about your daily choices, like how you spend time or money, and consider how you could improve next time.
Next, improve your communication skills. You'll need to share ideas, give instructions, and work with different people. Clear communication helps avoid misunderstandings and keeps everyone working toward the same goal. Practice by explaining topics to others, joining discussions, and writing regularly.
Financial awareness is also crucial. Understand basic money concepts like profit, expenses, and savings. Start by managing a small personal budget and tracking your expenses. This will prepare you for handling larger financial tasks later.
People skills are essential too. Businesses run on teamwork, so learn to work well with others, resolve conflicts, and understand different viewpoints. Observe how people interact in group settings and practice cooperating with others.
Execution is about turning ideas into action. This requires discipline and the ability to complete tasks. Practice by setting small goals, following through, and finishing what you start, like organizing an event or managing a project.
Problem-solving is key in business. Learn to identify problems, break them down, and find solutions. Practice by analyzing everyday challenges and thinking of ways to improve them.
Adaptability is important in a fast-changing business world. Be open to new ideas, learn new skills, and adjust your approach as needed. Stay curious and explore different subjects and tools.
Consistency ties all these skills together. Regular practice leads to improvement over time. Build habits that support learning, like reading and reviewing your progress.
Seek guidance and feedback from teachers or mentors. This can provide valuable insights and help you avoid mistakes. Be open to suggestions and learn to evaluate advice.
Finally, connect these skills with a structured approach. Identify your interests in business, set clear goals, and break them into smaller steps. Review your progress and adjust as needed. This will help you stay focused and move forward effectively.
In summary, success in business administration depends on practical skills and consistent effort. Start early and practice these skills to prepare for future challenges in your studies and career.
Updated
Frank’s Answer
To succeed in business administration, you need strong communication, leadership, problem-solving, organizational, adaptability, financial, and teamwork skills to effectively manage people, resources, and changing business challenges.
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Divyanshu’s Answer
Here are four things I would recommend:
1) AI will touch virtually every industry and role, so learning the fundamentals now will help you stay competitive:
- AI and Machine Learning fundamentals
- Natural Language Processing (NLP) basics
2) Data Analysis using Alteryx:
Alteryx is a powerful code-free data analytics tool.
Use the following link to start learning for free:
https://www.alteryx.com/sparked/learning-programs/students
I am recommending Alteryx because:
- It is a widely recognized data analytics tool
- There are free online lessons and certifications provided by Alteryx
- Knowledge gained from Alteryx is useful in various roles
3) Communication skills will help you perform better in interviews and set you up for success at work.
In business you often need to explain complex ideas simply.
Work on:
- Storytelling, explaining the “why” behind your work
- Public speaking and presentation
- Active listening and asking good questions
4) Build experience through volunteering, internships, college projects, and competitions.
1) AI will touch virtually every industry and role, so learning the fundamentals now will help you stay competitive:
- AI and Machine Learning fundamentals
- Natural Language Processing (NLP) basics
2) Data Analysis using Alteryx:
Alteryx is a powerful code-free data analytics tool.
Use the following link to start learning for free:
https://www.alteryx.com/sparked/learning-programs/students
I am recommending Alteryx because:
- It is a widely recognized data analytics tool
- There are free online lessons and certifications provided by Alteryx
- Knowledge gained from Alteryx is useful in various roles
3) Communication skills will help you perform better in interviews and set you up for success at work.
In business you often need to explain complex ideas simply.
Work on:
- Storytelling, explaining the “why” behind your work
- Public speaking and presentation
- Active listening and asking good questions
4) Build experience through volunteering, internships, college projects, and competitions.
Updated
Adegbite’s Answer
Hello dear student, your questions are valid and success in business administration is as easy as your determinations are.
Firstly, I assure you that the courses you'll be doing evolves around the commercial subjects you've done in your high school.
The other part I will implore you to focus on is your Economics and Commerce, they will serve as easy landing for you.
You will actually thrive in this field with your commitment and leadership enthusiasm as you desired.
Firstly, I assure you that the courses you'll be doing evolves around the commercial subjects you've done in your high school.
The other part I will implore you to focus on is your Economics and Commerce, they will serve as easy landing for you.
You will actually thrive in this field with your commitment and leadership enthusiasm as you desired.
Updated
Ghada’s Answer
That’s a really good question, and honestly it’s great you’re thinking about this early. The most important skills for succeeding in business administration aren’t just academic—they’re practical. Things like communication (knowing how to talk to people and handle customers), problem-solving, and time management are huge because you’ll deal with challenges every day. Understanding basic money skills, like budgeting and profits, is also really important. On top of that, being adaptable and willing to learn makes a big difference, since business is always changing. You don’t need to be perfect at everything now—just start building these skills step by step through school, part-time jobs, or helping in a business, and you’ll be on the right track.
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