For many, owning a business or running the day-to-day operations in a company is a dream worth pursuing. As many business owners and managers can tell you, there are a lot of ways to follow this route—whether that’s stepping up to take over a family business, becoming an apprentice or getting a degree.
Of course, not all of us will be fortunate enough to inherit a business or secure an apprenticeship-like arrangement—so where do you turn to build that foundation of business skills? One reliable method of learning the ropes in business is to go to college and complete a business management degree program.
Should I major in business management?
Choosing a major or academic program is a serious decision, and you’ll want to be sure your choice aligns with your personality and vision for your career.
Doing some research can help get you started. One solid starting spot would be checking out some of the coursework for business management majors to see what your studies would cover. You could also check out more career information about business management to get an idea of potential outcomes.
If you’re still on the fence about whether business management is right for you, you’ve come to the right place.
7 Signs you should pursue a business management major
We asked business experts to share about the traits that matter most in the field for business management students to consider. Keep reading to hear their expert insight.
1. You are a good listener
Do you take the time to absorb and process what people are actually saying instead of just waiting for your turn to talk? If so, you’re on the right track. Business management students need to understand a variety of subjects as they progress in their academic programs—and strong listening skills will help. But this ability to effectively listen becomes even more valuable when applied to your career.
“I don’t assume I know everything, so I listen to others,” says Jason Bahamundi, owner of Run Tri Bike. Bahamundi believes talking to others about his business vision and hearing their feedback and critiques strengthens his own understanding of how to proceed.
“Listen to your customers, your partners and your competitors,” Bahamundi adds. “They are all giving you answers to questions that you have.”
2. You are resilient
Have you been told you’re good under pressure? If you can keep your head and persevere, even in stressful situations and tough times, this type of resilience will serve you well in a business environment where risk, uncertainty and obstacles are constantly arising.
Inevitably, something will go wrong, and mistakes will be made despite your best efforts. The key is that you’re able to take a setback in stride and learn from it.
3. You love problem solving
Are you the type who can identify a problem, quickly see where the issues lie and correct a situation for the better—improve a recipe, revamp a schedule, tweak an instruction list? This also happens to be an excellent trait when it comes to business management.
“The whole premise of a business is solving a problem for people,” says Curt Flowers, owner of Coral Bean Café. “But within the business, there are always internal problems—employee problems, banking problems—to be solved in order to keep running.”
Finding solutions cannot always be on one person, so Flowers says the delegation of problem solving is crucial. “Solving problems costs resources, so another problem is balancing the resources you have,” Flowers adds. “It’s like a problem-inception, and you have to be able to manage that.”
4. You like meeting new people
If you consider yourself a “people person” and enjoy meeting new people from all walks of life, this can help you immensely in future business endeavors.
Being outgoing can be vital for success, says Minesh Patel, CEO of The Patel Firm.
“You’ll need to communicate and network with potential lenders, suppliers and other essential business contacts,” Patel explains. “Being someone who isn’t afraid to start those conversations and nurture those business relationships will help.”
5. You love learning, whether it’s in person or online
If you’re the type of person who enjoys the process of getting answers or doing research into topics that intrigue you, this love of learning will help in your career.
“Business management isn’t the kind of career where you can spend some time in school and have it mastered,” says Adrian Ridner, CEO and co-founder of Study.com. “While the principles of what makes a good manager might remain consistent, when you put them into practice with people—it can look different every time.” Ridner explains that managers need to be able to keep up with practice changes and care about refining their skills and approaches.
If you are a self-motivated learner who has other commitments that might get in the way of a traditional school schedule, online learning could be the perfect fit for you. A Business Management degree from Rasmussen University is an excellent choice for those interested in an online learning environment.
6. You are naturally empathetic
Do you find it easy to imagine yourself in others’ positions? Is it second nature for you to see a problem from multiple perspectives? If you tend to approach tricky situations by putting yourself in others’ shoes, you’ll have an edge as a leader in the workplace.
Being empathetic makes building lasting relationships with others easier and allows for greater connection—both core business skills, according to Liam Johnson, CEO of The Hitch Store.
“Connecting is not limited to the people in the organization but also with people outside the company, such as investors, collaborators, customers and even rival companies,” Johnson explains.
7. You want lots of options in your career path
You never liked feeling boxed in. Degrees that only lead to a few clear career options aren’t appealing to you. What if you change your mind about where you want to work in a few years? What if you start to feel passionate about something else and want to incorporate it into your job? If you like having some real career flexibility, business management is a smart choice.
The skills you’ll develop while earning a business management degree can be applied in a wide variety of different contexts. Our entire economy is based upon businesses selling goods and services—and businesses need well-trained professionals to keep them growing and operating.
Is a business management degree a natural fit for you?
If you are resonating with some of the traits on this list, the next step is to research what enrolling in a program would involve. How long does completing a degree program take? What would you study? To get a closer look at the details, check out the Rasmussen University Business Management program page.
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- I Want to Major in Business, But... Addressing Common Student Concerns
- 5 Things You Should Know About the Rasmussen University Human Resources and Organization Leadership Programs
