What if you were a pilot who had never practiced making an emergency landing? What if you were a professional American football quarterback stepping into the championship game without ever practicing getting rid of the ball when the all-out blitz comes at you?

Now, what if you are a business leader making and executing strategic decisions through teams of people without ever practicing to be a business leader?

The results in all three scenarios would be the same: costly mistakes, missed opportunities, and angry customers and shareholders. That isn’t a winning formula or approach!

Yet, in today’s business world, many organizations expect leaders and employees to make critical decisions without a safe space to learn and practice. Business simulations change that. They offer an innovative and immersive way for professionals to experiment, grow, retain knowledge, and succeed, all in a risk-free environment.

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In 2024, Business Acumen skills proved once again to be of critical importance to business leaders. Our marketing automation system is able to track the number of readers for each of our weekly blog posts, and looking back at the past year, a few posts stood out as favorites. These posts might have been written in different years, but they’ve found their audience in the digital world and continue to provide value.

Here’s a look at the top six most-read posts and my personal thoughts on why the topics resonated with our business leader audience. I also reflect on what makes business acumen skills such a critical topic.

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Building Business Acumen Skills for Everyone

In today’s business environment, having the right business acumen is no longer optional, it’s mandatory. Understanding the core drivers of business success allows individual contributors and leaders to make informed decisions, align their actions with the strategy, and drive the results that you have promised to your employees and shareholders.

Business acumen matters because it builds the bridge between an organization’s strategy, its goals, market realities, and operational execution. It enables employees, managers, and leaders to:

• Understand the “whys” behind decisions.
• Drive alignment across teams and functions.
• Anticipate market shifts and respond proactively.
• Use financial insights to make smarter choices.

Deliver on customer expectations while maintaining operational efficiency. Read More >

Welcome to Part 2 of '25 Business Issues to Think About in 2025'!In Part 1, I explored some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities businesses will face in the coming year, ranging from AI integration and workforce upskilling to sustainability and geopolitical instability. These issues underscore the need for strategic thinking and strong business acumen skills across organizations.

As we continue, Part 2 will take a deeper look into topics that are just as critical for success in 2025. From navigating cybersecurity threats to leveraging quantum computing, this next set of challenges highlights the importance of staying agile and forward-thinking. Let’s explore how these issues can shape the future and how being prepared can help your organization achieve its goals. 

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Happy New Year! As we all jump back into what is sure to be another tumultuous year, I thought it would be interesting to pause for a moment to think about and prepare for the big issues facing businesses around the world in 2025.

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