These Are Some Skills from Poker you Can Apply in Business
With anything in life, there are major skills to learn that can be used in multiple parts of your existence. Take poker, for example; there are numerous things you can draw from it that can help you in your business. Some of the business skills can also help you on your journey to becoming successful at poker. It is genuinely interesting, and many people have not thought about it in this way before. And to help you, we’ve unpacked just what poker can teach you and the skills you would be able to apply in the business world.
1. Managing money
If not the biggest skill, probably the one that is the most important. Remember that poker is all about money; that’s the bottom line. Of course, gameplay will depend on your starting hand, what your opposition has, as well as the stakes at play. A big part of being a poker player is assessing your risks, which ties into playing according to your bankroll and avoiding losing a lot of money.
Inexperienced poker players often make the mistake of pulling risky moves as it can be tempting to bluff and raise with no real chance of ever winning. Looking at both inexperienced as well as experienced poker players will help you to understand why managing your money AND managing it effectively is always the better choice in anything you do. Remember, there are always ways to help you manage your money, whether in your personal life or your business.
2. Having an intense sense of paying attention to detail
In both poker and the business world, one must pay attention to detail. This meticulous attention gives you insight into different things, allowing you to formulate varied responses and outcomes. While you need to keep track of the cards in poker, it is vital to see the players around you. You need to be able to call a bluff when you see one. For business, you will most definitely need this skill. Paying attention to what your competitors are doing allows you to preempt their actions that will later only better your business.
3. Practice makes perfect
With anything in life, the more you practice it, the better you become. In poker, beginners need to practice, practice, and practice some more. What this does is allow you to learn the fundamentals, as well as learn how to read the room and your opponents so that you can outsmart them. For a business, actively working on a product or brand works the same way. The more effort you put into learning the ropes and undertaking what you are selling, endorsing, etc., the better your odds of being successful in it.
4. Create a strategy
If you’ve ever thought that you don’t need a strategy to play poker professionally, then you are so wrong. While some players have a knack for it, most other poker players need a plan to win. You must apply this in business as well. Think about it this way, before you launch a product, you need to do your homework. This will include coming up with a business plan, looking at your target audience, and seeing how this product will work for your target market, as well as society at large.
5. Take the emotion out of the situation
No one is saying to be a stone-cold drill sergeant, but controlling your emotions will get you a long way in both poker and business. For poker players, showing how your game is going on your face can cost you the game. If your opponents even get an inkling that you are panicking, then it’s game over.
The same can be said in business. Let’s say your beauty business is facing major backlash over a face cream that causes a rash; you cannot just jump on the defense. Take the time (not too long, but just enough) to assess the situation, look at the complaints and formulate a plan that will work for you as the business, as well as your customers. Keep in mind that difficult emotions will arise from time to time, but it’s important to deal with them constructively.
6. Think of different scenarios
This ties in nicely with your strategy. Both poker and running a business are unpredictable. However, you do have room to unpack different scenarios through extensive research. In poker, watching earlier poker tournaments will help you to formulate different outcomes. And in business, you can look at your competitors as a template of what not to do in terms of scandals and reactions. In one way or another, a situation has taken place, and you can learn from it.
7. Be responsible
Casinos and various gambling organizations encourage responsible gambling! In business, your responsibilities will always go much deeper. You must consider your staff for one, and secondly, this is your income, so you need to ensure you are making responsible decisions that won’t put any of that in jeopardy.
