TOP 10 ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

Being able to communicate effectively is an essential skill. Whether it’s in our business life or our personal relationships, effective communication is the key to our success.

Life coaching for effective communication is a fantastic way to learn and attain this skill.  Through a number of communication models, I’ll show you how to get ahead and stay ahead.

Here are my top ten essential skills for effective communication.  Master these skills now, and they’ll serve you well for a long time to come!

1. Listening

One of the most important aspects of effective communication is being a good listener.

People do not like communicating with others who are only interested in telling you what they want to tell you, and don’t listen to what you have to say.  Effective communication requires active listening, so practice active listening until it becomes second nature to you.

So what is active listening?  Active listening involves hearing and understanding what a person is saying to you.  Unless you understand clearly what a person is telling you, you can’t respond appropriately.  Gain clarification by asking questions or rephrase what you’re being told, so that you’re sure you fully understand the message that’s being conveyed to you.  For example, you could say “So, what you’re saying is…”

2. Non-Verbal Communication

The words we choose make up just 7% of the message being conveyed, which makes non-verbal communication all the more important. Body language is an important communication tool. Your body language should help convey your words.  Other factors you should consider are things like the tone of your voice, your hand gestures, and ensuring eye contact.

A person is going to be encouraged to speak openly with you if you are relaxed and have a friendly tone. Adopt an open stance position, with relaxed legs and open arms.  It is important that you make eye contact with the person you are communicating with, but be careful that you do not stare at them, as this is just uncomfortable.  It is just as important that you recognise the non-verbal signals being displayed by the other person.  These signals will give you an insight into how that person is feeling.

3. Be Clear and Be Concise

Convey your message using as few words as possible.  Whether in person, via telephone, or email, convey your message clearly, concise and direct. If you are excessive with your words, the listener will either lose focus or just be unsure as to what it is that you want.  Before speaking give some thought as to the message you want to convey. This will prevent you rambling and causing confusion.

4. Be Personable

When communicating face to face with someone, use a friendly tone with a simple smile, and ask a personal question. These things encourage the other person to engage in honest, open communication. When using written communication (e.g. email), you can achieve this by adding a simple personal message, for example, “How was your weekend?”.

5. Be Confident

Confidence underpins all effective communication. Other people will believe you will do as you say if you sound confident. Making eye contact, using a firm but friendly tone (never aggressive), are all ways you can exude confidence. Remember to always be listening to the other person and looking out for those nonverbal clues.

6. Empathy

Empathy is the skill of being able to understand and share the feelings of another person.

Even if don’t agree with the person you’re communicating with, it’s very important that you understand and respect their view. Simply saying to that person “I understand what you’re saying”, will let them know that you have been listening to them, and that you respect their point of view.

7. Always Have An Open Mind

Being an effective communicator requires that every conversation is approached with a flexible, open mind. This isn’t always easy to achieve, but is very important to communicating effectively. Always engage in active listening, and be sure to demonstrate empathy by acknowledging you understand what the other person’s point of view is. Adopting this approach will always ensure honest, productive communication.

8. Convey Respect

Other people will be more likely to engage in communication with you if you respect them and their ideas. Simply addressing another person using their name, will make them feel appreciated. If communicating via telephone, always keep focused on the conversation and avoid being distracted in any way. When communicating through email, take time to construct and edit your message, taking care to address the recipient by name.

9. Give and Receive Feedback

Giving and receiving appropriate feedback is an essential communication skill, particularly for those of us whose roles include managing other people. Providing constructive feedback, as well as giving someone praise, can greatly increase motivation and build morale.

It is just as important that you accept and encourage feedback from others. Always listen to feedback and act positively on it. If you’re unsure about any aspect of the feedback, simply ask a question to gain clarification from the other person.

10. Consider The Best Medium for The Job!

The final item on my list is knowing what the best form of communication is to use. Being mindful of using the best form of communication will result in your response being a positive one. Consider things such as, who it is you’re trying to communicate with, how important the topic is, and how busy that person might be. For example, asking your boss for a raise is never going to be taken seriously if you do it by text – so consider what’s appropriate!

Creative thinking skills: definition and examples

When was the last time you came up with something truly new and original? Exercising your creative thinking skills is a critical part of life, no matter the field you work on. 

For those that consider creativity and innovation to be gifts of nature, it is important to understand it is a skill that can be improved with the right training. Not only that but you can also make use of certain techniques to create innovative solutions steadily.

It is also important to break the myth that creativity is fully dependent on a mystical source of inspiration. Instead, it is the byproduct of consuming all kinds of content, being able to relate to different pieces of media, and deconstruct issues to come to the appropriate answers. The proper creative thinking makes this easier.

In this post, you will find out more about:

  • What is creative thinking?
  • Creative thinking techniques
  • What are the main benefits of creative thinking?
  • How to develop creative thinking skills?

What is creative thinking?

Creative thinking refers to using abilities and soft skills to come up with new solutions to problems. Creative thinking skills are techniques used to look at the issue from different and creative angles, using the right tools to assess it and develop a plan.

The focus on creativity and innovation is important because most problems might require approaches that have never been created or tried before. It is a highly valued skill to have individually and one that businesses should always aspire to have among their ranks. After all, the word creativity means a phenomenon where something new is created.

Creative thinking is a skill and, like any other, it needs constant exercise to stay sharp. You need to regularly expose yourself to situations in which a new idea is needed and surround yourself with like-minded people to achieve this goal.

Such a process is made easier with the use of certain techniques. They help get you on the right mindset and provide the basic structure to reach new ideas on demand.

Creative thinking techniques

As you have just learned, creative thinking can be triggered by some widely used techniques. These are effective methods to help you come up with new ideas, test them under new environments, and count on other people’s input to make them even more innovative.

Some of the best examples of creative thinking skills may include: lateral-thinking, visual reading, out-of-the-box thinking, copywriting, artistic creativity, problem-solving, analytical mind, and divergent thinking.

Here are the best creative thinking techniques you can use.

Brainstorming

This technique can be very useful in small or large-scale problems that require a creative solution. The main goal is to form a group of people and throw around ideas without interference.

The general idea of brainstorming is that, by having an excess of creative potential solutions, it gets easier to reach one with the highest level of quality.

Brainstorming has several advantages that can help you exercise your creative thinking skills. For starters, it does not require a rigid structure to function, being very informal. However, it can be facilitated by professional guidance. Also, the people involved do not even need to be together at the same time, as you can use a virtual setting or put ideas into a shared document.

For it to work well, all participants must be aware of the problem that requires a creative solution and are familiar with how brainstorming works. In the end, do not forget to register all the ideas through proper documentation.

Lateral thinking

Sometimes, the answer to a problem is not in front of it, but besides it. That is the general idea of lateral thinking, which is a great way to exercise your creative soft skills and come up with innovative plans.

Lateral thinking involves looking in less obvious areas and lines of reasoning. It can work well if you and your partners try to put yourselves under different perspectives or reverse the problem to look at it differently.

For instance, the direct solution to a loss of sales online would be to put up more ads and promotions. However, lateral thinking might reach alternative paths, like using e-mail marketing to reach customers that have not bought from you in a while.

This can be extrapolated further, even using absurd lines of thinking to get your creative juices flowing. The most important aspect of this process is to go where you would not usually choose to go.

Mind mapping

The process of mind mapping helps you connect ideas you never imagined could be combined. Because of that, it might help you reach appropriate solutions while using creative thinking skills.

A mind map is a chart where you input ideas and connect them. It can have possible solutions to a problem, its immediate consequences, and be the best course of action to deal with them. Alternatively, your mind map can serve as a way to see a bigger picture regarding what you are trying to do.

Mind mapping can even be done individually. Sometimes, you may already have all the ideas you need but it is required to put them to paper. Creating a mind map helps to organize them and naturally reach conclusions.

Also, since a mind map is essentially an infographic, those who were not part of the process can easily understand it. Therefore, it serves as a valid piece of documentation.

Examples of creativity skills

Besides these creative thinking techniques we presented in this chapter, there are several skills you’ll need to develop to enjoy the advantages of the techniques. Some of the creativity skills may include:

  • experimentation
  • opposing views
  • asking questions
  • communication
  • organization

What are the main benefits of creative thinking?

Developing your creative thinking skills is highly beneficial for any field of work. After all, every area needs people that can come up with the best solutions to the everyday problems that arise and creativity is critical to do that.

You can experience advantages such as these by developing creative thinking skills:

  • ability to create the best solutions to daily demands, which provides value to clients and your own business;
  • improvement on problem-solving for not only work-related matters but also those in your personal life;
  • higher workplace involvement in daily activities and engagement, which is beneficial to a healthier environment;
  • a better understanding of data — also known as data literacy — and how to present it through data storytelling;
  • focus on self-improvement as you and your teammates will develop more soft skills.
  • more effective teamwork and bonding, since people grow used to bouncing off original ideas and learn each other’s creative traits.

How to develop creative thinking skills?

Now that you know exactly what creative thinking skills are, the next step in this process involves learning how to work on them. After all, stagnation can be the biggest threat to your creativity, as it requires constant stimulation.

Check out below the best ways to develop creative thinking skills for yourself.

Consume different kinds of content

Your creative thinking can be heavily benefited if you diversify the kind of content you consume in your daily life. After all, the information we absorb can be combined, remixed, and repurposed in several ways to provide solutions. However, this becomes impossible if there is no variety.

To do that, you can make use of the internet’s vast selection of content types. Try to visit different blogs, YouTube channels, and social media profiles you are not used to — preferably those that deal with topics you do not usually consume.

This also works if you try to vary the forms as well as the content. This means engaging with different types of media, like text, videos, audio, and even more specific ones like e-books, podcasts, infographics, and others.

Keep up with the trends

Much of your creative thinking can be influenced by the trends that are influencing the market right now and the ones that are coming up in the future.

Keeping up with the trends is not just about consuming all kinds of news related to your field. It is also necessary to develop a keen eye to distinguish what has the creative potential to get viral or not. This ability will be essential to the success of your strategies in marketing.

Being able to predict trends does not require a crystal ball. Instead, you need to understand how your business segment operates and where the innovation comes from. Having a problem-solving stance is critical for coming up with creative and original ideas.

Try to create something every day

When someone wants to lose weight, they come up with an exercise plan that requires a daily effort as commitment. The same concept applies to the workout of your creative thinking and technical skills required to stay sharp.

So, with that goal in mind, make sure to try to create something new daily. It does not have to be something large or significant, just anything new that derives from all the new references you are absorbing.

Such creations might also serve as solutions to everyday problems you or your community face. The most important part of this process is creating a habit of coming up with new things so it begins to come naturally to you.

Build a network for creativity

Get help from others to keep your creative thinking and technical skills in constant development. You can build a network of people with the same goals and put all these tips in action as a group.

Interacting with your peers is a great way to exercise your creativity. It is even better when these people are also creatively-oriented and contributes to coming up with original ideas as a network. Try to come up with group projects to create a solution to a common problem or innovate on a certain aspect of work.

Be careful not to surround yourself with people that think and create exactly like you. Seek as much diversity as you can while creating this network, since all this variety can be highly beneficial to everyone’s ideas.

Realizing creative thinking skills require constant training is the first step in improving how you come up with new ideas. People who are experienced in this craft can improve every field of expertise. Consider the tips in this article and begin a process of self-improvement focused on honing your creative thinking skills.

Speaking of improvements, how about learning more about how to evaluate your results? Check out this post on the 14 most important metrics to measure content performance.Share

The Benefits Of Time Management

Ram had been trying to integrate physical exercise and meditation into his daily routine for quite some time. However, he faced the same challenge as millions of people worldwide: lack of time.

“I sleep at well past midnight and as soon as I wake up, it is time to get ready and run to the office. I wish I had some free time,” he felt.

WHAT IS TIME MANAGEMENT?

Ram’s problem is not unique. It can be solved with dedication and by understanding the importance of time management in life.

We often value things according to the amount spent on them. Hence, many of us fail to understand the true value of time.

Time management is a critical skill for all of us. When we don’t manage our time well, our productivity declines, and stress levels rise. Time management is important to ensure we don’t face such problems.

THE IMPORTANCE OF TIME MANAGEMENT

There are immense benefits of time management. By understanding the importance of time management in life, we can achieve more in life. Everybody has the same 24 hours in a day. It’s important to learn how to maximize your time so you can be productive at work and life in general.

By understanding the importance of time management skills, we can transform our lives as well as the society around us.

Let’s take a look at the advantages of time management:

  1. DO MORE IN LESS TIME

One of the biggest advantages of time management is that it allows us to be more efficient by being in control of how we spend our time. We can focus better on important tasks, and better focus leads to better efficiency.

Imagine a vehicle being driven slowly by someone busy talking on the phone and looking out of the window repeatedly. Now think of another vehicle being driven by someone focused on driving at an optimal speed to reach their destination faster.

That’s what time management can do for you.

  1. BETTER DECISION-MAKING

A person well-versed with the importance of time management skills is likely to make better decisions. Poor time management skills leave you with little time to comprehend and predict the impact of your decisions.

You may feel pressed for time and hurriedly choose whatever proves to be the easy option. By taking the easy option, however,  you run the risk of losing out in the long run. Time management, on the other hand, will give you the ability to calmly evaluate your options and choose the one that promises the best outcome.

  1. SUCCESS

Of all the benefits of time management, the biggest advantage is that it enables you to achieve greater success in your endeavors. You can perform better regularly, take more effective decisions, and differentiate between important and meaningless tasks. This ability to identify and focus on important areas will eventually lead to greater success in life.

  1. SUPERIOR QUALITY OF LIFE

Life has become fast-paced, competitive, and stressful today. Days seem to fly by, and, in our quest for success, the quality of life is the biggest sufferer. We eat on the go, spend insane hours at work, and miss out on hobbies and family time. In simple words, we trade the joys of living, bonding, relaxation, and health for material accomplishments.

We all want success and material wealth. But by understanding the importance of time management and making it a part of our lives, we can achieve things more harmoniously. Time management won’t give you extra hours. It will, however, teach you how to get more from the same number of hours.

Time management can help us free up time that we can spend on things that make us happy. Thus, we feel less stressed and experience fulfilment in life.

CONCLUSION

Harappa Education’s Practicing Excellence course can help you work efficiently and develop smart time-management skills, By managing your time well, you will be able to achieve excellence and exceed expectations. The course teaches tools and concepts like the Pomodoro Technique and the Eisenhower Matrix which help in better time management and prioritization of tasks. You can enroll for this anywhere, anytime course, and transform your life with the time-tested techniques of time management.

Ram had been trying to integrate physical exercise and meditation into his daily routine for quite some time. However, he faced the same challenge as millions of people worldwide: lack of time.

“I sleep at well past midnight and as soon as I wake up, it is time to get ready and run to the office. I wish I had some free time,” he felt.

WHAT IS TIME MANAGEMENT?

Ram’s problem is not unique. It can be solved with dedication and by understanding the importance of time management in life.

We often value things according to the amount spent on them. Hence, many of us fail to understand the true value of time.

Time management is a critical skill for all of us. When we don’t manage our time well, our productivity declines, and stress levels rise. Time management is important to ensure we don’t face such problems.

THE IMPORTANCE OF TIME MANAGEMENT

There are immense benefits of time management. By understanding the importance of time management in life, we can achieve more in life. Everybody has the same 24 hours in a day. It’s important to learn how to maximize your time so you can be productive at work and life in general.

By understanding the importance of time management skills, we can transform our lives as well as the society around us.

Let’s take a look at the advantages of time management:

  1. DO MORE IN LESS TIME

One of the biggest advantages of time management is that it allows us to be more efficient by being in control of how we spend our time. We can focus better on important tasks, and better focus leads to better efficiency.

Imagine a vehicle being driven slowly by someone busy talking on the phone and looking out of the window repeatedly. Now think of another vehicle being driven by someone focused on driving at an optimal speed to reach their destination faster.

That’s what time management can do for you.

  1. BETTER DECISION-MAKING

A person well-versed with the importance of time management skills is likely to make better decisions. Poor time management skills leave you with little time to comprehend and predict the impact of your decisions.

You may feel pressed for time and hurriedly choose whatever proves to be the easy option. By taking the easy option, however,  you run the risk of losing out in the long run. Time management, on the other hand, will give you the ability to calmly evaluate your options and choose the one that promises the best outcome.

  1. SUCCESS

Of all the benefits of time management, the biggest advantage is that it enables you to achieve greater success in your endeavors. You can perform better regularly, take more effective decisions, and differentiate between important and meaningless tasks. This ability to identify and focus on important areas will eventually lead to greater success in life.

  1. SUPERIOR QUALITY OF LIFE

Life has become fast-paced, competitive, and stressful today. Days seem to fly by, and, in our quest for success, the quality of life is the biggest sufferer. We eat on the go, spend insane hours at work, and miss out on hobbies and family time. In simple words, we trade the joys of living, bonding, relaxation, and health for material accomplishments.

We all want success and material wealth. But by understanding the importance of time management and making it a part of our lives, we can achieve things more harmoniously. Time management won’t give you extra hours. It will, however, teach you how to get more from the same number of hours.

Time management can help us free up time that we can spend on things that make us happy. Thus, we feel less stressed and experience fulfilment in life.

CONCLUSION

Harappa Education’s Practicing Excellence course can help you work efficiently and develop smart time-management skills, By managing your time well, you will be able to achieve excellence and exceed expectations. The course teaches tools and concepts like the Pomodoro Technique and the Eisenhower Matrix which help in better time management and prioritization of tasks. You can enroll for this anywhere, anytime course, and transform your life with the time-tested techniques of time management.

Importance of Self Awareness as a life Skills

Self-awareness skills, as the term indicates, refer to one’s ability to be aware of or to recognize his emotions, behaviors, beliefs, motivations and other characteristics such as strengths and weaknesses, such that it enables him to identify and understand himself as a separate entity.

Having self-awareness skills not only enables you to understand your own personality but also helps you apprehend other people, their perceptions about you, and your response to their actions. Apart from enabling you to understand, it also helps you to change your own thoughts and interpretations in an effort to alter some unwarranted emotions.

Why is self-awareness important

Developing self-awareness skills is important for learning about yourself and discovering your true capabilities, which may be vital for a successful career. Following are some of the most significant implications of self-awareness skills:

  • Improves emotional intelligence. Developing self-awareness skills is the key to developing emotional intelligence as a skill. The self-analysis that you conduct will help you be aware of your own values which, if touched by any event or action, will generate certain emotional responses. When you have a better understanding of the problem, you can take more effective actions to address it.
  • Gives a direction to your efforts. Knowing your strengths enables you to utilize them more effectively and in appropriate situations. Whereas, knowing your weakness helps you figure out when you need to draw on the strengths of others. Also, acknowledging our weaknesses prevents us from reacting inappropriately at any point in time and from making disastrous decisions.

How to improve self-awareness skills

Knowing the importance of self-awareness skills for a successful career, you can try to improve them in the following ways:

  • Take personality tests. Taking some free or paid online personality tests will give you a deeper insight into the person that you really are and will help you understand your own behaviors better. Some of these may also give you recommendation about the changes you can make in order to improve your performance at work.
  • Write a journal. That’s right. Keep a track of all your feelings and thoughts regarding day to day experiences. This process can be very enlightening since it makes you think about your true thoughts and feelings.
  • Ask for feedback actively. Always encourage honest suggestions and feedback from your friends, family, colleagues, as well as your boss. It makes you aware of how others perceive you. Listening to all such feedback and correcting yourself is very important. Otherwise, you will be responsible for letting your weaknesses limit how far you can take yourself.

Blog is curated by Vikram Kakri.

Site URL: www.cleverism.com/skills-and-tools/self-awareness/

TEN KEY REASONS WHY BUILDING EMPATHY IS IMPORTANT FOR CAREER SUCCESS

Empathy is an important ability to have for career success, because it improves your capacity to communicate with others, to be part of a team, and to better your leadership skills.

Building one’s ability to empathise is quickly becoming one of the most important tasks of the twenty-first century. 

Empathy is an emotional skill that’s built through understanding others. One way to improve your ability to empathise with others is by working with people from backgrounds different to your own. 

A great way to do this is to go abroad to work with people on a project, internship, or service-learning expedition. You’ll learn how to work with people across cultures and gain other skills associated with leadership, teamwork and intercultural competency, which are crucial for our global workforce.

Build up your empathy by volunteering with children in schools

WHAT IS EMPATHY?

Empathy is largely understood as the ability to understand another person’s feelings and to consider another person’s perspective. By building empathy, you can broaden your worldview.

Practising empathy also helps you to relate more to others. When we’re in tune with our own emotions, we can relate to other people’s emotional reality more readily and effectively. This is especially significant in settings where there’s diversity among individuals. 

Practising empathy helps you relate more to others.

WHY IS EMPATHY IMPORTANT FOR WORKING ABROAD?

Going abroad presents challenges in many ways. We all have our own perspectives, values, backgrounds and cultural understandings that make us who we are. 

When we mix these things together, especially in a new situation or cultural context, we stretch our ability to understand and empathise with others.

Building empathy is valuable if you want to have a career in learning and interacting with new cultures. It’ll help you be more understanding of others, which will create more collaborative workspaces and learning environments.

Becoming a volunteer teacher is a great way to make an impact and build up empathy

These qualities are also increasingly important to employers, as they search for workers who can demonstrate critical thinking, and the ability to adapt to new learning or situations quickly.

Here are ten key reasons why empathy is important to your future success.

1) YOU’LL BETTER UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE AROUND YOU

If you express empathy towards the people you work with, you’ll be able to understand what they need from you, and how you can treat them the way they want to be treated.

2) YOU’LL MORE CLEARLY UNDERSTAND HOW YOU AFFECT OTHERS

By understanding another person’s viewpoint, you can evaluate more clearly how your words and actions affect or influence them.

Reflecting is a good way to build understanding and empathy from other peoples perspectives.

3) YOU’LL GET TO GRIPS WITH NON-VERBAL CUES

By focusing on your intuition, you’ll be better equipped to understand unspoken communication with others. This means you’ll be able to improve your interactions with others in the workplace and in social spaces.

4) YOU’LL BE BETTER AT YOUR JOB

Besides better knowing and understanding your colleagues, empathy will make you a more efficient and effective provider to your clients. You’ll be better able to read, or anticipate the needs of your clients or customers at work.

When you work with other people, you have an opportunity to learn conflict management skills

5) YOU’LL BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT

Engaging with another person’s perspective will help you in both your personal and professional relationships. It’ll make it easier for you to resolve any potential conflict.

6) YOU’LL MORE ACCURATELY PREDICT PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOUR

By focusing on what motivates people’s behaviour, you’ll be better able to understand how to interact with the people you work with or are close to. You may also be able to predict their actions or reactions.

Your authority as a volunteer puts you in the position to inspire and motivate those around you

7) YOU’LL BE BETTER ABLE TO MOTIVATE THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU

If you know what motivates others, how they want to be treated and what they want to achieve, then you’ll be better equipped to inspire and motivate them.

8) YOU’LL MORE EFFECTIVELY CONVINCE OTHERS OF YOUR POINT OF VIEW

If you’ve established yourself as a good listener and a caring co-worker, people will be more likely to listen to your viewpoint.

Learning how to empathize makes it easier to understand other peoples viewpoints and enhances your ability to work together in a team

9) YOU’LL LEARN TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE

When you incorporate several different perspectives or worldviews, you’ll be able to see the bigger picture of an issue or concept.

10) YOU’LL BECOME A BETTER LEADER, WORKER AND FRIEND

Empathy will help you understand your coworkers, family and friends better. You’ll be in a better position to effectively lead and inspire others, as well as develop more caring and compassionate relationships.

What better way to build up your ability to empathize than going on a team trek in Nepal with GVI

Empathy is a valuable attribute that enhances overall cooperation, respect and understanding. By cultivating empathy, we are better equipped to make connections across cultures.

Feel ready to start cultivating your ability to empathise? Find out more about GVI’s international, award-winning programs and internships, and work with people from around the world on sustainable development initiatives.

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The blog is curated by Vikram Kakri

Critical Thinking Definition, Skills, and Examples

What is critical thinking? Critical thinking refers to the ability to analyze information objectively and make a reasoned judgment. It involves the evaluation of sources, such as data, facts, observable phenomena, and research findings.

Good critical thinkers can draw reasonable conclusions from a set of information, and discriminate between useful and less useful details to solve problems or make decisions.

Why Do Employers Value Critical Thinking Skills?

Employers want job candidates who can evaluate a situation using logical thought and offer the best solution.FEATURED VIDEO

Someone with critical thinking skills can be trusted to make decisions independently, and will not need constant handholding.

Critical thinking abilities are among the most sought-after skills in almost every industry and workplace.2 You can demonstrate critical thinking by using related keywords in your resume and cover letter, and during your interview.

Examples of Critical Thinking

The circumstances that demand critical thinking vary from industry to industry. Some examples include:

  • A triage nurse analyzes the cases at hand and decides the order by which the patients should be treated.
  • A plumber evaluates the materials that would best suit a particular job.
  • An attorney reviews evidence and devises a strategy to win a case or to decide whether to settle out of court.
  • A manager analyzes customer feedback forms and uses this information to develop a customer service training session for employees.

Promote Your Skills in Your Job Search

If critical thinking is a key phrase in the job listings you are applying for, be sure to emphasize your critical thinking skills throughout your job search.

Add Keywords to Your Resume

You can use critical thinking keywords (analytical, problem solving, creativity, etc.) in your resume. When describing your work history, include any of the skills listed below that accurately describe you. You can also include them in your resume summary, if you have one.

For example, your summary might read, “Marketing Associate with five years of experience in project management. Skilled in conducting thorough market research and competitor analysis to assess market trends and client needs, and to develop appropriate acquisition tactics.”

Mention Skills in Your Cover Letter

Include these critical thinking skills in your cover letter. In the body of your letter, mention one or two of these skills, and give specific examples of times when you have demonstrated those skills at work. Think about times when you had to analyze or evaluate materials to solve a problem.

Show the Interviewer Your Skills

You can use these skill words in an interview. Discuss a time when you were faced with a particular problem or challenge at work and explain how you applied critical thinking to solve it.

Some interviewers will give you a hypothetical scenario or problem, and ask you to use critical thinking skills to solve it. In this case, explain your thought process thoroughly to the interviewer. He or she is typically more focused on how you arrive at your solution rather than the solution itself. The interviewer wants to see you use analysis and evaluation (key parts of critical thinking) approach to the given scenario or problem.

 Of course, each job will require different skills and experiences, so make sure you read the job description carefully and focus on the skills listed by the employer.

Critical thinking skills include analysis, communication, open-mindedness, problem solving, and creativity.
ThoughtCo

Top Critical Thinking Skills

Analysis

Part of critical thinking is the ability to carefully examine something, whether it is a problem, a set of data, or a text. People with analytical skills can examine information, understand what it means, and properly explain to others the implications of that information.

  • Asking Thoughtful Questions
  • Data Analysis
  • Research
  • Interpretation
  • Judgment
  • Questioning Evidence
  • Recognizing Patterns
  • Skepticism

Communication

Often, you will need to share your conclusions with your employers or with a group of colleagues. You need to be able to communicate with others to share your ideas effectively. You might also need to engage critical thinking in a group. In this case, you will need to work with others and communicate effectively to figure out solutions to complex problems.

  • Active Listening
  • Assessment
  • Collaboration
  • Explanation
  • Interpersonal
  • Presentation
  • Teamwork
  • Verbal Communication
  • Written Communication

Creativity

Critical thinking often involves creativity and innovation. You might need to spot patterns in the information you are looking at or come up with a solution that no one else has thought of before. All of this involves a creative eye that can take a different approach from all other approaches.

  • Flexibility
  • Conceptualization
  • Curiosity
  • Imagination
  • Drawing Connections
  • Inferring
  • Predicting
  • Synthesizing
  • Vision

Open-Mindedness

To think critically, you need to be able to put aside any assumptions or judgments and merely analyze the information you receive. You need to be objective, evaluating ideas without bias.

  • Diversity
  • Fairness
  • Humility
  • Inclusive
  • Objectivity
  • Observation
  • Reflection

Problem Solving

Problem solving is another critical thinking skill that involves analyzing a problem, generating and implementing a solution, and assessing the success of the plan. Employers don’t simply want employees who can think about information critically. They also need to be able to come up with practical solutions.

  • Attention to Detail
  • Clarification
  • Decision Making
  • Evaluation
  • Groundedness
  • Identifying Patterns
  • Innovation

More Critical Thinking Skills

  • Inductive Reasoning
  • Deductive Reasoning
  • Compliance
  • Noticing Outliers
  • Adaptability
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Brainstorming
  • Optimization
  • Restructuring
  • Integration
  • Strategic Planning
  • Project Management
  • Ongoing Improvement
  • Causal Relationships
  • Case Analysis
  • Diagnostics
  • SWOT Analysis
  • Business Intelligence
  • Quantitative Data Management
  • Qualitative Data Management
  • Metrics
  • Accuracy
  • Risk Management
  • Statistics
  • Scientific Method
  • Consumer Behavior

Key Takeaways

Add Relevant Skills to Your Resume: Demonstrate critical thinking by using keywords related to your skills in your resume.

Highlight Skills in Your Cover Letter: Mention some of these skills in your cover letter, and include an example of a time when you demonstrated them at work.

Use Skill Words in Your Job Interview: Discuss a time when you were faced with a challenge at work and explain how you applied critical thinking to solve it.

Site URL: https://www.thoughtco.com/critical-thinking-definition-with-examples-2063745

This article was published on June 8 2020.

Critical Thinking is one of 10 life skills which hqas been identified by UNESCO. The other skills are:

  1. Problem Solving
  2. Effective Communication
  3. Decision Making
  4. Creative Making
  5. Interpersonal Relationship skills
  6. Self Awareness
  7. Empathy
  8. Copping with Stress
  9. Copping with Emotions.

Problem-Solving Skills: Definitions and Examples

When employers talk about problem-solving skills, they are often referring to the ability to handle difficult or unexpected situations in the workplace as well as complex business challenges. Organisations rely on people who can assess both kinds of situations and calmly identify solutions. Problem-solving skills are traits that enable you to do that. While problem-solving skills are valued by employers, they are also highly useful in other areas of life like relationship building and day-to-day decision making.

  1. What are problem-solving skills?
  2. Examples of problem-solving skills
  3. How to improve your problem-solving skills
  4. How to highlight problem-solving skills

What are problem-solving skills?

Problem-solving skills help you determine the source of a problem and find an effective solution. Although problem-solving is often identified as its own separate skill, there are other related skills that contribute to this ability.

Some key problem-solving skills include:

  • Active listening
  • Analysis
  • Research
  • Creativity
  • Communication
  • Dependability
  • Decision making
  • Team-building

Problem-solving skills are important in every career at every level. As a result, effective problem solving may also require industry or job-specific technical skills. For example, a registered nurse will need active listening and communication skills when interacting with patients but will also need effective technical knowledge related to diseases and medications. In many cases, a nurse will need to know when to consult a doctor regarding a patient’s medical needs as part of the solution.

Examples of problem-solving skills

To solve a problem effectively, you will likely use a few different skills. Here are a few examples of skills you may use when solving a problem.

Research

Researching is an essential skill related to problem solving. As a problem solver, you need to be able to identify the cause of the issue and understand it fully. You can begin to gather more information about a problem by brainstorming with other team members, consulting more experienced colleagues or acquiring knowledge through online research or courses.

Analysis

The first step to solving any problem is to analyse the situation. Your analytical skills will help you understand problems and effectively develop solutions. You will also need analytical skills during research to help distinguish between effective and ineffective solutions.

Decision-making

Ultimately, you will need to make a decision about how to solve problems that arise. At times (and with industry experience), you may be able to make a decision quickly. Solid research and analytical skills can help those who have less experience in their field. There may also be times when it is appropriate to take some time to craft a solution or escalate the issue to someone more capable of solving it.

Communication

When identifying possible solutions, you will need to know how to communicate the problem to others. You will also need to know what communication channels are the most appropriate when seeking assistance. Once you find a solution, communicating it clearly will help reduce any confusion and make implementing a solution easier.

Dependability

Dependability is one of the most important skills for problem-solvers. Solving problems in a timely manner is essential. Employers highly value individuals they can trust to both identify and then implement solutions as fast and effectively as possible.

How to improve your problem-solving skills

There are several methods you can use to improve your problem-solving skills. Whether you are searching for a job or currently working, improving your problem-solving skills and associated abilities will help make you a strong candidate and employee.

  • Acquire more technical knowledge in your field. Depending on your industry, it may be easier to solve problems if you have a strong working technical knowledge. You can gain more technical knowledge through additional coursework, training or practice.
  • Seek out opportunities to solve problems. By putting yourself into new situations, you are more likely to be exposed to opportunities to solve problems. You may find there are opportunities to volunteer for new projects in your current role, on another team or outside the workplace for another organisation.
  • Do practice problems. Practice and role-play can be useful tools when learning to develop your problem-solving skills. You can find professional practice books for your industry and problem-solving scenarios online. Practice how you might solve those problems and determine if your potential solutions are viable.

For example, in customer service, you might find a scenario like, “How would you handle an angry customer?” or “How do you respond when a customer asks for a refund?” Practicing how you might handle these or other scenarios common in your industry can help you call upon solutions quickly when they arise on the job.

  • Observe how others solve problems. You may have colleagues who are skilled problem solvers. Observing how those colleagues solve problems can help you improve your own skills. If possible, ask one of your more experienced colleagues if you can observe their techniques. Asking relevant questions can be helpful in applying them in your own career.

How to highlight problem-solving skills

Showcasing your problem-solving skills on your resume and cover letter can help employers quickly understand how you might be of value to their team. You might consider only showcasing problem-solving skills on your resume if it is particularly relevant to the position you’re applying for. Customer service, engineering and management positions, for example, would be good candidates for including problem-solving abilities.

Problem-solving skills for resume

On your resume, you can highlight your problem-solving skills in several locations: The “skills” section, the “achievements” section and by giving specific examples of problem-solving in your “experience” section.

In the skills section, you may want to list key problem-solving skills that you possess instead of simply writing down the more generic term “problem-solving”. For example, you could list specific technical skills you possess that would help you solve problems or soft skills associated with problem-solving such as your research abilities or decision-making talents.

Remember, stories are powerful. Keep specific examples in mind of times you solved a problem. This is not only useful on your resume but will also help you answer interview questions like, “Tell me about a time you overcame an obstacle.”

Problem-solving skills for cover letter

Your cover letter is also an excellent opportunity to elaborate on your problem-solving skills. Here, you can give a brief example of a time you solved a problem successfully. Alternatively, you might identify a challenge that this potential employer is seeking to solve and explain how you would address it.

For example, if a job posting mentions that the company is looking for someone to help improve their social media presence, you can identify ways you might aid in increasing awareness of the brand through various social media platforms.

Your problem-solving skills will be a benefit to you in every step of your career. From resume to application, interview to job duties, the ability to solve problems effectively as they arise will make you a valuable asset on the job and a highly sought after candidate.

Blog is curated by Vikram Kakri.

Blog is taken from indeed.in

21 Essential Life Skills For Teens To Learn

Life passes by quickly. Before you know it, your little ones will grow up into adults with a life of their own. And when they do, you would want them to be ready for life. Education gives your children the knowledge they need about different subjects, but it does not necessarily equip them with essential life skills.

Essential Life Skills For Teens

Life is full of surprises, both pleasant and unpleasant. To make your child ready to face anything in life, you should help them acquire these basic life skills as a youth.https://134e2caf6ac970b540d94e002da04594.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

1. Money or Budgeting Skills

Money may not be the most important thing in life, but it certainly is vital for a comfortable life. That is why financial discipline is an important skill to learn as a teenager.

Budgeting skills help teenagers learn the value of money, conscious spending, as well as planning for the future.

The important financial concepts that you can help them learn to include:

  • Make a budget and stick to it. Your children should know when to spend and when to save.
  • Every teen must know how to open a bank account, use the ATM, transfer money online, and write a check.
  • Apply for a credit card, how to use it, and how not to get into debt using a credit card. The most important lesson your child should learn here is how credit works and how quickly they can get sucked into a whirlpool of debt if they are not careful.
  • Save money to buy or invest in something for emergencies.
  • Give money to charity without going overboard.
  • Maintain financial records.
  • Assess the basic market value of goods.

2. Cooking or Food Skills

Knowing how to procure food or cook food is one of the primary life skills for teenagers. Teach them the below basic food skills so that they can survive in any part of the world.

  • Buying groceries is essential to cook. One of the important skills here is to be able to identify different ingredients and know where they are available.
  • Using kitchen appliances like microwave, coffee maker, dishwasher, and toaster, among others.
  • Knowledge about utensils, cutlery, and how to use them.
  • Being able to prepare a healthy meal with the ingredients available. Teach your teen the basics of cooking a decent meal using simple ingredients.
  • Storing food in the right way. You want your children to know where and how to store different food products like fresh produce, packaged food, and liquids.
  • Besides knowing about the importance of having nutrient-rich food every day, they should also be able to read food labels for nutrition and ingredient information.
  • They should be aware of the health hazards of eating too much junk food.

3. Dress Sense or Clothing Skills

Your teenagers might change their style completely owing to external influences, but the chances are they may get influenced by the wrong people. So, here is how they get one of the everyday skills right.

  • Picking the right-sized clothes, a decent outfit.
  • Choosing the right kind of clothes for the right occasion.
  • Sewing is a skill both men and women can benefit from.
  • Iron a shirt, trousers or suit. What is more important is to distinguish between clothes that need ironing and those that don’t (we don’t want them ironing their jeans now, do we?).
  • Do the laundry. Teach your teen to wash clothes by hand or using a washing machine and to deal with simple stains.
  • Fold clothes and put them neatly in their cupboard. You do not want a messy closet when they are at home or away.
  • Pack a suitcase.
  • Read and understand fabric labels.
  • Gently tell your teen what their clothes say about them and the level of respect they would get in certain situations such as interviews or among the opposite sex.

4. Personal Grooming

Grooming is a skill that children need to learn early on. Personal grooming is important to stay healthy and also have a good social or romantic life.

  • Teach them healthy habits like brushing and bathing daily.
  • Explain the importance of keeping their bodies clean. They must know how to care for their skin and hair.
  • Boys should know how to shave or maintain facial hair in a hygienic way.
  • Teach girls to stay clean during their periods, proper disposal of sanitary pads, etc.

5. Cleanliness and Hygiene

Cleanliness is one of the tenets of hygiene. Teach your children to keep themselves as well as their surroundings clean and tidy. This is part of their grooming and home management skills. Some of the basic things that your teen could do include:

  • Dusting and vacuuming.
  • Mopping floors and getting rid of cobwebs.
  • Keeping bathrooms and toilets clean.
  • Keeping the kitchen clean.
  • Clearing garbage regularly.
  • Eliminating clutter from time to time.
  • Knowing how to clean dishes by hand, not all homes come with a dishwasher.

6. Personal Healthcare and Basic First Aid

Among the critical things that teens should learn, as part of taking care of themselves, is to take care of their health. Important points to remember here are:

  • Knowledge of personal health and over-the-counter medications that can come in handy.
  • Knowing when to go to the doctor.
  • Taking proper care of self, through proper diet and environment, in the case of illnesses like common colds, fever, or the flu.
  • Health insurance and how it can help them. Teach your teenager to keep track of health insurance payments to ensure they get aid when needed.
  • Handle medical emergencies, like calling 911 or the emergency number in your country.
  • Get your teen to learn basic first aid skills like how to clean a wound, use bandages, and other first aid in case of medical emergencies, which may enable him to save a life, should such a situation arise in the future.

The best way to teach your child about these everyday living skills is to help them take care of themselves when they are at home. Avoid doing everything for them.

7. Social Skills And Manners

Teaching your child skills and manners that they would display in a social setting is essential for them to have a smooth social life.

A few social skills that might help them include:

  • Exploring and pursuing hobbies, recreational interests and activities to meet like-minded people.
  • Learning how to develop and maintain friendships.
  • Valuing relationships and people in their lives.
  • Teach them how to maintain healthy family relationships.
  • Learning party etiquette, including how to be host and guest.
  • Respecting people and their views, regardless of what they think about others.

8. Organization skills

Lack of organization is one of the factors that lead to poor time management. A poorly organized person is almost always searching for something. Sounds familiar?

Here is how you might help your teenager stay better organized.

  • Teach them the simple rule of Kaizen – a place for everything and everything in its place. Help them implement this rule, and they will not have to ‘search’ for something the next time.
  • You can help them use an organization tool or system to arrange their books, clothes, and other things.
  • Organization also helps declutter a room and makes it easier to find something in less time.
  • Explain to them that they can avoid making blunders when they are more organized.

9. Domestic Skills – Managing A Home

Imagine your pampered little child finally finishes college and starts a life of their own. But they might hate every moment of it if they do not know the basic home management skills. It is better if all teenagers learn these life skills early on.

  • Teach them how to find the right accommodation or housing options.
  • Manage utilities, pay bills.
  • Basic maintenance of the house. Teach them to vacuum, dust, and clean the house.
  • Simple things like fixing a broken circuit, locating a water furnace and turning it off or on, and addressing the basic plumbing issues might help them to manage their house better.

10. Driving and Auto Maintenance Skills

Driving is one of the most important life skills for teenagers to be self-dependent. But knowing how to drive a car is not enough. Your teenager should also know about road safety, auto care, and what to do when there is vehicle trouble. Teach them to:

  • Buy a car and insurance.
  • Registration of the vehicle.
  • Have important vehicle records and documents like driver’s license, registration papers, etc. while driving.
  • Pump gas and change oil for maintenance.
  • Change a tire using different tools.
  • Know and follow traffic rules for the safety of self and others.
  • Teach them the importance of wearing a helmet and a seat belt.
  • Also, make sure they are aware of the dangers of speeding and rash driving.

11. Navigational Skills

Basic navigational skills are more important so that even if they do not have a car, they will be able to travel from one place to another. Some things they could learn include:

  • Being able to read bus, train or flight schedules, and timetables.
  • Read maps to go from point A to point B.
  • Understand directions – north, south, east, and west; left, right.
  • Know traffic and road terms like curves, exits, freeways, highways, etc.
  • Be aware of information about the different transport options to reach different places.

12. Communication Skills

Communication may seem more like a business skill. But think about it, won’t your teenager need to communicate in his personal life? Teaching your teen how to get his or her message across without offending another person is important. Communication is a critical skill that your teenager will need to master for interpersonal relationships in personal and professional lives.

Try Talking to your teen about these important skills when it comes to communication.

  • People are different, and all don’t speak the same language.
  • There is a need to understand the individual’s temperament before determining how to communicate with them.
  • Nobody likes being told what to do. Even your teenager does not appreciate that.
  • Explain to them the importance of listening skills in communication.
  • Empathy and the importance of understanding another person’s perspective are necessary.
  • Negotiation skills to create win-win situations.
  • Different forms of communication, like writing, talking, and non-verbal behavior.
  • Using different modes of communication like a telephone, letters or email, etc.

13. Behavioral Skills

The character of an individual shows in the way they behave. Help your teenager build a strong personality by helping them develop healthy behavior. Here are a few basic things you could consider teaching them.

  • Accepting a mistake, admitting a mistake, and taking responsibility for their actions are perhaps the first things you can teach your teen.
  • Most teenagers have a problem apologizing. Teach them to say ‘sorry’ and not feel embarrassed about it.
  • Teach them to be polite and say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ when needed.
  • Morality is a concept that you should introduce to your teenagers early on. That teaches them to stand up for what they believe is right, conscientiousness, and a sense of responsibility for the less fortunate.
  • Teach them to stay true to themselves and others. This can be done by making them explore the values that are most important to them. Honesty is a trait that teenagers should be encouraged to develop.
  • Teach them to ask for help when needed. It is important to be self-reliant, but there are times when we all need help. Explain to them that it is ‘okay’ to ask for help.

The only way to help your teenager learn about moral behavior, honesty, and character is through practice. Parents should guide children through their growing years to inculcate healthy behavioral traits.

14. Skills to Stay Safe:

When your teenage children are out in the world all by themselves, it is important to know how to stay safe. In fact, staying safe is one of the most important life skills for teenagers. Here are a few pointers that might help your teen to stay safe on the physical plane as well as the virtual plane (online).

  • Stay safe on the road when alone. Teach your teen to use their common sense and avoid secluded parking lots, deserted roads, and empty plots away from civilization.
  • Teach your teens what to do if they get a flat tire in the middle of the highway or the car breaks down at night on a deserted road. Encourage them to call for help and avoid venturing on their own at night.
  • Avoid traveling with strangers or picking up hitchhikers when traveling alone.
  • Ask your teen to get a ride at night always or have someone meet them on the way.
  • Keeping someone posted about their whereabouts is a good idea.
  • Carry extra cash just in case they need to take a taxi.

15. Coping with Emotions

Teaching teens to cope with emotions will allow them to see both sides of a situation. Coping and self-management skills that you could teach your teenagers are mentioned next.

  • Self-management or control, this allows them to set the pace to how they react to different situations, people, and things in life.
  • Teens will have to cope with loneliness and being away from their loved ones when they go to college. It can be a difficult time for them if they do not learn how to deal with the change.
  • Avoiding impulsive decisions that can have severe consequences, mostly negative.
  • Managing feelings in a healthy way. Teach your teen to think and act rather than react. Reactions can result in negative consequences, but thoughtful action seldom does.
  • As an adult, your teen will have to deal with stress at work, home, in personal relationships, and so on. Coping with stress is an important skill you should help your teen acquire.
  • A critical skill that you should help your teenager with is accepting their emotions. Tell them that no emotion is bad or good, and it is okay to feel happy, sad, afraid, angry, aroused, silly, jealous, and even guilty. The trick is not to dwell on a particular emotion.
  • Teach them different ways to deal with their emotions, such as physical activity, meditation, listening to music, or just by talking about it.
  • Spirituality can also help in coping with major changes in life.
  • Remember, teenage brains are going through a major change. Therefore, empathize with them where possible and understand that they are still learning to manage emotions and stay calm.

16. Problem-solving Skills

Among the main life skills for youth is problem-solving. You cannot expect your children to come back to you for help every time they have a problem. What you could do is teach them to deal with problems like mature adults.

  • Teach your children to face problems rather than run away from them.
  • When your teen comes to you asking for advice, try not to jump in and resolve the problem for them. Ask them what they think they should do and help them work through possible options. This will help break the habit of coming to you.
  • The first step to problem-solving is identifying the problem. The key is to find out exactly what is bothering them and why it is a problem. Help them narrow down their problem by asking a simple question: “Is my current situation different from how I would want it to be?”
  • Once they pinpoint the problem, help them come up with a list of possible solutions to it.
  • Analyze each solution to know which option gives you the desired result, or something close to it.
  • Once they shortlist the options, your children will have to use their decision-making skills to pick an option they think is best for them.
  • Then they can apply the chosen solution and check if they are right.

17. Basic Educational Skills

Education is essential for living a comfortable and healthy life. There is no dispute about it. Your children would have learned to read, write, and speak at home. But they might also need to know how to use a computer, a phone, and other gadgets.

Usually, children tend to understand digital technology faster than their parents. But they may not understand all things analog. Also, the use of smartphones and instant messaging has also changed the way they use their language skills.  You might encourage your children to:

  • Write in complete sentences. They cannot use shortcuts and slang when they write their papers in college or send business emails.
  • Read to understand, not just skim through the text.
  • Write letters, maintain a journal, or just make notes to improve their language and communication skills.

To stay safe online, remember these tips:

  • Use passwords that aren’t easy to guess.
  • When browsing online, it is safe to use a VPN to protect personal information.
  • Avoid accessing banking accounts using public networks.
  • Avoid talking to strangers or sharing personal information and photos with them.
  • Alert you if someone makes sexual overtures online.

18. Goal Setting – Knowing how to prioritize

Teach your children to identify their skills and set goals that can give them personal gratification as well as professional success. You could teach them to:

  • Figure out what they want to do and where they want to be in a few years’ time. Help them gain clarity.
  • Set realistic goals, or else they will end up disappointed sooner than later.
  • Focus on their goals and chalk out a plan to achieve them in a realistic manner.
  • Identify resources that can help them achieve their goals.
  • Change goals or modify them if needed. Goals can be changed or adjusted to suit the changing needs of a person. Your teenager may also change, as an individual, which can lead to changes in their personal or professional goals.
  • Eventually, you can guide your teenager to a position where she or he can set bigger goals, paving the way for a more meaningful and purposeful life.

19. Time Management

How often have you heard your teenager complain about not having enough time to do all that they want to? We all have 24 hours in a day. How we manage it makes a world of difference in what we achieve. Essential skills that your teen might need for better time management include:

  • Start by modeling good time management habits. If you are always wishing for ‘more time’ and doing things in a hurry, chances are your children will learn to do that too.
  • Teach them to organize their time using a simple timetable or a planner.
  • Let them create a schedule and stick to it. Even the slightest deviation from the plan can leave them crunched for time.
  • Teach your children to prioritize their tasks to use their time responsibly. Help them identify important tasks and differentiate between what is important and what is urgent.
  • Developing a routine makes it easier to manage time.

Encourage them through model behavior, but do not nag them about wasting time.

20. Decision-making Skills

Your teenager will have to make decisions, make a choice at every step of their adult life. From something as simple as what to eat for dinner to making a significant career move or marrying a person they love, everything is a decision.

  • The first step to teaching your teenager to make a decision is to stop making decisions for them. However, you should not leave any major, life-changing decisions in the hands of an adolescent.
  • Rather than telling them to do something, give them choices. Let them choose.
  • Also, emphasize that every choice they make comes with a consequence. That way, they will learn to take responsibility for their decisions.
  • Help them make the right choices by weighing the pros and cons and determining what the outcome of their decision would be.
  • You could also teach them to make a list of options first and then evaluate each to make the right decisions.

21. Employability Skills

To be employable or be noticed by potential employers, a person needs to have more than just credentials on the wall. Here are a few skills you may encourage your teenager to develop for better career opportunities.

  • Communication skills.
  • Thinking and analytical skills.
  • Work ethics and integrity.
  • Ability to value and use the available resources.
  • Knowledge and application of technology.
  • Adaptability to adjust to new work environments and coworkers from diverse backgrounds.
  • Willingness and ability to learn new skills. Teach your child to be open-minded.
  • Ability to evaluate their own skills and identify weaknesses.
  • Willingness to rectify faults to deliver better.

These are only a few among the list of life skills for teenagers they need to learn before beginning the journey as an adult. The key to a happy life is to sustain two key skills – the willingness and ability to learn new things, unlearn skills that are not useful and relearn them with a new perspective. Agreed that teaching life skills to teenagers is not easy, but if you can do that, you will have done justice to your job as a parent.

What life skills do you think teens should learn? Share your views about it in our comments section.

This article was taken from momjunction.com

This article was curated by Vikram Kakri.

Teaching Teens Important Life Skills With Technology

We give them devices from a young age. Walk through any crowd of kids, from strollers to those ready to get behind the wheel, and the one consistent thing you will see is the use of electronics. With all this electronic use going on you would think this new generation would be coming into adulthood with some serious technology skills. But the truth we are hearing from employers is that they’re not. In fact these young adults are struggling with even the most basic life skills. So what do we do? Here are some tips for raising children and teens into competent, tech savvy adults.

Children use devices. It is pretty much a given that most children now will be using cell phones, tablets, computers and more.

Most often the main concern parents have is around how to keep their children safe. Which is completely valid and important.

As they grow into their teens, it turns out there is something else parents should be focusing on, and it could open up a world of possibilities and potential for their children. It involves learning how to become effective users of technology in our connected society. This will help them professionally and personally, especially as they transition into adulthood.

So what can we do to help teens develop vital life skills with technology? Read on to find out!

GET THEM RESEARCHING

One of the most important skills we need to develop in this day and age is that of critical thinking and research. We have the world’s knowledge at our finger tips thanks to the Internet and cell phones, but with that comes a lot of information that is not accurate. Kids need to learn how to conduct research using the Internet and weed through all those results to find the best answers. A great way to do this is to get teens researching things for you. Want to go out for a family dinner? Have your teen research and find a new restaurant. This involves reading reviews and filtering through all of those opinions (and at times trolling comments) to find out if the restaurant will be a good fit for your needs.

You can also have them research summer camp options, contractors to do some work on the yard, a weird noise your car just started making, or ideas for your upcoming vacation.https://4091d77dce767ad6d59636ec3dfcda1c.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

The idea is to get them using the Internet effectively to find solutions and information. This means fine tuning their question asking skills and critical thinking skills.

LEARN TECH SUPPORT SKILLS AND TROUBLESHOOTING

“Have you tried turning it off and on again?”

When problems happen with technology it is important for kids to learn how to fix those problems. We are lucky my kids have grown up with a parent that worked in IT for years. So they have been learning how to troubleshoot and fix issues with computers, tablets and phones since they were young.https://4091d77dce767ad6d59636ec3dfcda1c.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

Instead of fixing the issues for them, walk them through the troubleshooting process. Still having issues, why not have them call tech support or come with you to the store to be part of the process of getting professional tech help?

Being in a world dominated by technology means being able to effectively troubleshoot issues with that technology. Equip them with the skills that will have employers smiling over their proactive and knowledgeable approach to keeping technology running smoothly.

MAKE PHONE CALLS

I admit, I hate making phone calls. I have some hearing loss and I find it so hard to talk to people on the phone, especially if they are in call centers and using those headsets that muffle their voices. But making phone calls is part of adulting. So whether we like it or not, we need to be capable of making phone calls and communicating with people over the phone.

The amazing thing we are seeing in today’s day and age is how so many young people never make phone calls. They text and send messages but almost never have conversations on the phone. Especially with strangers.

Have your teen call that restaurant they researched and make a reservation. Call tech support and ask for help with an issue. Call and book their next medical appointment. When they are younger, have them call family and friends rather than texting or emailing.https://4091d77dce767ad6d59636ec3dfcda1c.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

MEAL PLANNING AND SHOPPING

The Internet is a fantastic place to find new recipes. Why not ask your teen to plan a weeks worth of dinners. They can research the recipes and ingredients to find the perfect recipe they want to try. They may even want to get in the kitchen and help make their chosen meals.https://4091d77dce767ad6d59636ec3dfcda1c.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

Meal planning can be complex, so make sure they are also looking at the family calendar and evaluating how much time is available for cooking meals each day, or how they can possibly use leftovers from an earlier meal in a new recipe. They may also need to consider allergies, or seasonality and availability of certain ingredients. This really ties into researching but since it involves food, lots of teens suddenly get really interested!

When it comes time to shop, have your teen make the shopping list using an app or in Excel. Or have them place your shopping order online (if you use that kind of service). At the store have your teen be part of the shopping and checkout process. I find the clerks in the store are often very excited to help teach my kids how to conduct purchases properly.

LEARN HOW TO USE BASIC OFFICE SOFTWARE TOOLS

‘There is a lot of different software that is used daily in an office setting that your teen can start using now. Have them learn the basics of Excel by getting them to set up a budget and track their money. Build a shopping list, or maybe a packing list for an upcoming vacation.

They can use PowerPoint to make a slide show or a different piece of software to create a video. When our very senior cat died, my son created the most amazing video dedicated to his life. It gave my son a purpose and a way to process his grief. It also provided us with a wonderful gift to remember our beloved cat.

Teens can also use Word or Publisher to make cards for birthdays, Christmas and other holidays to give to family members, teachers and friends.https://4091d77dce767ad6d59636ec3dfcda1c.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

MONEY MANAGEMENT SKILLS

This is such an important skill for children to develop. When I look at the financial struggles so many families are facing, it reinforces my determination to make fiscal knowledge a high priority when teaching my kids. I want to make sure my children are financially savvy, money smart, and know how to use the tools effectively.

Have them build a spreadsheet in Excel where they can track all their income and expenses. One of the keys to being financially smart is being aware of where your money is going. Start by keeping that spreadsheet simple, but overtime have them start to colour code and make it really detailed.

You can also have them use a budgeting app. We use a free one called Wave and it ties into their bank accounts and helps them track their money like a proper small business.

Teach kids how to use online banking. Teens should learn how to conduct transactions through online banking, so have them pay your bills or make an investment or stock purchase.

Why not get them to research your next stock investment options. Or get them set up with their own investment portfolio. Starting young will only help them see the benefits of growth over time of their investments.

Ask your teen to research services and products offered through the bank that might be helpful for them or your family. Maybe they are ready for a bank account or investment account, have them research to find the right one for their needs.

Another feature teens should learn how to use is the built in money management tools available through most online banking platforms. These tools help you track your money effectively and efficiently. But to be effective, they need to be used regularly. Why not have your teen do a monthly audit of that months spending to see if you stayed on budget and hit your monthly financial goals. This will benefit you and the kids.

TAKE PICTURES AND VIDEOS ON MANUAL

As technology advances, one of the areas we are seeing incredible improvements is with the cameras in our phones. It can be so easy to just point and click, but why not teach kids how to dig down and use all of those features such as f-stop, ISO and more. Getting the cameras onto manual will teach them skills that will make their images stand out in a world that has become increasingly visual.

Taking photos or videos may also encourage your teens to get outdoors, slow down and look at the world with new eyes. This can have incredible mental health benefits.

While you are at it, get them using photo and video editing software. Go beyond filters and learn how to really edit and create visually. This will benefit teens when they are entering the workforce and need to make a presentation that will help them stand out with their boss.

We explored many tools for young film makers here.

TYPING SKILLS

It is amazing that in a world dominated by technology, so many teens are entering the workforce without the ability to touch type. There are lots of different programs available to teach touch typing, including many free options. Encourage your teen to research their options and get started learning to touch type properly. This will help them be much more efficient in the workforce. It will only take a few weeks of practice before their fingers are flying across that keyboard.

Fostering Tech Savvy Teens

The whole idea with all of this is to get teens invested in the daily operation of your household and lives. Using technology to make their lives better and make it a functional tool, rather than a toy. You will also be helping them develop important skills they will need when they become an adult and enter the workforce.

Adulting isn’t always fun. We all know that, but teens need to be equipped with these skills and the best time to develop those skills is while they are with you, where you can support and coach them. Small steps now, in a safe, low risk setting, will make an enormous impact on their abilities to cope with more complex issues when they become adults.

Article is taken from www.steampoweredfamily.com

Blog is curated by Vikram.

How to accomplish a winning Negotiations?

We negotiate all the time. If you carefully analyze your speech from morning when you get up till the night when you go to bed, you will find that you have been negotiating through out the day – with your spouse, with your child, with your help, your neighbor; in fact whomsoever you talk to, you always try to do any of the following things:

  • You try to influence the person you are talking to;
  • When you answer any question, you want to impress and sound convincing;
  • If you are buying a car, you want that other family members should readily accept your choice – the brand, the color etc.
  • When there is a difference of opinion, secretly you want that everyone should accept your viewpoint, your preference.

But does it happen that way all the time?

No Way!

That is the reason you should learn and practice how to accomplish a winning negotiation. This is so because of various different considerations in all the situations. There are 8 elements of winning negotiations which you need to master. These are:

  • Element 1: When you are talking to colleagues you care for your position, and your relations with your colleagues. This means that you do not want to give in when your opinion differs, but at the same time you want to maintain cordial relations. Let us call it consideration of “Position and Relations.”
  • Element 2: Whenever there is a situation, that you have a claim on something which ‘other person’ is also claiming, you need to rely on the ‘AND Concept’ but not on ‘EITHER / OR Concept.’ When you work on ‘AND Concept’, your long term benefits far exceed the short term gains on the ‘EITHER/OR’ tussle.
  • Element 3: Whenever you have to chose from ‘Your Profit’, ‘Other Person’s Profit’ or ‘Relationship’, you should try to strike a balance with your discretion, application of mind and the demands of the situation.
  • Element 4:  A very important message for a healthy, happy life is to ‘engage’ people with mutual benefits in view. Breaking the line of communication brings about only one result. What is that? Physical or emotional frustration or loss. Therefore, preference should always be given to useful engagement, but never to break communication.
  • Element 5: This message is critical. Many negotiations fail if you ignore this important insight. Whenever you are on a negotiating table for a hard bargain, set these two rules. I call them sacred rules. Which are these? No ‘hot words’, and No ‘personal attack.’ This should be agreed upon while starting any discussion on a hard bargain.
  • Element 6: Now, think of two circles partly overlapping each other. One circle represents your interest, while the other stands for the interest of the ‘other person’. Since these partly overlap, you will find a common ground. This should be the area to work on. Common grounds mean that both of you have some common interests. You need to focus on these common interests.
  • Element 7: Another important element of a successful negotiation is that you should never be obsessed with ‘winning outcome’, after all, negotiation is not an Olympic race where you must stand first and win gold. Instead, it should be seen as an opportunity, where you get a chance to resolve a pending problem that has been bothering you and developing a fresh relationship. So never, ever, have the winning obsession.
  • Element 8: Finally, an advice with which you should start. You must try to eliminate the worst fears of the ‘other person’ right in the beginning. This initiative will create a congenial environment where thoughts are exchanged peacefully and issues are discussed cordially. Every challenge of life can be met gracefully and resolutely. So why not derive a winning situation? Always!

Thanks for reading.

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