The 7 Skills for the Future have been developed by Emma Sue Prince. When we know how to tap into these essential skills, and understand how to put them into practice every single day of our lives, we can be happier, more effective and better able to cope with change in an uncertain and exciting future.
ADAPTABILITY – CRITICAL THINKING – EMPATHY – INTEGRITY – OPTIMISM – BEING PROACTIVE – RESILIENCE
The only seven soft skills you’ll ever need! Invest in yourself today.
We all like to think we are adaptable but the reality is that we like to stay in our comfort zones where it’s safe and just easier (and also where we are highly competent).
Our fast paced work and lives and the uncertainty we all face right now requires us to be more adaptable than ever. The only way that’s going to happen is by placing ourselves more in “stretch”.
We naturally resist change but we can learn how to embrace it and thrive
Adaptable people have tools to help them recover faster from disappointment and the unexpected.
By understanding and flexing communication styles you can have better responses to people who might otherwise upset you.
Because you’ll be so much more adept at handling life’s ups and downs and myriad changes and leveraging them.
Glass half full or glass half empty? Actually that does not matter. Optimism is less about positive thinking and much more about positive action. From finding reasons to be grateful to getting outside for a walk there are a hundred tiny ways to build your happiness levels every day.
Research shows too that optimism has a strong connection with being proactive and being resilient. Focus on just one of these three will lead to strength in the others.
One facet of optimism is practising gratitude consistently to help you gain perspective.
Optimists know how to respond to disappointment with action. They’re proactive.
Numerous studies link optimism with longevity and good health.
Optimism is strongly linked with resilience and can be learned and strengthened.
Create space to think
How often do we question our assumptions, judgements and thinking skills? Not often enough. True critical thinking means less justifying of our actions and acceptance of information at face value and more curiosity and getting in the habit of asking far more questions than we do.
Less about problem-solving and more about identifying solutions and new ideas.
We make them automatically and a good critical thinker is a curious thinker.
Because you’ll get much more discerning about your sources of information and news.
Critical thinkers know how to train their brains and understand the brain’s natural barriers.
When something is bugging us we’ll naturally put our energy on all of the things we can’t control. Being proactive and placing energy onto our attitudes and actions will influence the outcome though. And because 98% of us are natural procrastinators the only way forward is to take action – even the tiniest step forward has an impact.
You’ll be firmly within your locus of control – where you have the most influence.
Proactive people know how to tackle the most important tasks first.
Because you are able to create space between stimulus (a situation, setback or person) and your response to it.
When you’re proactive you anticipate, plan and move towards your goals.
Transform your relationships – The ability to focus and give the gift of attention is one of the skills we are in danger of losing. Empathy is about listening, and being present in order to do this well. If we could put our empathy skills into action every day, we’d notice a massive surge in understanding, productivity and effectiveness.
Listening, focus, understanding and productivity all become better when we are fully present.
Because you’ll be better at putting yourself in their shoes and be willing to see their perspective.
Living with empathy means you’ll be calmer and much more focused than you normally are.
You can’t be kinder to others unless you are kind to yourself first and look after your wellbeing.
What do you do when no one is looking?
Practise integrity and you will have great relationships, make decisions much more easily and sleep well at night! Living your values day-to-day is what integrity is all about. It’s so easy to break promises, tell white lies and hide behind technology. You could even say integrity is a fast-route to happiness.
Integrity is also like a compass leading you and directing you on your life path.
Because you do what you say you will do and are accountable for your actions and choices
When you live by your values decisions are far far easier to make.
You will be clear about your own and others’ expectations and ensure there is transparency.
Because you’ll be living according to your values and what is truly important to you.
Embrace Failure.
Do you stand or do you fall when setbacks and disappointments strike? Do you need to go through adversity to be resilient? That will depend on your unique genetics and life experiences. Build resilience by embracing failure and rejection and building strong networks. In a world of uncertainty your ability to be resilient is crucial.
The resilient person knows how to move forward with confidence and strength.
You won’t give up easily and keep trying different approaches.
Resilience is all about failing and learning, falling down and getting back up again.
Resilient people have a strong support network and wellbeing strategies.
7 Skills for The Future are available in full certificated modules, short free courses or learn more by listening to our podcast ‘7 Skills for the Future!’ on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!
© 2024 7skillsforthefuture. All Rights Reserved.
