Top workplace skills for 2013

 Collaboration and teambuilding requires the ability to work effectively with others, including those from diverse groups and with opposing points of view.Several related skills go into successful performance in this area. For example, you should practice adjusting your actions in relation to others' actions when the situation requires it. Being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace is also important. Being pleasant with others on the job is important. Finally, always display a good-natured attitude. One of the more effective behaviors that go into executive leadership is establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships. Executives regularly develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. They also encourage and build mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. They handle complaints, settle disputes, and resolve grievances and conflicts, and often negotiate with others to accomplish these ends. Considerable skill is needed to convince others to change their minds or actions. Anybody hoping to develop into an organizational leader needs to set their priorities and allocate their time to these activities. Effective communication is the ability to synthesize and transmit your ideas both in written and oral formats.Successful people have excellent speaking skills and they are able to talk to others to convey information effectively. But, more importantly, they are active listeners. They give full attention to what other people are saying, take time to understand the points being made, ask questions as appropriate, and do not interrupt at inappropriate times. Practice focusing on those around you and really connect with what they are saying.Good writers first identify the needs of their audience (getting back to good listening skills again) and address those needs effectively. Developing good reading comprehension, especially understanding work related documents, is important too. Excellence in critical thinking and problem solving requires an ability to make decisions, solve problems, and take action as appropriate.Critical thinkers use logic and reasoning. They develop and evaluate approaches to problems. They identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions. They generate conclusions after exercising due diligence.Problem solvers often encounter situations they have never seen before. The problems are often ill-defined and even disguised. They are often complex and take place in real-world settings. Chief executives must have complex problem solving skills more than any other skill according to the Department of Labor.How does one learn to become a critical thinker and effective problem solver? Education helps one become a disciplined thinker. Certainly, science, technology, engineering and math require a high degree of disciplined thinking and provides the student with an abundance of tools. But also, philosophy, English and business expose students to many tools that can be used in later life.Life experiences are equally important. Executives enjoy starting up and carrying out projects. They learn to lead people and make decisions. They take calculated risks.View the list »
Ginni Rometty ranked first by Forbes magazine as most powerful woman in business, 2012.

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U.S. executives tell the American Management Association (AMA) there are “four Cs” important to growing their businesses in the 21st century. The four skills are critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. Sure, the “three Rs” of reading, writing, and arithmetic are still important, but three out of four executives say the “four Cs” will become more important in the next three to five years because of the pace of change and global competition. Furthermore, more than half surveyed say there is significant room for improvement in the “four Cs” among their employees. The 2012 Critical Skills Survey, conducted in December, 2012 is based on the opinions of 768 managers and other executives. Check out the skills and what you can do to improve your workplace effectiveness.

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  •  Excellence in critical thinking and problem solving requires an ability to make decisions, solve problems, and take action as appropriate.Critical thinkers use logic and reasoning. They develop and evaluate approaches to problems. They identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions. They generate conclusions after exercising due diligence.Problem solvers often encounter situations they have never seen before. The problems are often ill-defined and even disguised. They are often complex and take place in real-world settings. Chief executives must have complex problem solving skills more than any other skill according to the Department of Labor.How does one learn to become a critical thinker and effective problem solver? Education helps one become a disciplined thinker. Certainly, science, technology, engineering and math require a high degree of disciplined thinking and provides the student with an abundance of tools. But also, philosophy, English and business expose students to many tools that can be used in later life.Life experiences are equally important. Executives enjoy starting up and carrying out projects. They learn to lead people and make decisions. They take calculated risks.
  •  Effective communication is the ability to synthesize and transmit your ideas both in written and oral formats.Successful people have excellent speaking skills and they are able to talk to others to convey information effectively. But, more importantly, they are active listeners. They give full attention to what other people are saying, take time to understand the points being made, ask questions as appropriate, and do not interrupt at inappropriate times. Practice focusing on those around you and really connect with what they are saying.Good writers first identify the needs of their audience (getting back to good listening skills again) and address those needs effectively. Developing good reading comprehension, especially understanding work related documents, is important too.
  •  Collaboration and teambuilding requires the ability to work effectively with others, including those from diverse groups and with opposing points of view.Several related skills go into successful performance in this area. For example, you should practice adjusting your actions in relation to others' actions when the situation requires it. Being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace is also important. Being pleasant with others on the job is important. Finally, always display a good-natured attitude. One of the more effective behaviors that go into executive leadership is establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships. Executives regularly develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. They also encourage and build mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. They handle complaints, settle disputes, and resolve grievances and conflicts, and often negotiate with others to accomplish these ends. Considerable skill is needed to convince others to change their minds or actions. Anybody hoping to develop into an organizational leader needs to set their priorities and allocate their time to these activities.
  •  Creativity and innovation is the ability to see what’s not there and make something happen. Being creative means being willing to try out your own ideas job. Some jobs allow greater independence to work on your own and make your own decisions. Be forewarned that greater independence means you must take responsibility for your actions.
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Robin Johnson regularly provides advice to friends, employees, and business executives. He started his career in government enforcing non-discrimination laws and administering unemployment compensation. He moved on to serving as a recruiter, a human resources representative, and HR executive in...

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