Page 344 - Keys To Community College Success

KEY 12.4 Employers look for candidates with these
important skills.

SKILL WHY IS IT USEFUL?

Communication Good listening, speaking, and writing skills are keys to working with others,
as is being able to adjust to different communication styles.
Analytical thinking Employees stand out when they can analyze choices and challenges, as well
as assess the value of new ideas.
Creativity The ability to come up with new concepts, plans, and products helps
companies improve and innovate.

Practical thinking No job gets done without employees who can think through a plan for
achieving a goal, put it into action, and complete it successfully.
Teamwork All workers interact with others on the job. Working well with others is
essential for achieving workplace goals.
Goal setting Teams fail if goals are unclear or unreasonable. Employees and companies
benefit from setting realistic, specific goals and achieving them reliably.
Cultural The workplace is increasingly diverse. Employees are valued when they can work
competence with, adjust to, and respect people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Leadership The ability to influence and motivate others in a positive way earns respect
and career advancement.
Positive attitude Other employees will gladly work with, and often advance, someone who
completes tasks with positive, upbeat energy.

Integrity Acting with integrity at work enhances value. This includes communicating
promptly, being truthful and honest, following rules, and giving proper notice.
Flexibility The most valuable employees understand the constancy of change and have
developed the skills to adapt to its challenge.
Continual learning The most valuable employees take personal responsibility to stay current
in their fields.

■ Tune in to everyone’s emotions first. You: Tired and distracted. Your co-worker:
Worried about the car and about being late. Your supervisor: Agitated about
the project.
■ Pinpoint the thoughts that arise from these emotions. People are likely to think
that the deadline is in jeopardy.
■ Understand what the emotions are telling you. Thinking that the deadline may not
be met means that everyone is going to need an extra-focused and positive state of
mind to get through the day and set aside distracted, negative thinking.
■ Manage the emotion with action. You come up with several things you can do:
● Prioritize your task list so that you can concentrate on what is most pressing.
● Call your co-worker on his cell phone while he settles the car problem and let him
know what’s happening so he can prioritize tasks and support the supervisor when
he arrives.
● Ask another co-worker to bring in a favorite mid-morning snack to keep every-
one going during the long day ahead.
12 The current emphasis on teamwork has highlighted emotional intelligence in the work-
CHAPTER 306 place. The more adept you are at working with others, the more likely you are to succeed.