SELF AND SOCIAL AWARENESS
Definition: Understanding your personal strengths and limitations; recognizing your thoughts,
emotions, and intentions; being open to receiving feedback; and identifying how your behaviors
impact others.
Why it Matters for the Future of Work: Self awareness can help you find the right career for
you, know when it’s time to leave your current job, and make you a stronger leader. (Swerdlow,
5)
TECHNOLOGY
Definition: Being able to confidently and effectively use technology to be productive, complete
goals and tasks, and maintain a competitive advantage.
Why it Matters for the Future of Work: 78% of today’s jobs require familiarity with technology,
and digitally intensive jobs are growing faster and pay more than non-digital roles. (Southern
New Hampshire University, 6)
PRODUCTIVITY
Definition: Strategizing, organizing, and effectively managing your time and priorities.
Why it Matters for the Future of Work: High performers can be up to 800 percent more
productive than other workers, drastically cutting down the time and money needed to complete
large tasks - something managers always value. (Keller, 7)
INITIATIVE
Definition: Thinking independently, seeing what needs to be done, and taking action without
being prompted.
Why it Matters for the Future of Work: Initiative has become more important in modern
workplaces, as employers rely on people who have the courage to push their teams forward.
(Mind Tools, 8)
RESULTS DRIVEN
Definition: Acting with a sense of urgency and focus to reach goals, without compromising
integrity or quality.
Why it Matters for the Future of Work: As companies use more freelancers, they need those
workers to be results-driven so projects stay on track. (Do, 9)
COMMUNICATION
Definition: Actively seeking and delivering information, clearly articulating ideas, effectively
listening, and confidently connecting to various audiences, settings, and situations.
Why it Matters for the Future of Work: Communication is one of the top five skills that will be
important in the future across all industries…and that employers currently find lacking. (Gilchrist,
10)
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
Definition: Effectively working with others and establishing, cultivating, and leveraging networks
Definition: Understanding your personal strengths and limitations; recognizing your thoughts,
emotions, and intentions; being open to receiving feedback; and identifying how your behaviors
impact others.
Why it Matters for the Future of Work: Self awareness can help you find the right career for
you, know when it’s time to leave your current job, and make you a stronger leader. (Swerdlow,
5)
TECHNOLOGY
Definition: Being able to confidently and effectively use technology to be productive, complete
goals and tasks, and maintain a competitive advantage.
Why it Matters for the Future of Work: 78% of today’s jobs require familiarity with technology,
and digitally intensive jobs are growing faster and pay more than non-digital roles. (Southern
New Hampshire University, 6)
PRODUCTIVITY
Definition: Strategizing, organizing, and effectively managing your time and priorities.
Why it Matters for the Future of Work: High performers can be up to 800 percent more
productive than other workers, drastically cutting down the time and money needed to complete
large tasks - something managers always value. (Keller, 7)
INITIATIVE
Definition: Thinking independently, seeing what needs to be done, and taking action without
being prompted.
Why it Matters for the Future of Work: Initiative has become more important in modern
workplaces, as employers rely on people who have the courage to push their teams forward.
(Mind Tools, 8)
RESULTS DRIVEN
Definition: Acting with a sense of urgency and focus to reach goals, without compromising
integrity or quality.
Why it Matters for the Future of Work: As companies use more freelancers, they need those
workers to be results-driven so projects stay on track. (Do, 9)
COMMUNICATION
Definition: Actively seeking and delivering information, clearly articulating ideas, effectively
listening, and confidently connecting to various audiences, settings, and situations.
Why it Matters for the Future of Work: Communication is one of the top five skills that will be
important in the future across all industries…and that employers currently find lacking. (Gilchrist,
10)
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
Definition: Effectively working with others and establishing, cultivating, and leveraging networks
