Personal skills are those skills that are concerned with how people manage and express themselves. Our attitudes and behaviours that we bring to our work, our studies and our daily activities. Individuals with well-developed personal skills are also very highly valued by employers as they are generally easier to work with and help contribute those other, unquantifiable but nonetheless very important factors such as harmony and positive atmosphere to the workplace.
Important personal skills for the workplace include taking initiative and pride in doing your fair share of the workload, being someone who is responsible and can be relied upon, being open to change and being able to adapt and also having an interest in or being open to lifelong learning.
For the individual, possessing good personal skills means maintaining a good work/life balance, being happy in his/her job, being accountable for his/her work and being an encouraging and supportive member of the team.
Examples of Personal Skills:
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Learning skills |
Seeks and willingly takes opportunities to learn. Shows interest in personal learning and development. Looks for feedback to improve understanding. |
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Adaptability |
Adapts easily to new challenges and shows openness to new ways of doing things. Effective at changing plans or actions to deal with changing situations. |
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Goal setting |
Shows the ability to make a decision about what is wanted, and determine when it is to be achieved. Stays committed to the goal, and deals with setbacks realistically. |
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Initiative |
Demonstrates ability to take the initiative in a situation. Shows inclination to find opportunities to make decisions or influence events. |
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Independence |
Able to perform tasks effectively with minimum help or approval, or without direct supervision. |
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Motivation |
Shows the drive to succeed and excel at tasks. Shows confidence in abilities and expects to succeed at all tasks agreed on. |
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Dependability |
Is reliable, responsible and dependable in fulfilling duties. Carefully checks work to ensure all details have been considered. |
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Professionalism |
Remains calm and self-controlled under stressful situations. Works to deliver the best interests of the organisation at all times, and maintains appropriate dress code. |