Life Skills and Work

Life skills are the skills you need to manage your life, improve the quality of your life, accomplish your goals, and overcome challenges.

Some examples of life skills include:

  • Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
  • Creative Thinking and Critical Thinking
  • Communication and Interpersonal Skills
  • Self-Awareness and Empathy
  • Coping With Emotions and Stress

At some point or another, your job will involve:

  • Working and Communicating With People
  • Unexpected Challenges and Opportunities
  • Employer and Personal Expectations

By gaining and consistently exercising these essential life skills, you can fulfill your potential in any work environment and continue along your path to professional success.

Just like any other skill, forming, strengthening and maintaining life skills takes time and practice.  Each time you practice these skills in your social, academic and professional life you create opportunities for improvement and personal development.

Here are 3 examples of ways to practice life skills on a daily basis:

  1. Improve communication skills by making eye contact, using appropriate body language and speaking clearly each time you talk with another person.
  2. Develop problem solving and decision making skills by defining the problem to solve or decision to make, brainstorming options and solutions, and creating a pro’s and con’s list for each option.
  3. Enhance your ability to cope with life’s stressors by making connections with individuals you feel comfortable with who can offer you support such as family, friends, peers, and community groups.

Here’s some information about  and check out this video about workplace life skills!