What Is a Skill?

A skill is something you know how to do.

Sometimes you develop skills because life forces you to. Practically everyone is skilled at taking out the garbage, for example. But most of your important skills are ones you developed because they use your personal strengths. Research has shown that focusing on and using your strengths is the key to success. In that sense, your skills may reveal even more about you than your interests.

Your 20 Minute Task

For this 20 minute exercise, you need to list your best skills, the things you know how to do well. Use the questions on this form to jog your memory about those things. Print it out and write your answers. When you're done, file it in your "Market Niche" folder.

Skills Inventory

1. What do people compliment you about? A speech you've given? A repair job you did? A drawing you made? Write down the things for which people praise you.
 
 

2. In what subjects did you (or do you) get your best grades in school?
 
 

3. What are you an expert at compared to most people?
 
 

4. What do you like to do in your spare time?
 
 

5. What things are you doing at the times when you seem to soar or when time flies by without your noticing?
 
 

6. Here are some skills you may not have considered. Put a check next to the ones you have (or suspect you have).

Adaptability Appreciation of diversity Caring for others Conflict management Computer skills Consulting skills Coping under pressure Creativity Customer service orientation Envisioning the future Handling conflict Influencing and persuading Information gathering Initiative Inspiring others Money savvy

Number handling Organizing People management Perseverance Long-range planning Problem solving Safety awareness Teamwork Time management Oral Communication Written Communication Other _______________________________________ Other _______________________________________ Other _______________________________________ Other _______________________________________ Other _______________________________________

Great, now put a star next to the three skills you feel are your very best ones. Then file this page in your Market Niches folder.