Skills Builder Guide – Listening

Skills Builder Guide – Listening

The receiving, retaining, and processing of information or ideas (watch the video below to find out more)

This skill is all about being able to effectively receive information – whether it comes from customers, colleagues, or stakeholders.

Initially, the skill steps concentrate on being able to listen effectively to others – including remembering short instructions, understanding why others are communicating, and recording important information.

Individuals then focus on how they demonstrate that they are listening effectively, thinking about body language, open questioning, and summarising and rephrasing.

Beyond that, the focus is on being aware of how they might be being influenced by a speaker, through tone and language.

The final steps are about critical listening – comparing perspectives, identifying biases, evaluating ideas, and being objective.

Skills Builder Guide – Speaking

Skills Builder Guide – Speaking 

The oral transmission of information or ideas (watch the video below to find out more)

This skill is all about how to communicate effectively with others, being mindful of whether they are talking to customers, colleagues, or other stakeholders and in different settings.

Initially, this skill focuses on being able to speak clearly – first with well-known individuals and small groups and then with those who are not known.

The next stage is about being an effective speaker by making points logically, by thinking about what listeners already know, and using appropriate language, tone, and gesture.

Beyond that, individuals focus on speaking engagingly through the use of facts and examples, visual aids, and their expressions and gesture.

Beyond that stage, speakers will be adaptive to the response of their listeners and ready for different scenarios. The final steps focus on speaking influentially – using structure, examples, facts, and vision to persuade listeners.

Skills Builder Guide – Problem Solving

Skills Builder Guide – Problem Solving

The ability to find a solution to a situation or challenge (watch the video below to find out more)

This skill focuses on how to solve problems, recognising that while part of Problem Solving is technical know-how and experience, there are also transferable tools that individuals can develop and use.

The first steps focus on being able to follow instructions to complete tasks, seeking help and extra information if needed. The next stage focuses on being able to explore problems by creating and assessing different potential solutions. This includes more complex problems, without a simple technical solution.

Beyond this, the focus is on exploring complex solutions – thinking about causes and effects, generating options, and evaluating those options. This extends into analysis using logical reasoning and hypotheses.

Finally, individuals implement strategic plans to solve complex problems, assess their success, and draw out learning for the future.

CONNECT Newsletter 08.10.2021