12 Underrated Skills For Success That No One Talks About

So currently I am gearing up for the chaos that will be ahead of me.

Deadlines.

Assessments.

An underlying pressure to do well.

That is a student’s life.

Nevertheless, there are certain skills that I have been trying to cultivate to help me manage the stress and anxiety I feel about this upcoming semester.

We often associate successful skills as being able to be productive, hustling, and grinding at our work 24/7. Our society places a heavy emphasis on sheer will and determination to achieve our goals with the notion that if we just work hard enough, anything is possible.

However, there is a difference between working smart and working hard. You can be working very hard for a goal that is not realistic. Likewise, you can be working too smartly at a goal that overcomplicates the process.

But what does it mean to work smart?

Well, my definition of working smart is to ‘work hard at the right things’. This means putting in the time and effort at things that matter to you and align with your values. It means to use your resources and time to make progress towards your goals and not other peoples’ expectations of you. It means taking the time to reflect on your aspirations and letting that guide you forward.

Yet, here are some underrated skills that help you work smarter and not harder.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking seems to be lacking these days. Go on social media and you will see an echo chamber of people screaming into the void, mostly callings things ‘fake news. A loud minority of people choose to air their opinions about politics, the environment, work, and other people without first questioning the validity of their claims.

It sounds quite ironic to me.

But what does critical thinking mean?

According to a dictionary definition, critical thinking is defined as:

The objective analysis and evaluation of an issue to form a judgment.

So it’s the ability to think objectively and independently to come to an informed conclusion. It’s about questioning ideas and challenging the status quo.

How to Develop it

When you are learning new information, ask questions about it. This is the first step in critically thinking about something. Be an active recipient rather than passive. Logically analyse the argument that is being presented to you.

Does this make sense to me?

What sources does this information come from?

Are there logic gaps in their argument?

What is the evidence that this claim works?

Strategic Thinking

I like to think of strategic thinking like playing a game of chess. In chess, the strategy is to place your pawns in a position that gives you an advantage over your opponent. This means that you have to think ahead of what your opponent’s next move might be and act accordingly.

So if we take this chess analogy into real life, how does it work?

What does it mean to be strategic with your life?

Strategic thinking is the ability to be intentional and rational with your thoughts, actions, and behaviours to achieve a specific long-term goal.

It’s about being able to account for possible obstacles and weaknesses that may hinder that pursuit. It’s also about being able to seek opportunities that align with your goal or certain process.

Being strategic with your life is being able to look ahead into the future and plan accordingly. Doing this has helped me to figure out what and where I want to head towards so I’m not feeling too directionless.

How to Develop it

Think ahead into the future. Envision where you want to be a couple of years. What do you want to be doing with your time?

A question that helped me was ‘what will your ideal week look like?’. Will, it working part-time and freelancing on the side? Will it be with a family and kids? Will it be traveling the world?

Observe and learn from others around you. What are your peers doing that you like or don’t like? Reflect on your goals and aspirations. I have found it helps to identify an end goal and then work backward to achieve it.

For example, if your end goal is to become a freelance writer, what steps do you need to take now to make progress? What obstacles are hindering you from achieving that goal and how can they be overcome?

Problem-solving

In life, you will always encounter problems. They just never seem to stop as one problem is solved, another pops up. Yet, being able to problem solve is one of the most important skills.

However, I will be honest and admit that this is not my default state. When a problem occurs my default state is to worry and get stressed. I have tried to train myself to develop problem-solving abilities. It has been helpful for me to think of problem-solving linearly.

Problem > Cause > Solution

A dictionary definition of problem-solving is the “process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues”.

It is the ability to quickly and effectively find solutions to a problem or issue. It requires you to identifying the root cause and then implement an effective solution.

How to Develop it

Being able to problem solve is a soft skill that comes from training and experience. You need to first identify what the problem is and address the underlying cause of the issue.

Then you can consider possible solutions and then factor in the best solution to fix the problem. It’s also helpful to consider a contingency plan if the first solution does not solve the issue.

Having many possible solutions is better than having one solution.

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is one of the keys to better social skills and communication. It’s the ability to understand and manage your own emotions. It’s also the ability to use empathy to connect to another person’s emotions.

Empathetic people are great to hang around because of their warmth and relatability. Its easier to connect with them which creates deeper, meaningful relationships.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive, control and evaluate your emotions and the emotions of others.

Emotionally intelligent people can identify why they are feeling a certain emotion and utilize healthy coping strategies. They aren’t lead by their emotions but can rationally deduce whether their feelings are valid for the situation.

How to Develop it

Practice active listening skills. Listen to your own needs and what your body is telling you. Listen to what others are saying and seek understanding rather than an instant response.

Learn healthy coping strategies to deal with negative emotions. When you are feeling sad, what will you do?

When you are feeling angry, what will you do? Over time, these strategies create your emotional toolkit when you encounter challenges.

Know your triggers. What stresses you out? What gives you anxiety or makes you frustrated? What can you do to avoid these triggers or reduce there effect on you?

Effective Decision Making

Every single day, you are making decisions. The first decision that you made today, was whether to get out of bed when the alarm rang or hit the snooze button. Our days are all characterized by decisions, whether large or small. These decisions dictate how we spend our time and what we do in our days.

So being able to make effective decisions that lead to the results you want is a skill that takes time to improve, even for me.

Effective decision-making is the ability to make decisions that will steer you towards a specific course of action. It’s the ability to use both reason and intuition to make a decision that adheres to your values and goals.

When making decisions we use both reason and intuition.

Using reason is about gathering information and looking at the evidence from an objective perspective.

Using intuition is making decisions that come from ‘gut instinct’ which feel right to you.

How to Develop it

When it comes to making a decision, gather information about it and talk to others about it. Identify what are the pros and cons of your decision. Where will X decision lead you in the future? What is the risk to reward?

Put the decision into the context of your goals and beliefs. How important is the decision? If it’s a small decision, don’t take hours ruminating over it.

However, if it’s a more significant decision. Take the time to consider it and weigh up your options. Sleep on it. Don’t rush a decision and don’t succumb to external pressure to make a rash decision.

Awareness

Awareness is about being self-aware and being aware of what is happening around you in the world. It’s good to be aware of the current events that are happening around you. Having real-world knowledge and knowing who you are as a person will help you make more wise choices.

Having awareness is the ability to perceive your own character and have an understanding of how the world operates.

There are two parts of awareness.

1. Self-awareness is knowing yourself. You have an understanding of your personality, beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses.
2. External awareness is being aware of the world. You know the key current events and the future trends, which will enable you to capitalize on opportunities that come your way.

How to Develop it

Building self-awareness comes from being objective. I have found that it’s helpful to look at your life from a bird’s eye view, like looking at a character in a video game.

From a third-party perspective, you can rationally analyse your emotions, actions, and thoughts.

Building external awareness comes from learning about what is happening around you. This can come from many different sources of information. You are truly able to learn anything from the internet these days. The information is at your fingertips, you just have to press a few buttons.

Assertiveness

Assertiveness is a skill that I have had to learn more. Unfortunately, I think that not enough people, especially women are taught the importance of being assertive and having healthy boundaries. It’s okay to say ‘no’ and that is a complete sentence. Period.

Being assertive means that you can communicate your needs, feelings, and thoughts directly and honestly that doesn’t offend others.

It’s a core communication skill that calls for others to respect your wishes. Having direct communication can reduce conflict, build relationships and garner honesty and trust with others.

Being assertive is about being confident in your decisions and standing up for what you believe in. It’s not about being arrogant or boastful for no reason.

How to Develop it

Learn to say ‘no’ to things that you don’t want to do. I have learned this the hard way when I would overcommit to things and burn out because I didn’t want to disappoint people. I have found that if an opportunity comes up if it’s not a ‘heck yes’ then it’s a ‘heck no’.

Develop an inherent belief in yourself. Value yourself as a human being worthy of respect and common decency. Explain your perspective and feelings simply and directly.

Yet, also respect another’s opinion if they differ from yours. Use empathy and emotional intelligence.

Adaptability

Have you ever heard the saying ‘change is the only constant? It encompasses the idea that everything in life is changeable, nothing stays the same. Like ever.

This means that you will also change a lot as a person. Your interests, preferences, values, and beliefs are all subject to constant review and renewal.

That is why you need to be flexible and open-minded when new changes arise because you never know where they could lead.

Being adaptable is defined as ‘being able to adjust to new situations.’

It’s the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, events, and new information that come your way. Being flexible allows you to learn, grow and accept new opportunities and challenges that occur.

Being resistant to change or unprepared you have little control and choice over your life. You live life reactively rather than proactively.

How to Develop it

One of the main ways to be adaptable is to have view change through a positive lens. I’ll admit this is a hard one for me to accept. We all like certainty and predictability, yet our world is constantly changing for better or worse.

Viewing changing events as new opportunities to learn and grow as a person will lead to a more enriching life. Doing things differently also adds an element of variety and spontaneity which makes life more enjoyable.

Being adaptable also means being prepared for change. It means using your resources and information to ensure your advantage.

Proactive Thinking

Proactive thinking is about thinking ahead and taking initiative. It’s about taking action to get what you wanted. Being proactive is different from being reactive. It’s about anticipating future events and taking action for them.

Proactive thinking is the ability to think about the future and act accordingly.

At the end of the day, it’s about taking action with the time, resources, and connections that you have. It’s much easier to sit back and let opportunities come to you, however, be prepared to be waiting for a long time. When opportunities come, you want to be prepared for them.

How to Develop it

Think ahead and look for opportunities. Prepare yourself for things that are coming up in the future. Be on the lookout for new events, places to see, and people to meet. Take initiative and be proactive. You never know where your next opportunity could be.

Positive Outlook

Being an optimist is better than being a pessimist. However, it seems to be more difficult to be optimistic about the current state of affairs in our world.

On one hand, we have the rise in the positivity movement which emphasizes the power of positive thoughts. However, a counter-movement of toxic positivity also argues that forcing yourself to see the positive in all experiences, even those that are tragic will lead to a repression of negative emotions.

Yet, I think that a balanced view of positivity is more realistic.

Having a positive outlook means preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.

It’s an acceptance that you don’t have to feel positive all the time and should rather embrace all your emotions. Yet, still have a hopeful sense of optimism.

How to Develop it

Having a positive outlook comes down to gratitude. It’s about being thankful for what you have and the blessings that have been granted to you. Instead of focusing on what you lack.

This ensures that you come from a place of abundance rather than scarcity.

Ability to Take Criticism

Let’s face it, people are judgemental even if they don’t mean to be. we all have our own internal biases that have been shaped by our own experiences and the media, even if those biases aren’t true.

Nevertheless, the ability to take constructive criticism and feedback allows you to learn from your mistakes.

The ability to take criticism means that you can reflect on your mistakes with a critical eye to improve them later on.

There are two different types of criticism; destructive and constructive.

1. Destructive criticism is more known as hate comments and criticisms that have no evidential basis.
2. Constructive criticism seeks to point out your mistakes to help you learn and improve.

Both criticisms have different intentions so it’s good to know how to distinguish them.

How to Develop it

Being able to accept criticism means that you have to swallow your pride and tame your ego. No one is a perfect person. Everyone makes mistakes.

Ask for feedback on your work from people that you trust. Be willing to hear what they have to say. Be open-minded and have an eagerness to learn. Reflect on your mistakes and identify areas to improve.

Conclusion

12 underrated skills are needed for success in whatever endeavour that you choose. They are;

• Critical thinking
• Strategic thinking
• Problem-solving
• Emotional intelligence
• Effective decision making
• Awareness
• Assertiveness
• Adaptability
• Proactive thinking
• Positive outlook
• Ability to take criticism