1. Communication
Communication takes many forms to contribute to successful work outcomes, and may include:
- Creating documents – everything from maintenance documentation to in-depth research on the competition.
- Reading and interpreting documentation – this can include staying up to date with the latest policies and procedure manuals, or interpreting complex tender documentation.
- Oral communication – such as how to convey your message, or more complex skills like empathising or persuading that may be required for interactions with staff or customers.
- Information Communication Technology – even though technology exists as a separate
- Employability Skill, its inclusion here indicates the central role that technology plays in workplace communication.
- Language – this includes competency in English, or other relevant languages, as well as an ability to communicate effectively in environments where there are those who speak English as a second language.
- Numeracy – an ability to work with numbers and understand mathematical concepts is a skill area, much like language, which underpins an individual’s ability to communicate.
2. Teamwork
Some of the teamwork skills learners may need to develop include:
- Supporting team members – this typically needs to be done by supervisors as well as team members. Supervisors may need to monitor worker progress and provide assistance where necessary, and team members may need to see where there are bottlenecks in the work and help each other out.
- Contributing to positive team dynamics – this is a responsibility for all team members, and includes dealing appropriately with conflict.
- Understanding one’s relationship and accountability to other team members.
- Working with people who vary in their age, gender, race, religion or political persuasion.
- Working autonomously in the interest of shared team goals and objectives.
3. Problem solving
Some of the ways in which problem solving is used in the workplace are:
- In contingency situations – when staff are required to identify and resolve non-standard situations which may arise.
- Using troubleshooting equipment – including standard checks and maintenance as well as addressing breakdowns that may occur in the course of use.
- Providing customer service – working with customers to resolve problems and provide options for complaints resolution.
- For planning, strategy and resource allocation, which contribute to the avoidance or resolution of contingency situations.
- For continuous improvement processes – an important means to ensure that key lessons are learned and integrated following workplace problems.
- Research, which is a problem solving process in and of itself, and can also contribute to effective resolution of problems.
4. Initiative and enterprise
Initiative and enterprise relates to:
- Change Management – both individual responses to change within the organisation and in leadership skills demonstrated in implementing change.
- Identifying opportunities – all members of an organisation or team should be encouraged to share ideas to improve work practices and opportunities for the growth of the organisation.
- Reflecting on one’s own practice for improvement – this is the ability to critically reflect on and evaluate one’s own work habits. It is an important step toward fostering an innovative workplace.
- Engaging colleagues – an innovative work-place culture is one where all individuals actively engage with other colleagues in sharing work-place knowledge.
- Adapting to new situations.
5. Planning and organising
Planning and organising can apply to:
- Time management – an individual’s ability to meet time based requirements and deadlines
- Project management skills – an ability to manage multiple tasks and resources simultaneously
- Planning, strategy and resource allocation – participating in and leading processes which contribute to the establishment of key directions for the organisation
- Achieving goals and targets – an ability to complete the tasks assigned
- Research – collecting, analysing and organising information to inform subsequent work processes
- Scheduling – tasks, rosters or delivery, for example.
6. Self-management
The ways in which they do this can include:
- Assessing and evaluating their own performance to identify areas for improvement
- Identifying and seeking out appropriate development opportunities, both internal and external to the organisation
- Eliciting feedback, as appropriate from peers, subordinates and superiors
- Knowing the organisation, the work role, and its limits of authority
- Working safely.
7. Learning
It recognises that learning is a continual process that takes many forms in the workplace and includes:
- Learning from past experience so that new and better ways of working are practised
- Individuals taking responsibility for strengthening their skill base so that they can move their career in the direction they want
- Managers knowing the strengths and weaknesses of their employees and assisting them to build their skills for their job and for career development
- Contributing to a learning environment through openly sharing knowledge and experiences
- Developing an awareness of learning methods and options, such as training, shadowing others, job rotation, online options, coaching and mentoring
- Actively using feedback from managers, subordinates and peers to improve performance
- Keeping well informed of updates and changes to organisational policies, procedures and regulations.
8. Technology
In the workplace we would see this skill applied when people are:
- Using information technology to assist in communication and support management and planning functions
- Operating machinery and technologies which assist in the completion of routine, heavy or complex tasks
- Troubleshooting machinery and technology
- Applying OHS knowledge to appropriately use technology, be it information technology or machinery.
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