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EXPLORE: Free Skill Builders

This page gives you easy access to more than 100 free career skill-building articles, teaching some of the most important skills you need for an excellent career.

The first five skill groups teach career-boosting leadership and management techniques. After these, you'll find the personal productivity and personal effectiveness techniques you need to do a great job.

If you find this approach useful, sign up for our free newsletter. This teaches new career skills in a quick, convenient, easy way that suits the way you work.

Enjoy exploring these skills, and start boosting your skills right away!

Leadership Skills
Problem Solving - Decision Making - Project Management
Practical Creativity

Time Management - Stress Management - Information Skills
Communication Skills
- Career Skills

Leadership Skills

Leadership Skills Main Page
Introduction to Leadership Skills
Blake Mouton Managerial Grid - Balancing task- and people-oriented leadership
Leadership Motivation Assessment - Know your motivation to lead
Leadership Motivation Tools - Increasing leadership motivation
Winning Expert Power - Leading from the front
Leadership Styles - Use the right one for the situation
Emotional Intelligence - Developing strong "people skills"
Mission Statements & Vision Statements - Unleashing purpose
Team Effectiveness Assessment - How well do you and your team work together?
Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing - Helping new teams perform effectively, quickly
Belbin's Team Roles - How understanding team roles can improve team performance
Successful Delegation - How, when, why
Task Allocation - Pick the right team
Successful Delegation - Using the power of other people's help
Task Allocation - Picking the right person for the job
The GROW Model - Coaching team members to improve performance
Mentoring - An essential leadership skill
How Good Are Your Motivation Skills?
Herzberg's Motivators and Hygiene Factors - Learn how to motivate your team
Adam's Equity Theory - Balancing employee inputs and outputs
Avoiding Micromanagement - Helping team members excel - on their own Conflict Resolution - Resolve conflict rationally and effectively

Problem Solving

Problem Solving Main Page
Introduction to Problem Solving Techniques
Appreciation - Extracting maximum information from facts
5 Whys - Getting quickly to the root of a problem
Cause & Effect Diagrams - Identifying the causes of problems
Affinity Diagrams - Organizing ideas into common themes
Appreciative Inquiry - Solving problems by looking at what's going right
Flow Charts - Understanding process flows
Risk Analysis- Managing the risks you face
SWOT - Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
PEST Analysis - Understanding the big picture
The Marketing Mix and the 4 Ps - Understanding how to position your market offering
The Ansoff Matrix - Understanding the different risks of different options
The Boston Matrix - Focusing effort to give the greatest returns
Porter's Five Forces - Understanding power in a situation
Core Competence Analysis - Get ahead. Stay ahead.
USP / Unique Selling Point Analysis - Crafting your competitive edge
Critical Success Factors - Identifying the things that really matter for success
The Greiner Curve - Surviving the crises that come with growth
The McKinsey 7S Framework - Ensuring all parts of your organization work in harmony

Decision Making

Decision Making Main Page
Introduction to Decision Making
Pareto Analysis - Choosing which changes to make
Paired Comparison - Working out relative importances
Grid Analysis - Making a choice balancing many factors
Decision Trees - Choosing by projecting possible outcomes
PMI - Weighing the pros and cons of a decision
Force Field Analysis - Analyzing pressures for and against change
Six Thinking Hats - Looking at all points of view
Cost/Benefit Analysis - Simple financial decision making

Project Management

Project Management Main Page
Introduction to Project Management Skills
Estimating Time accurately
Scheduling Simple projects
Gantt Charts - Planning and scheduling more complex projects
Critical Path Analysis - Planning more complex projects
A Planning Process for Middle-Sized Projects
Planning Large Projects & Programs
Stakeholder Analysis - Winning support for your projects (I)
Stakeholder Management - Winning support for your projects (II)

Practical Creativity

Creativity Tools Main Page
Introduction to Creativity Techniques
Reversal - Improving products or services
SCAMPER - Generating new products & services
Attribute Listing - Creating new products & services
Brainstorming - Generating many radical ideas
Reframing Matrix - Generating different perspectives
Concept Fan - Widening the search for solutions
Random Input - Making creative leaps
Provocation - Carrying out thought experiments
DO IT - A simple process for creativity
Simplex - An integrated problem solving process

Time Management

Time Management Main Page
Introduction To Time Management
Beating Procrastination - Manage your time. Get it all done
Activity Logs - Seeing how you really spend your time
Action Plans - Small scale planning
To Do Lists - The key to efficiency
Personal Goal Setting - How to achieve your dreams
Effective Scheduling - Planning the best use of time

Stress Management

Stress Management Main Page
Introduction to Stress Management
Stress Diaries - Identify short term stress
Job Analysis - A tool for managing work overload
Performance Planning - Planning ahead to reduce stress
Imagery - Mental stress management
Physical Relaxation Techniques
Thought Awareness, Rational Thinking and Positive Thinking
Anger Management - Channeling anger effectively
Burnout Self-Test - Checking yourself for burnout
Building Self-Confidence – Developing the self-confidence you

Information Skills

Information Skills Main Page
Introduction to Information Skills
Mind Maps - Taking notes effectively
SQ3R - Fully absorbing written information
Speed Reading
Reading Strategies - Reading quickly by reading intelligently
Review Techniques - Keeping information fresh in your mind
Learning Styles - Learn in a way that suits you
Memory Improvement Techniques

Communication Skills

Communication Skills Main Page
Introduction to Communication Skills - How to get your message
Making a Great First Impression
The Johari Window - Helping people understand one-another
Better Public Speaking & Presentation
Writing Skills - Before you write it down, know this
Effective Email
Active Listening - Hear what people are really saying
Running Effective Meetings
Ice Breakers - Easing group contribution
Win-Win Negotiation - Finding a fair compromise
Speaking to an Audience - Communicate complex ideas successfully Presentation Planning Checklist

Career Skills

Career Skills Main Page
Introduction to Career Skills
Finding Career Direction - Discover yourself and your purpose
Creating Job Satisfaction - Getting the most from your job
Holland's Codes - Shaping your career to suit your work personality
Personal SWOT Analysis - Making the most of your talents and opportunities
Job Crafting - Shaping your job to fit you better
Future Proof Your Career - Developing skills for your future as well as for today
Overcoming a Lack of Qualifications - Gaining the skills you need
Managing Your Emotions at Work - Controlling your feelings before they control you
Mentoring - An essential leadership skill (mentoring from a mentee's perspective)
How to Get Ready for Promotion - Showing what you can do
Get the Recognition You Deserve - Learning how to get praise
Living with a Lack of Job Security - Coping with uncertainty
Life after Job Loss - Coping with the emotional turmoil
Breaking the Glass Ceiling - Reaching for the top with everyday tools
Getting a New Boss - Starting an important new relationship in a positive way
A Happy Ending - Wrapping up your current role before moving on

For a small fee, you can download these articles in convenient, advert-free PDF format. Click here to find out more.

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Extension Resources (Not included in the Mind Tools E-book.)

360 Degree Feedback - Encourage teamwork and improve performance
4MAT - Delivering instruction everyone understands.
5 Whys - Getting quickly to the root of a problem.

Acrostics - Memory curiosities.
Action Priority Matrix - Making the most of your opportunities.
Adams' Equity Theory - Balancing employee inputs and outputs.
ADL Matrix - How industry position influences your strategy
Affinity Diagrams - Organizing Ideas Into Common Themes
AIDA: Attention-Interest-Desire-Action - Inspiring Action with Your Writing
Using Aides Memoire - Remember everything that's important
Alderfer's ERG Theory - Understanding the Priorities in People's Needs
The Ansoff Matrix - Understanding the different risks of different options.
The Art of Filing - Managing Your Documents... and Your Time

Back On Track - Overcoming a Major Setback in Your Career
The Balanced Scorecard - Motivating employees to deliver your strategy.
Beating Self-Sabotage - Recognizing and Overcoming It
Behavioral Assessments - How personality affects the way people do their jobs.
Belbin's Team Roles - Understanding team roles can improve team performance.
Benne and Sheats' Group Roles - Identifying Positive and Negative Group Roles
Benziger's Personality Types - Checking You're Using Your Natural Talents
Mind Tools' Best of 2006 - Our Favorite Resources of The Past Year
Blake Mouton Managerial Grid - Balancing Task and People-Oriented Leadership
The Boston Matrix - Focusing effort to get the greatest returns.
Bowman's Strategy Clock - Making Sense of Eight Competitive Positions
Breaking Point, The - By Bruna Martinuzzi
Bullying In the Workplace - What Is It and What Can You Do?
Burke-Litwin Change Model - Unraveling the Dynamics of Organizational Change

Career Development - Discover yourself and your purpose
CATWOE - Understanding the different elements that contribute to a problem
Change Management - Making organization change happen effectively
Using the Change Curve - Accelerating change, and improving project success
Charts and Graphs - Choosing the right format
Chunking - Grouping information so it's more easily understood.
Cog's Ladder - Understanding and accelerating group formation
Communicating Internationally
Communicating in Your Organization
Communications Planning - Getting the right message over, in the right way.
Concept Attainment - Reaching a shared understanding of important ideas
Congruence Model - Aligning the Drivers of High Performance
The Conscious Competence Ladder - Making learning more satisfying
Core Competence Analysis - Get ahead. Stay ahead.
The Cornell Approach to Note Taking - Taking notes effectively and efficiently.
Costing Your Time - Understand the real value of your time.
Crawford's Slip Writing Method - Gathering ideas from many contributors.
Critical Success Factors - Identifying the things that really matter for success.
Critical Thinking - Developing the skills for successful thinking
Communicating in a Crisis - Don't shut down communication
Cross Culture Communication - Collaborative efforts a must!
Cross Cultural Leadership
The Cultural Web - Aligning your organization's culture with strategy
Customer Experience Mapping - Looking through the Eyes of Your Customers

Deal and Kennedy's Cultural Model - Understanding Rites and Rituals
Decision Making - Are you "cautious" or "courageous"?
Decision Model, The Vroom-Yetton-Jago - Deciding How to Decide
The Delegation Dilemma
Delivering Bad News
Delivering Great Presentations - Communicating effectively
The Delphi Technique - Achieving well thought through consensus among experts.
DILO (Day In the Life Of) - Improving team effectiveness by analyzing daily activity
Finding Career Direction - Discover Yourself and Your Purpose
The DISC Model - Understanding People's Personal Styles
Avoiding Discrimination - Minimize problems by being prepared

Empathic Listening - Going beyond active listening
Entrepreneurial Skills - What you need to know to run your own business.
What's Empathy Got to Do With It?

Facilitation - Guiding an event through to a successful conclusion
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) - Spotting problems early on
Giving and Receiving Feedback - Keeping team member performance high
Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing
- Helping new teams perform effectively.
Future Proof Your Career - Developing skills for your future as well as for today

Using the Greiner Curve - Surviving the crises that come with growth.
Avoiding GroupThink - Avoiding fatal flaws in group decision making.
The GROW Model - Coaching team members to improve performance.
Golden Rules of Goal Setting - Five Rules to Set Yourself Up for Success

Heron's Six Categories of Intervention - Understanding how to help effectively.
Herzberg's Motivators and Hygiene Factors - Learn How to Motivate Your Team
Hiring People: Questions to Ask - Know What to Ask to Find the Right Person
Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions - Understanding Values Around the World
Using Holland's Codes - Shaping your career to suit your work personality.
Humility - The Most Beautiful Word in the English Language
Hypnosis Downloads Review

Impact Analysis - Identifying the "unexpected" consequences of a decision.
Successful Induction - Getting new team members off to a great start!
Inductive Reasoning
- Drawing good generalized conclusions.
In Flow- Maximizing Productivity through Improved Focus
Managing Interruptions - Maintain focus. Keep control of your time.

Jargon Busting - Communicating without creating barriers
Job Enrichment - Increasing Job Satisfaction
Maximizing Job Satisfaction - Getting the most from your job
The Johari Window - Helping people to understand one another.

Kaizen - Gaining the Full Benefits of Continuous Improvement
Kanban - Creating Efficiency in the Workplace
Kano Model Analysis - Developing products that delight.
The Kepner-Tregoe Matrix - Making unbiased, risk assessed decisions.

The Ladder of Inference - Avoiding "jumping to conclusions".
A Leader's Mood - The Dimmer Switch of Performance
Leverage - Achieve Much More with the Same Effort
Lewin's Change Management Model - Understanding the three stages of change
Using the Life Career Rainbow - Finding a work/life balance that suits you
Locke's Goal Setting Theory - Understanding SMART Goal Setting
Locus of Control - Finding Out Who's in Charge of Your Destiny
Logframes, and the Logical Framework Approach - Planning projects robustly
Avoiding Logical Fallacies - What They Are, and How to Avoid Them

Management by Objectives (MBO) - Aligning people objectives with org goals
Managing a Budget - Setting and Sticking to Financial Targets
Good Manners in the Office - Realizing There's No Excuse for Discourtesy
Market Segmentation
- Understanding Different Customer Needs
The Marketing Mix and 4 Ps - Understanding how to position your market offering
Using Maslow's Hierarchy
- Building a happier, more satisfied team.
McKinsey 7S Framework, The - Ensuring all parts of your org work in harmony
Finding A Mentor - Getting support from the right "someone"
Metaphorical Thinking
- Using comparisons to express ideas and solve problems
Avoiding Micromanagement - Helping Team Members Excel - On Their Own
Monte Carlo Analysis - Bringing uncertainty and risk into forecasting.
Multi-Voting - Choosing fairly between many options
Murphy's Law - Expecting The Unexpected

Professional Networking - Building relationships for mutual benefit
Neuro-Linguistic Programming - Achieving excellence in communication
New Year's Resolutions - Planning for a Year of Achievement
Nominal Group Technique - Prioritizing issues and projects to achieve consensus.

Optimism - The hidden asset.
Organizational Design - Aligning organizational structure with business goals.
Overcoming Cultural Barriers to Change - Moving to a High Performance Culture

How to Ask for a Pay Raise - Objectively Evaluating Your Value to Your Organization
Performance Management and KPIs
- Linking Activities to Vision and Strategy
Pickle Jar Theory - Make your schedule work. Leave time for fun!
Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) - Implementing new ideas in a controlled way
Dealing with Office Politics - Navigating the Minefield
Dealing with Poor Performance - Is it Lack of Ability or Low Motivation?
Porter's Diamond
- Shaping strategy to reflect national strengths and weaknesses
Porter's Generic Strategies - Choosing Your Route to Competitive Advantage
Possibilities - Unlocking your own potential, By Bruna Martinuzzi
Powers of Persuasion - Understanding the Dos and Don'ts of Persuading
Practical Business Planning - Understanding the Components of Future Success
Giving praise, A Bit of Perfume - By Bruna Martinuzzi
Managing Presentation Nerves - Coping With the Fear Within
Prioritization - Making best use of your time and resources
The Product Diffusion Curve - Keeping you marketing message fresh.
Project Dashboards
- Quickly communicating project progress
Project Initiation Documents - Getting your project off to a great start
Project Milestone Reporting - Keeping projects on track by monitoring check points
Pygmalion Motivation - Motivating high performance with high expectations.
The Pyramid of Purpose - Concisely communicating your strategy.

Questioning Techniques - Asking questions effectively

The RACI Matrix - Structuring accountabilities for maximum efficiency and results.
Reactive Decision Making - Making good decisions under pressure.
Re-Engaging Team Members - Turning Negative Back to Positive
How to Relax After a Hard Day - Leaving Work at Work
What's Your Reputation? - Building a Reputation Consistent with Career Goals
Resolving Team Conflict - Building Stronger Teams by Facing Your Differences
Rest, Relaxation & Sleep
Reverse Brainstorming - A different approach to brainstorming.
The Rhetorical Triangle - Making your writing credible, appealing and logical
Role Playing - Preparing for difficult conversations and situations.

The Sales Funnel - Keeping control of your sales pipeline.
Scenario Analysis - Exploring different futures
Schein's Career Anchors - Understanding what inspires you in your career.
Sleep, Getting a Good Night's Sleep - Starting each day fresh, and full of energy
Spiral Dynamics - Understanding how people's values affect decision making
Starbursting - Understanding new ideas by brainstorming questions
The Straw Man Concept - Build It Up, Knock It Down, Create a Solid Final Solution
Swim Lane Diagrams - Mapping and improving organizational processes.
Synectics - A useful backstop creativity process.

Team Charters - Getting your teams off to a great start
Team Effectiveness Assessment - How well do you and your team work together?
Team Management Skills - The core skills needed to manage your team
Thinking On Your Feet - Staying Cool and Confident Under Pressure
Time Management?, How Good is Your
- Discover tools that can help you
Using the TOWS Matrix - Developing strategic options
Training Needs Assessment - Making sure your team is properly trained
Treasure Mapping - Visualizing your goal for greater achievement
TRIZ - A powerful methodology for creative problem-solving

The Uncertainty Factor - by Bruna Martinuzzi
Dealing With Unfair Criticism - Responding rationally to unwarranted criticism
The Urgent/Important Matrix - Using time effectively, not just efficiently

Ready for a Real Vacation? - Preparing to make the most of your precious time
Creating a Value Proposition - Clearly communicating benefits
Working in Virtual Teams - Team working that overcomes time & space

The Wheel of Life - Finding balance in your life.
Work Breakdown Structures - Mapping out the work within a project
Working With Powerful People - Manage Relationships for Maximum Satisfaction

Theory X and Theory Y - Understanding team member motivation

Working for Yourself - Surviving and Thriving in Self-Employment

Zero Defects - Getting it right first time

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