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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.
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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
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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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