Day 16: Decision making skill
Today's discussion is on decision making and why it is an important skill for youth. Decision making is the key skill in the workplace and a very important skill in our personal life. Sometimes,some decisions are simple and are almost automatic while other can be very difficult. Sometimes,we spend an inordinate amount of time and effort making choices and weighing out options in everyday situations. In decision making,one needs to be very careful as they are often trade-off and compromises, consequences that one is faced to live with for a very long time. Some decisions need be made quickly while others need to be deliberated, considered and weighed out over a long period of time. Decision making is a critical skill for effective management, leadership,and overall personal development.
What is decisions making?
Decision making in it simplest sense is the act of choosing between two or more courses of action. It is the process of making choices by identify a decision, gathering information,and assessing alternative resolutions. It is also the process of identifying and choosing alternatives based on the values , preferences and beliefs of the decision-maker. Decision making is an important concept in the life of the youth because the ability to make a decision and stick to it is the cornerstone of good leadership skills.
In decision making, certain steps needs to be taken.Using a step-by-step decision-making process can help you make more deliberate, thoughtful decisions by organizing relevant information and defining alternatives. This approach increases the chances that you will choose the most satisfying alternative possible. Here are the following steps you need to take into consideration.
Step 1: Identify the decision
You realize that you need to make a decision. Try to clearly define the nature of the decision you
must make. This first step is very important.
Step 2: Gather relevant information
Collect some pertinent information before you make your decision: what information is needed, the best sources of information, and how to get it. This step involves both internal and external “work.” Some information is internal: you’ll seek it through a process of self-assessment. Other information is external: you’ll find it online, in books, from other people, and from other sources.
Step 3: Identify the alternatives
As you collect information, you will probably identify several possible paths of action, or alternatives. You can also use your imagination and additional information to construct new alternatives. In this step, you will list all possible and desirable alternatives.

Step 4: Weigh the evidence
Draw on your information and emotions to imagine what it would be like if you carried out each of the alternatives to the end. Evaluate whether the need identified in Step 1 would be met or resolved through the use of each alternative. As you go through this difficult internal process, you’ll begin to favor certain alternatives: those that seem to have a higher potential for reaching your goal. Finally, place the alternatives in a priority order, based upon your own value system.

Step 5: Choose among alternatives
Once you have weighed all the evidence, you are ready to select the alternative that seems to be best one for you. You may even choose a combination of alternatives. Your choice in Step 5 may very likely be the same or similar to the alternative you placed at the top of your list at the end of Step 4.
Step 6: Take action
You’re now ready to take some positive action by beginning to implement the alternative you chose in Step 5.
Step 7: Review your decision & its consequences
In this final step, consider the results of your decision and evaluate whether or not it has resolved the need you identified in Step 1. If the decision has not met the identified need, you may want to repeat certain steps of the process to make a new decision. For example, you might want to gather more detailed or somewhat different information or explore additional alternatives.
The above steps are very important as they provide a guideline for you when making decisions.
Have you been wondering on how to become a better decision maker ? Then read day 17 challenge.

Mariam Awolola

Day 17: Decision making

Having gone through the meaning and steps involved in decision making,then comes the next steps. This has to do with how to become a better decision-maker and the importance of this great skill. Here are the following steps needed to become a reliable and a better decision-maker.

1 Utilize if/when thinking in unpredictable circumstances. This can assist you in streamlining many typical decisions to be made in life.

2 Set a time frame for making a decision and stick with it. Once you have vetted the options, considered the attractiveness of alternatives and there is no clear evident choice, you may have to admit there is no clearly identifiable right way to go, and just decide.

3 Pretend you are advising a friend through the decision-making process. This will only work in certain situations. When emotions are in control, reason is out the window. Your emotions can cloud your judgment.

4 Write down the pros and cons. Use a spread sheet or simply outline pros and cons, do a ranking, list qualities and benefits of each choice. Putting it on paper will help you to visualize the differences.

5 Be aware of your biases and prejudices. Everyone has them. Acknowledge your innermost feelings and try to set them aside.
6 Seek out advice from a trusted friend, colleague or expert. Someone else may be able to sort through your quandary and offer suggestions that may be helpful in making a choice. Just be careful who you ask.

7 Limit the amount of information you take in. It is accepted that the more information you have, the better the decision will be. However, at some point you have to cut it off and determine if you are seeking out too much that can cause overload and confusion.

8 Think outside the box and challenge your assumptions. If you continue doing things the way you have always done them. you will continue to get the same results you’ve always gotten. Get out of your comfort zone and use your imagination to test new ideas.

9 Be open to new options that may be the opposite of what you would normally do. This will force you to consider options you may have never thought of or considered before.

10 Recognize that the results of many of your decisions are irreversible. Your decisions will often have a dramatic effect on other people.

Decision making plays a vital role in the life of youth .It diverts the youths from falling into the trap that manages the youth and saves their career life. It promotes self-determination on how to make good decisions and choices. Here are the importance of decision making.

1 It gives more information.
2 It increases participation.
3 It provides more alternatives.
4 It improves the degree of acceptance and commitment.
5 It improves the quality of the decision taken.
6 It gives a sense of responsibility.

Day 18: Problem Solving

Today's discussion on problem solving. Everybody needs to solve problem everyday but we are not born with the skills we need to do this but we have to develop them. When youth learn skills and strategy for Problem Solving and sorting out conflicts by themselves,they feel better about themselves. They are more independent and better placed to make good decisions on their own. Everybody can benefit from having good problem-solving skills as we all encounter problem on a daily basis.Some of these problem are obviously more severe or complex than others and it would be wonderful to have the ability to solve problem efficiently in a timely fashion without difficulty.

When solving problem,it is good to be able to
1 listen and think calmly
2 Consider options and respect others people's opinions and needs.
3 Find constructive solutions and sometimes work towards compromises.These are skills for life and they are highly valued in both social and work situation.

What is problem solving?

Problem Solving is the ability to identify and solve problems by applying appropriate skills systematically. It is an on-going process in which we take what we know to discover what we don't know.It involves overcoming obstacles by generating hypothesis, testing those predictions,and arriving at satisfactory solutions. Problem Solving involves three basic which are
1 Seeking information
2 Generating new knowledge
3 Making decisions.

Effective problem solving usually involves working through a number of steps or stages such as the following outline below.

1 Problem Identification:
This stage involves: detecting and recognising that there is a problem; identifying the nature of the problem; defining the problem.
The first phase of problem solving may sound obvious but often requires more thought and analysis. Identifying a problem can be a difficult task in itself. Is there a problem at all? What is the nature of the problem, are there in fact numerous problems? How can the problem be best defined? By spending some time defining the problem you will not only understand it more clearly yourself but be able to communicate its nature to others, which leads to the second phase.

2 Structuring the Problem:

This stage involves: a period of observation, careful inspection, fact-finding and developing a clear picture of the problem.
Following on from problem identification, structuring the problem is all about gaining more information about the problem and increasing understanding. This phase is all about fact finding and analysis, building a more comprehensive picture of both the goal(s) and the barrier(s). This stage may not be necessary for very simple problems but is essential for problems of a more complex nature.

3 Looking for Possible Solutions:

During this stage you will generate a range of possible courses of action, but with little attempt to evaluate them at this stage.
From the information gathered in the first two phases of the problem solving framework it is now time to start thinking about possible solutions to the identified problem. In a group situation this stage is often carried out as a brain-storming session, letting each person in the group express their views on possible solutions (or part solutions). In organisations different people will have different expertise in different areas and it is useful, therefore, to hear the views of each concerned party.

4 Making a Decision:

This stage involves careful analysis of the different possible courses of action and then selecting the best solution for implementation.
This is perhaps the most complex part of the problem solving process. Following on from the previous step it is now time to look at each potential solution and carefully analyse it. Some solutions may not be possible, due to other problems like time constraints or budgets. It is important at this stage to also consider what might happen if nothing was done to solve the problem - sometimes trying to solve a problem that leads to many more problems requires some very creative thinking and innovative ideas.

Finally, make a decision on which course of action to take - decision making is an important skill like I have discussed so far.

5 Implementation:

This stage involves accepting and carrying out the chosen course of action.
Implementation means acting on the chosen solution. During implementation more problems may arise especially if identification or structuring of the original problem was not carried out fully.

6 Monitoring/Seeking Feedback:

The last stage is about reviewing the outcomes of problem solving over a period of time, including seeking feedback as to the success of the outcomes of the chosen solution.
The final stage of problem solving is concerned with checking that the process was successful. This can be achieved by monitoring and gaining feedback from people affected by any changes that occurred. It is good practice to keep a record of outcomes and any additional problems that occurred.

These are the stages involved when solving a problem. Ability to solve problem in a more efficient manner is an important potential in the life of an individual.

Read day 19 challenge for the benefit of this great skill.

Day 19: Problem Solving

Problem-solving is important both to individuals and organizations because it enables us to exert control over our environment. Here are the benefit of this great skill.

1 Fixing things that are broken: Some things wear out and break over time, others are flawed from day-1. Personal and business environments are full of things, activities, interactions and processes that are broken or not operating in the way they are desired to work. Problem-solving gives us a mechanism for identifying these things, figuring out why they are broken and determining a course of action to fix them.

2 Addressing risk: Humans have learned to identify trends and developed an awareness of cause-and-effect relationships in their environment. These skills not only enable us to fix things when they break but also anticipate what may happen in the future (based on past-experience and current events). Problem-solving can be applied to the anticipated future events and used to enable action in the present to influence the likelihood of the event occurring and/or alter the impact if the event does occur.

3 Improving performance: Individuals and organizations do not exist in isolation in the environment. There is a complex and ever-changing web of relationships that exist and as a result, the actions of one person will often have either a direct impact on others or an indirect impact by changing the environment dynamics. These interdependencies enable humans to work together to solve more complex problems but they also create a force that requires everyone to continuously improve performance to adapt to improvements by others. Problem-solving helps us understand relationships and implement the changes and improvements needed to compete and survive in a continually changing environment.

4 Seizing opportunity: Problem solving is not just about responding to and fixing the environment that exists today. It is also about innovating, creating new things and changing the environment to be more desirable. Problem-solving enables us to identify and exploit opportunities in the environment and exert some level of control over the future.

Problem solving skills and the problem-solving process are a critical part of daily life both as individuals and organizations. Developing and refining these skills through training, practice and learning can provide the ability to solve problems more effectively and over time address problems with a greater degree of complexity and difficulty.

Day 20: Teamwork

Teamwork has become a very important skill for success in many arenans, including the world of work. It is a skill that many employer value in the job market today. Teamwork is often a crucial part of a business,as it often necessary for colleagues to work well together, trying their best in any circumstance. Teamwork make it possible for people to corporate, using their individual skills and providing constructive feedback, despite any personal conflict between individuals. Having this skill as a youth enables you to work with others to achieve a common goal,allows you to have a say and a sense of responsibility.

Teamwork is the collaborative effort of a group. According to Andrew carnegre,it is the ability to work together towards a common goal or vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. When a group of people work together cohesively towards a common goal, creating a positive working atmosphere,and supporting each other to combined individual strengths to enhance team performance. As a youth , working well in a team means.

1 Working with group of people to achieve a shared goal or outcome in an effective way.
2 Listening to others member of the team.
3 Taking everyone's idea on board,not just your own.
4 Working for the good of the group as a whole.
5 Having a say and sharing responsibility.

A successful team is one where everyone's unique skills and strength help the team achieve a shared goal in the most effective way.

While it can take determination and work to improve soft skills such as teamwork. It is certainly possible to build theses qualities. Here are the following steps you can take to improve your teamwork skill.

1 Get honest feedback: Sometimes,it can be difficult to identify your own areas of improvement so find a trusted friend , colleague or mentor that can offer you honest feedback about your teamwork strengths and weakness so as to work on them.

2 Set personal goals: Using both your own observations and feedback from others to form achievable, relevant,and time-constrained goals can help you improve your teamwork skill. Using the SMART goals frame work like I have discussed so far is an easy way to set appropriate goals for your career.

3 Practice:It takes time and practise to see improvement in your skill set. Pay close attention to your teamwork interactions throughout the day . Take mindful steps to practice the specific qualities you are trying to build.

4 Mimic others with strong teamwork skill: when you see people with great teamwork skill,take note and identify why the interactions stood out to you. Apply those qualities in your own interaction when working with others.

Smart leaders encourage good teamwork and give teams the authority to make decisions based on what they see is right. As a youth ,learn how to work well within a team since it is becoming more and more important in all fields of work. Here are the following importance of team work.

1 Teamwork creates a smoother and looser structure by developing a friendly environment
2 It encourages flexibility
3 It enhances problem-solving
4 It improves productivity
5 It motivates the workforce and creates a healthy environment.

Day 21: Critical Thinking

The decisions that you make affect your quality of life .And if you want to ensure that you live your best,most successful and happy life,you are going to want to make a conscious choices. Lacking the skills of critical thinking can truly make or break a person's career,as the consequences of one's ability to process and analyse information effectively can be massive. The ability to think critically is more important now than it has ever been.

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is the analysis of an issue or situation and the fact,data,or evidence related to it. Ideally critical thinking is to be done objectively without influence from personal feelings, opinions or biases and it focused solely on factual information. It is a skill that allows you to make logical and informed decisions to the best of your ability.

Critical thinking is an important concept as it equip us with a better view on how to see things.

The following are the critical thinking skills and how you can improve on them.

1. Identification
The first step in the critical thinking process is to identify the situation or problem as well as the factors that may influence it. Once you have a clear picture of the situation and the people, groups or factors that may be influenced, you can then begin to dive deeper into an issue and its potential solutions.

How to improve: When facing any new situation, question or scenario, stop to take a mental inventory of the state of affairs and ask the following questions:
Who is doing what?
What seems to be the reason for this happening?
What are the end results, and how could they change?

2. Research
When comparing arguments about an issue, independent research ability is key. Arguments are meant to be persuasive,that means the facts and figures presented in their favor might be lacking in context or come from questionable sources. The best way to combat this is independent verification; find the source of the information and evaluate.

How to improve: It can be helpful to develop an eye for unsourced claims. Does the person posing the argument offer where they got this information from? If you ask or try to find it yourself and there’s no clear answer, that should be considered a red flag. It’s also important to know that not all sources are equally valid.

3. Identifying biases
This skill can be exceedingly difficult, as even the smartest among us can fail to recognize biases. Strong critical thinkers do their best to evaluate information objectively. Think of yourself as a judge in that you want to evaluate the claims of both sides of an argument, but you’ll also need to keep in mind the biases each side may possess.
It is equally important and arguably more difficult to learn how to set aside your own personal biases that may cloud your judgement. Have the courage to debate and argue with your own thoughts and assumptions .This is essential for learning to see things from different viewpoints.

How to improve: “Challenge yourself to identify the evidence that forms your beliefs, and assess whether or not your sources are credible.
First and foremost, you must be aware that bias exists. When evaluating information or an argument, ask yourself the following:
Who does this benefit?
Does the source of this information appear to have an agenda?
Is the source overlooking, ignoring or leaving out information that doesn’t support its beliefs or claims?
Is this source using unnecessary language to sway an audience’s perception of a fact?

4. Inference
The ability to infer and draw conclusions based on the information presented to you is another important skill for mastering critical thinking. Information doesn’t always come with a summary that spells out what it means. You’ll often need to assess the information given and draw conclusions based upon raw data.

How to improve: An inference is an educated guess, and your ability to infer correctly can be polished by making a conscious effort to gather as much information as possible before jumping to conclusions. When faced with a new scenario or situation to evaluate, first try skimming for clues—things like headlines, images and prominently featured statistics—and then make a point to ask yourself what you think is going on.

5. Determining relevance
One of the most challenging parts of thinking critically during a challenging scenario is figuring out what information is the most important for your consideration. In many scenarios, you’ll be presented with information that may seem important, but it may come out to be only a minor data point to consider.

How to improve: The best way to get better at determining relevance is by establishing a clear direction in what you’re trying to figure out. Are you tasked with finding a solution? Should you be identifying a trend? If you figure out your end goal, you can use this to inform your judgement of what is relevant.

6. Curiosity
It’s incredibly easy to sit back and take everything presented to you at face value, but that can also be also a recipe for disaster when faced with a scenario that requires critical thinking. It’s true that we’re all naturally curious—just ask any parent who has faced an onslaught of “Why?” questions from their child. As we get older, it can be easier to get in the habit of keeping that impulse to ask questions at bay. But that’s not a winning approach for critical thinking.

How to improve: While it might seem like a curious mind is just something you’re born with, you can still train yourself to foster that curiosity productively. All it takes is a conscious effort to ask open-ended questions about the things you see in your everyday life, and you can then invest the time to follow up on these questions.

Unlock your potential by practicing and refining the six critical thinking skills above. Read day 22 challenge on how to think critically and the benefit of this skill.

Day 22: Critical Thinking
The following are the steps on how to think critically.

1 Define Your Question: When it comes to critical thinking, it’s important to always keep your goal in mind. Know what you’re trying to achieve, and then figure out how to best get there.

2 Gather Reliable Information: Make sure that you’re using sources you can trust — biases aside. That’s how a real critical thinker operates.

3 Ask The Right Questions: We all know the importance of questions, but be sure that you’re asking the right questions that are going to get you to your answer.

4 Look Short & Long Term: When coming up with solutions, think about both the short- and long-term consequences. Both of them are significant in the equation.

5 Explore All Sides: There is never just one simple answer, and nothing is black or white. Explore all options and think outside of the box before you come to any conclusions.

Someone with critical thinking skills is able to think rationally and clearly about what they should or not believe. They are capable of engaging in their own thoughts, and doing some reflection in order to come to a well-informed conclusion. The following are the importance of critical thinking.

1. Critical Thinking Is Universal

Critical thinking is a domain-general thinking skill. What does this mean? It means that no matter what path or profession you pursue, these skills will always be relevant and will always be beneficial to your success. They are not specific to any fields.

2. Crucial For The Economy

Our future depends on technology, information, and innovation. Critical thinking is needed for our fast-growing economies, to solve problems as quickly and as effectively as possible.

3. Improves Language & Presentation Skills

In order to best express ourselves, we need to know how to think clearly and systematically — meaning practice critical thinking! Critical thinking also means knowing how to break down texts, and in turn, improve our ability to comprehend.

4. Promotes Creativity

By practicing critical thinking, we are allowing ourselves not only to solve problems, but also come up with new and creative ideas to do so. Critical thinking allows us to analyze these ideas and adjust them accordingly.

5. Important For Self-Reflection

Without critical thinking, how can we really live a meaningful life? We need this skill to self-reflect and justify our ways of life and opinions. Critical thinking provides us with the tools to evaluate ourselves in the way that we need to.

Day 24 : Flexibility

Most of us have experienced change in workplace, school ,or home at some point. We can't always predict when changes like these are going to happen. That is why flexibility is so important. When you are flexible,you are versatile, resilient,and responsive to change ,you can adapt to unexpected demands, urgent problems or unpredictable events.

Flexible people are highly valued by managers and businesses today because they help to stabilize situations when crises strikes,they keep objectives achievable and within reach ,and they often go extra mile to support people who are in need of advice.

What is Flexibility?

Flexibility is the capacity to adjust to short-term change quickly and calmly, so that you can deal with unexpected problems or tasks effectively. It is a strategy of responding to changing circumstances and expectations.flexibility emphasizes the willingness and ability to adapt to change, particularly regarding how and when work gets done.

Flexibility involves having an open, team-centered attitude, and retaining a strong sense of identity and purpose. Here are the following ways to achieve this.

1. Focus on Your Core Values

Having key attributes that don't shift can keep you grounded during periods of change. Using your core values and your organization's culture as anchor points will help you to decide what you can and can't agree to when you receive an unexpected request.

2. Be Open-Minded

You'll likely find it easier to understand and manage a situation if you look at it from different perspectives . For example, if you're looking to launch a new product, you might first like to analyze it from different viewpoints.
How will it fit into the marketplace, for instance? What will the impact be on your production process, and your sales and marketing teams? How do you think your customers will react to it?
Make it a priority to listen to and understand the views of the other people involved.

3. Develop Your Skill Set

If you don't make an effort to learn new skills, you'll likely find that when an unexpected event does occur, you won't be equipped to deal with it.
Tackle this by staying curious about what's going on around you. Keep up-to-date with new industry trends by reading up on the latest innovations and research, and broaden your knowledge by cross-skilling .

4. Be Optimistic

It can be difficult to stay positive when you know a large, urgent project is on the horizon. But, looking on the bright side and focusing on the positives will help you to stay resilient and focused. A break or change in your routine could be an opportunity to learn new skills, or to work with different colleagues, new clients or new suppliers.

5. Stay Calm

When expectations shift suddenly, it can be disconcerting and you might find that you start to feel anxious. Counter the effects of stress (such as loss of focus and impaired decision making) by taking steps to restore calm

6. Plan Ahead

Even if you can't predict the future, you can still plan for the unexpected.
Anticipating the next new development, measuring risks and preparing for them are key skills. For example, if you are pitching a product or service to a potential client, it's a good idea to think about the questions that she might ask, and to prepare your answers ahead of time.

7. Have a Strong Support Network

Having a strong and stable team around you is essential in times of flux. It means that, no matter the difficulties you are facing, you have people who you can rely on to support you.
Not only will this boost collaboration and positivity across your team, but it will likely encourage your colleagues to return the favor when you are the one in need of help.

The following are the importance of flexibility .
1 It attract excellent talent from a wider pool
2 Embracing change can expand your opportunities
3 Being flexible will help you strike work/life balance
4 It will make you more responsive to change.
5 Flexibility is a good management decisions.

Flexibility is an important soft skill, since it demonstrates an ability and willingness to embrace new tasks and new challenges calmly and without fuss. Flexible youth are willing to help out where needed, take on extra responsibilities and can adapt quickly when plans change.

Day 25 : Digital Literacy

Today, the advancement of technology has permeated every aspect of our lives. Employers expect their workforce to have the skills needed to live, work, and thrive in a digital society.The digital world offers tremendous benefits to us all. It provides platforms that allow us to connect and collaborate. It opens up opportunities to learn about new and important issues, and empowers innovation in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago.

Digital literacy skills empower individuals to learn, change and adapt to the digital global environment. Promoting the development of creative and analytical uses of technology, these skills take the user from passive consumers, to active and confident ones capable of full and professional engagement in the online world.

What is Digital Literacy?

Digital literacy is the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.
Digital literacy means having the skills you need to live, learn, and work in a society where communication and access to information is increasingly through digital technologies like internet platforms, social media, and mobile devices.

One essential component of digital literacy when it comes to the field of pedagogy is deep learning, of which there are six core skills:

1 Collaboration. The ability to work collaboratively with others, with strong interpersonal and team-related skills.

2 Creativity. Being able to weigh up opportunities in an entrepreneurial manner and ask the right questions to generate new ideas.

3 Critical thinking. Being able to evaluate information and arguments, identify patterns and connections, and construct meaningful knowledge and apply it in the real world.

4 Citizenship. The ability to consider issues and solve complex problems based on a deep understanding of diverse values and a worldview.
5 Character. Traits such as grit, tenacity, perseverance, and resilience; alongside a desire to make learning an integral part of living.

6 Communication. Being able to communicate effectively through a variety of methods and tools to a range of different audiences.Communication is also a key aspect of digital literacy. When communicating in virtual environments, the ability to clearly express your ideas, ask relevant questions, maintain respect, and build trust is just as important as when communicating in person.

As technology becomes more important in our everyday lives, so does digital literacy. Digital Literacy is an important skill in the life of an individual and it can't be overemphasized. The following are one of the reasons why digital Literacy is important.

Students

Students are no longer passive consumers of educational content, they have the ability to contribute to local and global knowledge by producing and using media, applications and objects.
Students benefit by feeling connected to a digital community of their peers and developing the confidence to effectively use technology in their assessment items and learning activities.
Employers

Employers seek graduates who have a professional presence online and are able to adapt to new and evolving technologies.
Graduates

Graduates stand out from the crowd by marketing themselves effectively online. An understanding of digital footprints and responsible and ethical actions online, is essential in competitive global markets.
Graduates are equipped to take advantage of lifelong learning opportunities, extending their learning from the educational environment into the workplace.

Digital Literacy is an important concept in the life of an individual because it enables them to know how to create, communicate, and share digital content. Individuals , who are building digital literacy skills understand the basics of Internet safety such as creating strong passwords, understanding and using privacy settings, and knowing what to share or not on social media.

Day 27: Initiative

Today's discussion is on Initiative.Initiative has become increasingly important in today's workplace. Organizations want employees who can think on their feet and take action without waiting for someone to tell them what to do. After all, this type of flexibility and courage is what pushes teams and organizations to innovate, and to overcome competition. As a youth,When you show initiative, you do things without being told; you find out what you need to know; you keep going when things get tough; and you spot and take advantage of opportunities that others pass by. You act, instead of reacting, at work.People who have initiative and make things happen are highly valued in the workplace.
What is Initiative?

Researchers Michael Frese and Doris Fay define initiative as "work behavior characterized by its self-starting nature, its proactive approach, and by being persistent in overcoming difficulties that arise in pursuit of a goal." Initiative is the ability to be resourceful and work without always being told what to do. It requires resilience and determination. People who show initiative demonstrate they can think for themselves and take action when necessary. It means using your head, and having the drive to achieve.

The most important part of Initiative is that it is a skill that you can develop over time.
Developing your initiative begins by knowing what you want to achieve in your career, what things you have to and are willing to do and how fast you want to achieve your career goals.
Learn how things work and figure out efficient ways of working. Look for opportunities in problems. Here are the following steps you need to take when developing your initiative.

.1. Develop a Career Plan

Research has shown that people who have a long-term career plan are more likely to take initiative. Professionals who know what they want and where they want to go are far more likely to show initiative at work, especially when the action or decision will help them further their career goals.Once you know what you want to achieve, integrate your career goals with your personal goals, so that you have something to work towards. (In your personal life, the key to developing initiative is to set clear personal goals , and then to work steadily towards achieving them.)

2. Build Self-Confidence

It can take courage and a strong sense of self to show initiative, especially if you fear that people may disagree with your actions or suggestions.For instance, set small goals so you can achieve some quick wins. And push yourself to do positive things that you'd otherwise be scared to do ,this will not only help you build your self-confidence, but it will help you build the courage to accomplish bigger, scarier tasks later on.

3. Develop Rational Persistence

Persistence is the art of moving forward even when you encounter inertia or difficulty. People who show initiative often encounter difficulties and setbacks along the way, so resilience and rational persistence (where you listen to, consider, and appropriately modify your direction depending on other people's input) are essential if you want to achieve what you've set out to do.
When you're persisting with your idea, you'll find things much easier if you learn how to manage change effectively. This can often make the difference between success and failure for a project. It's also helpful to learn how to open closed minds , since people may already have an opinion on a subject before you even start presenting your idea.

4. Spot Opportunities and Potential Improvements.

People who show initiative often do so by spotting and acting on opportunities that their colleagues or leaders have not noticed. They're curious about their organization and how it works, and they keep their minds open to new ideas and new possibilities.You should always be on the lookout for areas in your organization that could use improvement.

Taking initiative is an important skills for the youth because of the following reasons
1 You should take initiative because it gives you visibility at work, you stand out, you get recognition, and it enhances your value and personal brand.
2 Taking initiative improves your potential for promotions and career growth.
3 More problems are solved at work, time is saved, resources are saved or utilized efficiently and processes are improved.
4 Taking initiative and trying different things, methods or processes can lead to breakthroughs.
Additionally relationships are strengthened when you help others resulting in stronger team dynamics.

Having initiative demonstrates a sense of self-drive, self-awareness, insight and personal motivation.
The habit of taking initiative strengthens your personal brand. You can become a role model to others who would seek to emulate you.

Day 30: Communication skills

Communication is key whether written or spoken, reading or listening,these skills are crucial in any workplace and can make you a better,more effective and more efficient person.How to Improve Your Communication Skills
Here are some pointers to look out for when looking to improve your ability to effectively communicate with others:

1. Listening
To become a good communicator, it is important to be a good listener. It is important to practice active listening – pay close attention to what others are saying and clarify ambiguities by rephrasing their questions for greater understanding.

2. Conciseness
Convey your message in as few words as possible. Do not use filler words and get straight to the point. Rambling will cause the listener to tune out or be unsure of what you are talking about. Avoid speaking excessively and do not use words that may confuse the audience.

3. Body language
It is important to practice good body language, use eye contact, utilize hand gestures, and watch the tone of the voice when communicating with others. A relaxed body stance with a friendly tone will aid in making you look approachable by others.
Eye contact is important in communication – look the person in the eye to indicate that you are focused on the conversation. But make sure to not stare at the person as it can make him or her uncomfortable.

4. Confidence
Be confident in what you say and in your communication interactions with others. Being confident can be as easy as maintaining eye contact, maintaining a relaxed body stance, and talking with concision. Try not to make statements sound like questions and avoid trying to sound aggressive or demeaning.

5. Open-mindedness
In situations where you disagree with what someone else has to say, whether it be with an employer, a co-worker, or a friend, it is important to sympathize with their point of view rather than simply try to get your message across. Respect the opinion of others and never resort to demeaning those who do not agree with you.

6. Respect
Respecting what others have to say and acknowledging them is an important aspect of communication. Being respectful can be as simple as paying attention to what they have to say, using the person’s name, and not being distracted. By respecting others, the other person will feel appreciated, which will lead to a more honest and productive conversation.

Developing communication skill is essential when it comes to building a successful career.The following are the importance of these great skill
1 It enhances value in the work place
2 It helps in your career progression
3 It enables you to speak concisely
4 It influences how you learn
5 It enhances your professional image
6 It builds stronger decision making and problem solving skills.

Day 30: Analytical skills

In the world of underlying competences that contributes to strong business analysis, the soft skills of analytical thinking can help you investigate complex issues,make decisions and develop solutions. It involves sorting through business problems and information in an informed , methodological way. Analytical skills are in demand in many industries and are commonly listed requirements in job description.

What is Analytical thinking?
Analytical thinking is observing and researching a problem or topic to develop more complex ideas about it. Your analytical thinking should result in additional knowledge, solutions or ideas related to the problem or topic.

The process usually involves several steps:
Identifying a topic, problem or issue
Gathering information
Developing solutions or furthering your understanding of the topic
Testing solutions or new ideas based on what you’ve learned
Post-analysis, or reviewing what solutions worked, or assessing your new knowledge.

A key element to analytical thinking is the ability to quickly identify cause and effect relationships. This means understanding what might happen during the problem-solving process, for example, and examining how new ideas relate to the original topic.
The following are Analytical skills you must consider as an individual.

1. Critical thinking
Critical thinkers are capable of identifying all aspects of a problem and understanding why a problem exists. They will take the time to fully understand a problem in order to develop a workable solution.

3. Research and information analysis
Data and information analysis is one of the primary parts of analytical thinking. Once a problem is identified, it’s important to know how to review and analyze the data or information that will be essential to solving the problem.

4. Research
Research is an integral part of the analytical thinking process. Once a problem is identified, it’s important to perform research for a solution. Research can be as simple as asking a co-worker or manager who may have more knowledge of the problem, to more extensive online searches through official sources. Part of the research process also involves knowing what information is valuable or essential to solving the problem.

5. Communication
It is essential to be in constant communication with stakeholders while identifying problems, developing solutions, carrying out research, and discussing results. Once a problem or solution is identified, communicating it out to an individual, team or company is essential to achieve the end goal. Transferring this information clearly and thoroughly is a key skill in the analytical thinking process.

6. Problem-solving
After a problem, situation or area of improvement is identified and research is complete, it is important to solve for a solution. You will use analytical thinking skills to sort and organize data uncovered during the research phase to find a reasonable and effective solution with problem-solving skills.

Improving your analytical skills can help you achieve various career goals. To improve your analytical skills ,consider taking some of the following steps:

Take on leadership roles that require the use of critical analytical skills
Practice key analytical skills in your current role
Take classes that emphasize the use of analytical skills
Participate in activities that require the use of analytical skills such as team sports, games or reading
Seek advice or mentorship from professionals in your field or desired industry
Conduct research on best practices for your industry
Improve your subject-matter knowledge, which is essential to faster problem-solving.

Take some time to consider which analytical skills you possess and those where you have room for improvement. Write down specific times when you used analytical skills to improve something or solve a problem whether it was at work, in a volunteer position or in school.

Analytical skills are important because it allows you to find solutions to common problems and make decisions about what actions to take next. Understanding problems and analyzing the situation for viable solutions is a key skill in every position at every level. Developing this ability can improve your work, help you achieve company goals and eventually support your personal career goals