7 Skills Every Person Must Have and How to Develop It!

Living in this evolving world, we need some essential skills because they could benefit personal development, academic success, and future career opportunities. Here are some essential skills that every person should consider developing:

1. Effective Communication: The ability to express ideas clearly, both in written and verbal form, is crucial for academic performance and success in professional settings. We could develop this skill by participating in forum discussions or debates, practicing writing essays, reports, and creative pieces, and seeking feedback from mentors or peers to improve communication.

2. Critical Thinking: This skill involves analyzing information, questioning assumptions, and making well-reasoned, evidence-based decisions. It helps in problem-solving and academic excellence. We should engage in challenging study cases, brain teasers, and logic games, analyze and question information in the forum, discuss ideas with others, and encourage diverse perspectives to develop this skill.

3. Resilience and Emotional Intelligence: Developing emotional intelligence and resilience enables students to cope effectively with stress, setbacks, and interpersonal challenges. To develop this skill, we could practice mindfulness and self-reflection to understand our emotions better and seek support from friends, family, or counselors during challenging times. And develop coping strategies to manage stress and setbacks.

4. Ethics and Integrity: Upholding strong ethical standards and integrity is essential for personal character and building trust in relationships. Having this ethics and integrity in ourselves is reflected in our values and principles, making ethical decisions even when challenging or unpopular, leading by example, and demonstrating integrity in our actions.

5. Networking and Interpersonal Skills: Building and maintaining positive relationships with peers, teachers, and professionals can lead to valuable opportunities and support. To develop this skill, we could attend networking events or join clubs and organizations, initiate conversations with new people and practice active listening, and maintain professional and respectful communication in all interactions.

6. Collaboration: Working effectively in teams, respecting diverse perspectives, and contributing constructively are essential skills for academic group projects and future workplace environments. We could practice collaborating with others by joining group projects or extracurricular activities that require teamwork, practicing active listening and effective team communication, and being supportive of others' ideas and contributions.

7. Creativity: Fostering creativity helps students approach problems from unique angles and encourages innovative thinking. We could engage in creative hobbies like drawing, writing, or playing a musical instrument to develop this skill. Second, brainstorm ideas regularly, without judgment, to foster creativity. Last, explore innovative solutions to problems we encounter.

One of the steps to realize the tips is looking for a workshop, webinar, or conference, for instance, ASEAN Youth Conference, AYO Ambassador Program, ASEAN Youth Digital Forum, Womenpreneurs in ASEAN, etc. We could register, then participate and learn from it because practicing this skill through those programs helps us improve our personal development that would support our dreams to come true. This is not that easy for some people, but we can practice it gradually.