Though modern man has mastered number of skills, not everyone can possess all the skills. There are certain skills that are more essential than others, while some are required only for certain job positions. Because of the large number of skills being utilized today, the question one must ask is: “What are the most important skills we need to have?” The answer to this question is core skills. These would refer to skills that will equip a person of the main capabilities needed to perform his role effectively, whether in the home, in the workplace, or in society. These are the fundamental skills that every person should possess if he wants to do well in his undertakings.

The molding stage of a person’s skills is a very crucial phase of his life. Not everyone gets to develop their talents and abilities but there are those who do become very successful in most of the endeavors they take. When people describe you as someone skillful, they see you as a person who is adept or an expert in a particular field. You own the qualities which can take you to places and bring you up the ladder of success.

Basic Skills

One type of skill is categorized as an individual’s basic skills. These skills are basic requirements of every person. Everyone must have them since these abilities form part of a person’s life. These include reading, writing, arithmetic, and speaking. Without these skills, a person is considered incapable of surviving daily challenges, and is thus placed at a huge disadvantage. These skills allow us to communicate with people and express ourselves.

The academic institution is a major factor in the honing of these skills. We are sent to school to learn how to read, write, speak, and listen. Our mentors and educators help us mold these abilities. Family or the home is another contributing factor in the development of the said skills. In our early development stage, our parents are the first people to teach us how to talk and even read which are considered as basic skills.

Thinking Skills

Apart from basic skills, another important core skill is our thinking skills. Every individual is given the ability to think and formulate opinions or generate viewpoints. We need this skill for creative thinking and imagination, decision-making, visualizing, reasoning, and problem-solving. In whatever aspect of our lives, we need the ability to think. Before we even act, we think. We are responsible for our own actions because of our own pattern and manner of thinking. A person who is wise and has initiative can find a way out of challenging situations. One can easily size up situations if thinking skills are properly applied. And for our thinking ability to be sharpened, it has to be honed or developed in various ways.

Personal Qualities

The third type of core skill is our personal qualities or distinguishing features. We like being admired because of what we possess. People look up to someone if that person manifests an aura of confidence, self-esteem, and integrity. Moreover, good qualities of sociability, credibility, and responsibility can transform the person in many effectual ways. Having proper self-management, being effective at time-management, and being capable at relationship management also makes the individual exceptional.

Successful leaders usually possess such admirable qualities. But that does not mean that only these people are capable of acquiring such skills. Anyone can possess these personal qualities, but only if the person is serious in developing it. It is a sad fact though that not everyone gets to really enhance these qualities in them because while there are those who are well-exposed to culture, experiences, and various kinds of situations which play an important part in the development process, there are also people who were not as lucky. On the other hand, there are also individuals who lack the skills because they failed to apply them, thus, hindering such qualities from being developed.

Core skills are essential skills; people who have them are undoubtedly better equipped to face the many challenges that life brings. For those who lack these skills, the best time to learn and acquire them is now.