THE FIVE CRITICAL SKILLS
The Five Pillars of Competitiveness
Our research concluded that these 5 major skills (out of 25 behavioral and cultural attributes) are the most essential to workplace competitiveness.
THE 5 PILLARS, IN DETAIL
What each one means, and why it moves the needle.
01
Conscientiousness
WHAT IS IT?
The quality of doing things with integrity and professionalism.
WHY IT MATTERS TO COMPETITIVENESS
Conscientiousness builds trust and dependability — key attributes to win confidence in one’s product, service or oneself.
02
Perseverance
WHAT IS IT?
The quality of continuing efforts on difficult issues.
WHY IT MATTERS TO COMPETITIVENESS
Perseverance instills the confidence in others that any task or approach has been exhaustively addressed — based on which productive actions can be taken.
03
Taking Initiative
WHAT IS IT?
The quality of responding to needs without being told.
WHY IT MATTERS TO COMPETITIVENESS
Taking Initiative is at the heart of leadership — nobody wants to follow anyone who waits around waiting to be told what to do.
04
Problem Solving
WHAT IS IT?
The quality of identifying and analyzing problems correctly & devising enduring solutions.
WHY IT MATTERS TO COMPETITIVENESS
Not just analysis, but defining real-world problems properly, addressing the right problem, finding root causes, are all a critical part of developing useful solutions that deliver value.
05
Innovativeness
WHAT IS IT?
The quality of putting creative thinking to practical use.
WHY IT MATTERS TO COMPETITIVENESS
Being creative is not enough. Thinking innovatively for every task we undertake is what leads to unique competitive advantage — products or services that are unique in however small a way.
Why do non-cognitive skills matter to competitiveness?
Because there is a difference between being qualified and being competitive. More often than not, that gap traces back to undeveloped non-cognitive skills.
Learn more about the results of our research study on assessing global competitiveness.
Read the Research study