10 Work skills examples (and how to develop them)

Developing your team's skills is your first step toward organizational success. But deciding which skills to focus on can feel overwhelming.

Luckily, we're here to help out! Read our curated list of 10 essential work skills examples that can benefit employees across industries.

What are work skills?

Work skills refer to the abilities employees must possess to perform their jobs properly. These are divided into two categories: hard and soft skills.

Hard skills are earned from education or hands-on experience, like mastery of certain tools, platforms, and tasks for the job. Project management, accounting, and computer literacy are all examples of hard skills.

Meanwhile, soft skills are sharpened through relationship-building. Often non-technical, these are also known as character traits. Communication, empathy, and conflict resolution are soft skills crucial to any employee’s career advancement.

For your team’s career to grow, your skill development program needs the right mix of hard and soft skills. Browse this work skills list to get started.

Work skills example #1 - Active listening

The art of active listening is a skill you shouldn’t pass up. This means taking the time to understand other people’s feelings and thought processes before making decisions.

Active listeners seek to avoid conflict and miscommunication, instead focusing on ways to solve the problem. There are different ways to build your team’s active listening skills. Set aside time to watch interviews together, enroll them in workshops, or conduct workplace training sessions.

Mobile-first learning platforms like SC Training (formerly EdApp) are ideal for busy teams interested in skill development, as each lesson only takes under five minutes to complete. With 80+ course templates available, training your members to become active listeners will be a breeze!

Recommended courses on active listening:

• Active Listening by SC Training
• Improving Your Active Listening Skills by SC Training
• Effective Communication in Customer Service by SC Training
• Workplace Communication by Alison

Equip your team with the best work skills examples fit for any industry. Sign up for SC Training (formerly EdApp) today.

Work skills example #2 - Collaboration

Collaboration is key to a harmonious work environment. A team that relies on each other can expect better internal communication and faster turnarounds. It also creates a sense of community as everyone works toward a common goal.

Two or more people working together often produce the best ideas. Among professional skills examples, collaboration promotes unity and eliminates feelings of isolation among members. Encourage this skill through brainstorming activities, lunch and learn sessions, and group workshops. Or, facilitate team-building activities to give everyone a chance to socialize outside of work.

Recommended courses on collaboration:

• Collaborator by SC Training
• Connection and Collaboration by SC Training
• Embracing Teamwork by SC Training

Work skills example #3 - Empathy

Up next is empathy. Only a few possess the ability to understand the feelings of others. Soft skills examples like this are overlooked in favor of bolder actions. But really, empathy plays a huge factor in cultivating healthy relationships among colleagues.

Everyone has their bad days, but too often people fear opening up. Remind your team that practicing empathy is a great way to support each other, and let them know that it’s okay to not always feel like giving their 100% every time. Lead by example and model empathetic behavior through compassion and active listening.

If you’re looking for ways to improve your management as a leader, consider taking this free course on empathy. It teaches you about the benefits and how to create a safe space for the team.

Recommended courses on empathy:

• The Power of Empathy by SC Training
• Operating with Empathy by SC Training
• Creating a Positive Customer Experience by SC Training

Work skills example #4 - Computer literacy

The digital landscape is ever-evolving. Advancements like artificial intelligence (AI) have completely transformed business operations, giving companies a better way of working.

Don’t let your team get left behind on the newest developments! Computer literacy is a must-have skill to nurture their careers, and you can start by sharing the best online tools to simplify daily tasks. Offer targeted workshops or tutorials discussing the software and applications essential to their day-to-day operations.

On the flip side, the internet invites several risks as well. Careless actions can expose private company data to hackers. To avoid this, make sure to also train employees on cybersecurity.

Recommended courses on computer literacy:

• Cybersecurity Awareness by SC Training
• Cybersecurity & Internal Threats by SC Training
• Hybrid working: skills for digital transformation by The Open University

Work skills example #5 project management

A highly sought-after skill in the workplace, project management refers to the system of planning, supervising, and executing projects from start to finish. To guarantee your project stays within budget and on time, seek help from your team. This allows them to sharpen their project management skills in the process.

Hard skills like this go hand-in-hand with active listening, adaptability, and attention to detail. As a team manager, you’ve got to explain collective goals, create actionable plans, and oversee your members.

Recommended courses on project management:

• Introduction to Project Management by SC Training
• Communication in Project Management by SC Training
• Agile Project Management by Coursera

Work skills example #6 - Attention to detail

Another crucial work skill to have is attention to detail. When employees are committed to thoroughness and accuracy, it minimizes errors in the completion of tasks. This skill goes hand-in-hand with organization and time management.

Your team developing a keen eye for detail also affects your workload as a manager, since this leads to minimal supervision. The assurance that your members will deliver quality output each time is a privilege that not many enjoy.

You can set up review processes, encourage your team to use checklists for recurring multi-step tasks, and give regular feedback to help enhance their attention to detail.

Recommended courses on attention to detail:

• How to Demonstrate a 'Can Do' Attitude by SC Training
• The Ultimate Guide to Personal Productivity by SC Training
• Attention to Detail by Cloud Assess

Work skills example #7 - Critical thinking 

Sometimes, the answers aren’t always black-and-white. Critical thinking refers to those examples of skills that stem from the ability to self-reflect and recognize personal bias. To reduce errors in the workplace, encourage your team to think critically before making decisions.

If you need a cost-effective solution to help you out, consider SC Training’s microlearning platform. It offers lessons on critical thinking that are fully customizable and delivered in bite-sized chunks for better knowledge absorption.

Recommended courses on critical thinking:

• Problem Solver by SC Training
• Thinking Critically by Alison
• Critical Thinking (Short Course) by Oxford Home Study

Work skills example #8 - Adaptability

Implementing change at work is easy, especially if your team embraces the skill of adaptability. It’s the ability to adjust to changes without yielding to pressure.

While it’s normal for employees to have occasional disagreements, problems can arise when no one is willing to adjust for the other. Teaching them to be adaptable early on will positively affect their stress management and professional growth.

Some effective strategies to develop your team’s adaptability skills include promoting a growth mindset and fostering an environment where it’s safe for them to experiment with new ideas, take risks, and learn from failures.

Recommended courses on adaptability:

• Adaptability by SC Training
• How to Develop Strong Working Relationships by SC Training
• Personal and Team Resilience by SC Training

Work skills example #9 - Leadership

For a team to achieve its goals, a leader must guide them to success. As everyone’s got unique skills and personalities, a great leader unites members and strategically pools their skills together.

Leadership is about offering guidance and support to everyone who needs it. As a manager, make it your ultimate goal to foster an inclusive environment where your members can thrive and express themselves comfortably.

Recommended courses on leadership:

• Leadership and Coaching/Management Styles by SC Training
• Leadership Strategy by SC Training
• Stepping into Team Leadership by SC Training

Work skills example #10 - Ethics

The last work skill example is ethics, which simply means doing the right thing, even when no one’s looking. It embraces a set of principles and standards that organizations hold themselves to.

Some companies get so caught up in the rat race that they disregard morals. But this shouldn’t be! Honesty and integrity must remain the backbone of any business hoping to thrive.

Promote sustainable growth among your team by keeping ethics at the forefront of your actions. This is key to avoiding a toxic work environment.

Recommended courses on ethics:

• Ethics and Code of Conduct by SC Training
• How to be Authentic in Your Management Style by SC Training
• Ethical Dilemmas in the Workplace: Examples and Solutions by Alison

What are the best skills to put on a resume?

If you’re an employee looking to prepare or upgrade your resume, remember to keep it brief but informative. HR professionals skim through hundreds of applications daily, so be smart when deciding which skills to include.

Select hard skills directly related to the position you’re applying for. You can then narrow down your soft skills list by reflecting on your strengths and seeing how they perform against the job’s day-to-day tasks. A mix of both is key to acing applications in any industry.

Develop your team’s work skills through the best training platform! Join SC Training today.