25/05/2025
Work Ethic Soft Skills
Do's and Don'ts
Do: Lean into hard work without complaint
Don't: Focus on quantity - outcomes beat hours every time
Growth Mindset
Do: Love feedback and learning, and incorporate both
Don't: Think you know it all
Adaptability
Do: Change your approach when circumstances change
Don't: Stubbornly stick to your ways, especially after setbacks
Self-Awareness
Do: Understand how your actions are perceived by others
Don't: Be arrogant, selfish, or act like you're above critique
Emotional Intelligence
Do: Have control over your emotional responses
Don't: Have hot-headed outbursts
Communication
Do: Speak and write simply and clearly, leading with conclusion
Don't: Use complex language to try to sound smart
Motivation
Do: Show initiative, starting projects early and independently
Don't: Need constant hand holding and encouragement
Grit
Do: Keep going resiliently
Don't: Shrink in the face of hard things
Professionalism
Do: Be trusted to represent your organization publicly
Don't: Ever assume you can cross the line in more relaxed settings
Reliability
Do: What you say by when you say
Don't: Underperform promises or miss deadlines
Active Listening
Do: Be able to restate someone's point so they say - "Yes, exactly!"
Don't: Get so caught up in your response that you forget to listen
Time Management
Do: Stay organized, finishing projects in a reasonable time
Don't: Procrastinate until you can't get help or finish on time
Likeability
Do: Make things easier for others whenever possible
Don't: Be unnecessarily difficult
People Reading
Do: Pay attention to reactions, body language, and mood
Don't: Fail to adjust based on explicit or implicit feedback
Collaboration
Do: Work well with others, sharing. info, ideas, and credit
Don't: Think "I could just do this faster myself"
Integrity
Do: Be transparent and tell the truth, even with bad news
Don't: Think covering up will work