7 SKILLS That Are HARD to Learn, BUT Will Pay Off FOREVER!

We all focus on our academic career and mostly rely on the domain specific skill sets. Well, these skills can only take help you in certain areas. Today I am sharing list of 7 skills that are very hard to learn, but it will pay you off forever.

1> Speaking up

Most of us fears public speaking. But believe it or not learning how to speak in public is the first and the most important skill in life. If you don't speak up, people will not hear. Great leaders are most often great at public speaking. People with great skill set and poor public speaking skills often end up working for someone for their entire life.

2> Be honest with your self

Your ability to improve and learning new dies if you are not honest with your self. Infact, honesty is the first step of improving. The moment you are honest with your self, you accept your limitations and start working towards it. Most entrepreneurs and early business owners constantly lie in order to project them selves as something that they are not (yet).

3> Have confidence

We constantly fear with our ability and skill set. What if I can't do what I am told. What if I will fail.?

No matter what career you are into, in most of case it is not your skills, your product or strategy. One thing that matters the most is your ability of believing in yourself and work you are doing. Good part is, confidence is something you can practice and develop.

4> Be a good listener

Listening is one of the best quality any leader can cultivate. As an intellectual individual, we tend to speak more than what we know. In this process, we often miss out on what other people have to say. Nelson Mandela is one such example of great leader. He often give everyone a chance to speak, which makes them feel inclusive. In addition, one another advantage is you get to hear everyone's thoughts before you put your self on front.

5> Time Management

We are the busiest generation ever. Every one keeps on saying that "I am so busy!" and "I don't have time". Most of us waste our 80% time doing things that are not effective. In addition, we often don't manage our time well.

We have limited time in this world and time is the single most thing that can not be brought back once spent. So managing time will make you time rich and will allow you to do things that adds value to your life.

6> Be consistent

Being consistent is one skill that will help you retain image of leader or successful individual. You can not be hardworking for time being and lazy for the rest of the time. If you are aiming on achieving something, break your longterm goal into small small goals and constantly achieve it.

7> Empathy

This may have appeared last in the list, but it is something that all of us as an individual must work on. We are live in a society where be it education or work, you will have to work/interact with others on daily bases. Empathy is the new generation of leadership.

Quick disclaimer: I do not claim that I have mastery on each of these skills, but I am applying these skills on daily bases and I have already started seeing positive results. The idea is to constantly make small improvements every single day.