Today, the new Prime Minister announced technical education routes giving 14-year-olds earlier access to skills training, work experience and links with employers. It is a welcome recognition that young people need more than a purely academic route into adult life.
But technical ability is only part of being ready for work. Young people must also learn to understand themselves, manage their emotions, communicate well and build strong relationships.
That was precisely the thinking behind our poll in Edition 1130 of 10 THINGS. The United Nations reported that 40% of today’s skills no longer match the needs of the job market and 22% of jobs are expected to be transformed by 2030. We therefore asked: Which life skill matters most?
Of the 872 readers who voted, 29% chose emotional intelligence, putting it ahead of adaptability, communication and critical thinking.
Several readers have since asked me more about EI. What does it mean in practice? Can it be developed? And how emotionally intelligent are we, really?
EI is not about being endlessly calm or agreeable. It is about understanding what is happening within us, choosing how we respond, recognising what others may be feeling and managing relationships well. It matters in the boardroom, the classroom and around the kitchen table.
So I have completely rebuilt a tool used in my leadership work and created two free versions of the Emotional Intelligence Check-in: one for adults and one for young people aged 11 to 18. Both explore self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills.
Neither is an exam, a diagnosis or a label. They are simply useful places to start, whether you complete one yourself or use it to begin a conversation with someone younger.
Click the button below to request the adult check-in, the young people’s check-in or both.
CHOOSE YOUR CHECK-IN
No fee. No form. Just something useful from 10 THINGS.