These days, we hear a lot about the importance of STEM degrees and how automation will eliminate our jobs. There’s even talk of how companies are working toward “lights out” facilities where robots basically work around the clock, in the dark.Characteristics of cognitive learning but while it’s hard to dispute the value that robotics and automation bring to business, there’s also a something missing from this conversation.Characteristics of cognitive learning we’re losing sight of the importance of soft skills–like communication, empathy, mindfulness, creativity, collaboration, and leadership.

For instance, an engineer who can develop brilliant new product designs but who can’t effectively communicate the value of those designs to others (or collaborate with design teams to bring those ideas to life) is doing himself and his organization a major disservice.Characteristics of cognitive learning similar problems apply at the leadership level, too, where often everyone from the manager to the senior level fails to understand the impact of these fundamental human skills.Characteristics of cognitive learning

In fact, as we hurdle toward our inevitable robot- and AI-filled future, these sorts of uniquely human capabilities may only be more essential.Characteristics of cognitive learning according to a recent future of jobs report, the world economic forum says “technology-related and non-cognitive soft skills are becoming increasingly more important.” it goes on to urge governments to take a harder look at their educational policies and how those policies can “rapidly raise education and skills levels of individuals of all ages, particularly with regard to both STEM and non-cognitive soft skills, enabling people to leverage their uniquely human capabilities.”

characteristics of cognitive learning

Even tech giants like microsoft—a company that would seem to be a hotbed for STEM-centric employees—sees soft skills as a vital part of the employee makeup.Characteristics of cognitive learning “as computers behave more like humans, the social sciences and humanities will become even more important,” write microsoft executives brad smith and harry shum in the book the future computed .Characteristics of cognitive learning

“graduates who studied area, ethnic, and civilizations studies earn $124,000, U.S. History majors earn $143,000 and those who studied foreign languages earn $148,000,” ruggeri writes.Characteristics of cognitive learning that’s “a stunning $54,000 a year above their pre-law counterparts.” most likely, the latter came out of school with more polished communication, teamwork, decision-making, problem-solving, and creative abilities.Characteristics of cognitive learning upon graduation, these applicants probably continued honing those soft skills to the point where their managers and executives took notice. 5 WAYS TO SHARPEN YOUR SOFT SKILLS

characteristics of cognitive learning

1. Capitalize on your strengths. Drawing on research by professors from the university of michigan, harvard, and boston college, hult international business school’s pamela campagna suggests that soft-skills training correlates with workplace outcomes such as retention, productivity, and job satisfaction.Characteristics of cognitive learning to capitalize on this, focus on understanding your strengths (like strategic thinking, influencing, or relationship-building), then leverage them to your advantage, versus fixating on your weaknesses.Characteristics of cognitive learning

For example, if your empathy allows you to connect easily with others, use that strength to build rapport quickly with new team members. Or, if you have a knack for breaking complex topics down into understandable chunks, use that soft skill to help others grasp difficult concepts.Characteristics of cognitive learning finally, if your endless curiosity sometimes gets you into trouble, turn that innate skill into an advantage by asking tough questions that no one else wants to touch and operating on the assumption that there is always something more to learn.Characteristics of cognitive learning

2. Break out of your shell once in a while. One of the best ways to enhance your soft skills is by stepping outside of your comfort zone. If the thought of speaking to a group sends shivers down your spine, join a local toastmaster’s group, and start learning the ropes of public speaking by doing it.Characteristics of cognitive learning if you aren’t used to working on a team, get involved with some volunteer groups, and start working for some good causes. And if your communication skills could use a good polish, join an improv class.Characteristics of cognitive learning the second city in chicago, for example–where SNL alumni like john belushi, dan ackroyd, and tina fey got their start–has an entire division devoted to helping professionals coax out their inner comics through improv, an exercise that allows them to fall on their faces and get up and try again in a nonjudgmental environment.Characteristics of cognitive learning

3. Don’t be afraid to go against the grain. High schools and universities may be pushing STEM educations, but that doesn’t mean everyone needs a technical background to have a successful career.Characteristics of cognitive learning in her BBC article, ruggeri says she was often told that liberal arts options like social sciences, philosophy, or history (her choice of degree) would surely be career dead-ends.Characteristics of cognitive learning she points to a recent study of 1,700 people from 30 countries, which found that the majority of those in leadership positions had either a social sciences or humanities degree.Characteristics of cognitive learning “that was especially true of leaders under 45 years of age,” ruggeri writes. “leaders over 45 were more likely to have studied STEM.”

More than just code, assets are products and by-products of the software development life cycle and include design and implementation technique.Characteristics of cognitive learning reuse implies the creation of a separately maintained version of the assets. This notion of reusability can be applied to anything we do. For example, as an author, I first write small blog posts, the posts turns into full-length articles, and articles become the basis of a new book.Characteristics of cognitive learning reuse is what gives us speed and efficiency without reinventing the wheel every time we want to create a new asset.

5. Practice mindfulness by staying focused on one task at a time . Multitasking increases the possibility of mistakes, which decreases productivity.Characteristics of cognitive learning when we perform too many activities at one time, it usually increases our stress levels. Multitasking often leads to overstimulation of your brain function.Characteristics of cognitive learning if we are working on a project or assignment and we are constantly interrupted by coworkers, phone calls, or social media, we risk forgetting details required to comprehensively finish the task at hand.Characteristics of cognitive learning by having too much information inundate us at the same time, our brain cannot differentiate between what is important and what isn’t, negatively affecting our memory.Characteristics of cognitive learning

Mindfulness has been described as “bringing one’s complete attention to the present experience on a moment-to-moment basis.” when we remain focused on one task at a time–meaning we are being mindful of the present–we find the results to be a greater success than if we were to attempt to multitask.Characteristics of cognitive learning there has never been more need for mindful leaders. They are far better at inspiring people to create sustainable impacts than frenetic, aggressive ones.Characteristics of cognitive learning