Dependability is the attribute that exemplifies being relied on in any given situation. It starts from the smallest things to the biggest elements that we can think of. This attribute also relates to what type of team player we are in any given group. It relates to how responsible and consistent we are even without close supervision. Employers usually go for highly dependable employees since there is a high level of trust. This way, their time and focus is spent more on growth and development rather than micromanagement. Being punctual, meeting deadlines, and putting attention to detail are just some of the few things that make an employee highly dependable. Supporting your peers and colleagues also embodies dependability because it shows willingness to finish strong not just as an individual employee but also as a team. 

Owning up to what you do and taking initiative is accountability. This attribute is considered to be one of the most important fueling factors on how individuals and even organizations become truly successful. We know it is easier to just stick to what you are asked to do, but to be able to say that you are accountable means going beyond what is asked. This trait is contagious in the workforce and further breeds excellence individually and collectively. Following up and following through are basics of accountability. 

Leadership may come natural for some people and learned for others. It means influencing thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes of others. Leading by example sets a tone and standard that a group follows. It is always better to walk the walk than just command and use words to lead. This takes intention in a whole new level because they translate those concepts into reality. 

Potential will just be a potential until fostered. It is the fostering that potential that makes it more tangible and results-driven (from potential to ability). It is a key to make an individual successful because you develop their potentials and abilities to the next level which in return, exemplifies results as a whole. Mentoring them is one way. Remember, no two people are alike. To have a level of empathy and understanding (this would vary person to person) towards a follower will help mentoring become effective. 

Having a positive attitude is often credited for individual success. As it furthers individual success, it also promotes a healthy dynamic between groups. Behaviors and attitudes can be be contagious (as they say tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are) and the same concept can apply in working as a team. It promotes higher productivity because when you have a positive attitude, you have the drive to set an finish goals. It also helps with the mindset of believing in your capabilities and overcoming dilemmas. Although sometimes it is a challenge to maintain this frame of mind, it is necessary to step back and give yourself time to rest. Taking real breaks once in awhile encourages balance in our thoughts and in our lives. To promote this kind of approach, it is good to have a journal. It encourages letting thoughts you would want to put out there without worrying about other people's judgement. It is also important to avoid gossip. Gossip is a habit that spreads negativity and untruthfulness (when word gets passed around, it may have added or eliminated context that can have a huge impact on the substance of the story). All of these helpful ways to cultivate a positive approach will help you in the workplace too. 

Collaboration is what brings teams together to achieve their common goal. Having various perspectives and ideas from different people gives a broader view of the situation. It also furthers individual growth and innovation. When people are given a broader view of the situation, it expands their creativity and promotes innovation and growth. It gives off higher engagement in an organization too that leads you to accept & embrace change. Collaboration can be a challenge sometimes since it needs comfort in communicating your ideas to other people without the feeling of being judged of whether your idea or thought is great or not. Getting to know the people you communicate your thoughts to is essential to collaborate and let ideas from your mind flow out. There might be times it would be difficult because of going back and forth with ideas with no end route. In this case, collaboration needs decisive decision-makers. Team collaboration is sought out in all groups to make the common goal achievable. 

Having a strong support system has multiple benefits like higher levels of well-being, better coping skills, and a healthier life. Research has shown that social support can reduce depression, stress, and anxiety too. Support in general fuels goals of hope, empowerment and autonomy. When you have a sense of self by the help of support from your environment, it gives productivity a boost since you are able to meet your goals. Support can be in from different people and places and can also come in different forms. It is important to have maintain a healthy dynamic of support from other people and self-sustainability. Having too much sense of support may lead to negative dependency that would later on translate into a form of escape from our own priorities. In finding balance between self-sustainability and support from other people, you must need to be fully self-aware. You can only determine whether having too much of one of the aforementioned if you are fully aware of what's happening to you. This concept applies to organizations too. You must know when to do your own tasks first and later on, seeking support from your peers and groups. Overall, if productive support is there, teamwork would come naturally. 

Constant communication is a key element for humans to understand each other. It is the one giving value to our thoughts in this world. Without communication in general, we will never evolve into this modern era. Verbal communcation is the most direct form of doing so. Good verbal communication skills foster excellent relationships in general. This skill increases the ability of the individuals to share ideas, thoughts and concerns with each other. One of the many dilemmas of verbal communication in clouded judgement that leads to miscommunication. We can often times misundertand the context of the idea a person is trying to tell us because of our pre-established judgement against them. There are also several barriers of verbal communication such as cultural differences, timing, missing nonverbals, etc. A way to knock over these barriers is to think holistically of the situation and the choice of medium that you are about to use. Questions such as, "Is it the proper time and place to say this?" or "How will it sound for the other person?". We often times neglect to factor in small details that disrupt the context that we want the other person to grasp from us. A good way to enhance your verbal communication skills is to read more often. It sharpens our thought process and expands our vocabulary. 

Research suggests that 80% of communication happens nonverbally. We express most of our emotions such as love, hope, pleasure, anger, sadness and anxiety without words. This skill is an unspoken secret to thriving and happy relationships (not just romantic relationships, btw) that also has the power to express empathy. An example of this would be the tone of voice. Tones of voice can have a significant impact in communicating your thoughts to a person. If someone was yelling versus someone speaking in a normal voice, the context of saying, "Yes". The yelling approach can be a directive tone that suggests demand. A conversational tone of saying "Yes" can suggest casual affirmation between friends. This is where empathy comes from. There are also several barriers in non-verbal communication such as cultural differences, timing, and missing verbals. In some cultures, suppression of facial emotion is normal because they believe that an animated face shows lack of control over one’s emotions. To combat the barriers, mindfulness will help increase understanding personal nonverbal communication. One should be familiar with what nonverbal communications are acceptable in the workplace. This can somewhat be influenced by the company culture as well. 

Self-awareness is the biggest factor in fostering growth for higher emotional intelligence and can lead to better self-control, communication, and confidence in decision making. If you are self-aware, you have the ability to observe your emotions and how they effect others which is key to effective teamwork. Another aspect of self-awareness is being able to recognize your own behaviors that hinder you from maximizing your full potential and finding ways to turn it around. Finding self-awareness can be challenging because it requires us to evaluate our decisions from an outside perspective and give a critique on what we can do better. One way to develop this skill is to practice mindfulness; moreover, mindfulness is that ability to focus your attention on present moments and emotions. For example, if you are feeling overwhelmed with thoughts take a moment to pay attention to the emotions you are feeling without judgement. This will allow you to identify emotions and actions you are not satisfied with and improve how you react to them, especially in the workplace. 

During a conversation, how often do you pay attention to the other persons nonverbal cues? If you pay attention to their tone of voice, body language, and facial expression then you are practicing social awareness. Often, these factors show how others are truly feeling rather than just hearing their words alone. A major benefit in practicing social awareness is being able empathize to build relationships with others but also learn about yourself through these present minded interactions. Mindfulness and social awareness go hand-in-hand. To raise your social awareness, you must be mindful when interacting with others. This means giving people your full attention that is free from internal and external distractions. If you are not fully present in the conversation you can miss important nonverbal cues that will tell you how a person is really feeling. However, someone who is mindful in social settings can empathize with others and understand their perspective. This is what makes a great leader and will help you work well with a team. 

Has anyone ever given you feedback that helped you improve and be better at a task? That's what we refer to as constructive criticism. Compared to negative criticism, constructive criticism acknowledges the positive aspects but also provides the person with specific actions that they can take to improve themselves. Many people might react with defensiveness or anger; but it's important to remember the value behind receiving constructive criticism. If you struggle with accepting constructive criticism, here are some steps you can take to do better. If your first reaction to constructive criticism is negativity, take a moment to stop reacting. Instead, just listen to what they have to say with no judgement. Acknowledge your boss or peer's intentions and note that they are trying to help you be your best self. This may be the hardest part but thank them for taking the time to give you advice (even if you don't agree). Lastly, process the feedback by asking the person any relative questions to gain clarity on the situation. 

Having effective problem-solving skills not only shows how well you can manage conflict, but it also shows positive attributes such as critical thinking, creativity, leadership, and effective communication skills. Being able to solve problems efficiently is a valuable skill in the workplace and in your personal life. Moreover, for employers displaying good problem-solving skills shows that you can bring value to the team and have potential to be a great leader. When a problem arises, remember to stay calm and breathe. The first thing you want to do is identify the specific issue at hand. Determine what the problem is and why it is happening. Secondly, create a list of possible solutions to the problem and evaluate which one will give you the most promising outcome. Then, implement a clear plan to solve the problem. Once the plan is launched, make sure to analyze the results of your plan. If it worked, give yourself some credit; moreover, if it didn't work stay positive and make necessary adjustments to your plan or create a new one.