The Skill: The Most Critical Tool Needed to Increase Your Potential, Performance and Promotability

By Les Woller

Book Overview

Now more than ever we can see how adapting to change will create success. The Skill delivers a simple tool set for progressing from improved self awareness to lasting change.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1425166199
• ISBN13: 9781425166199
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Well Worth The Read!!

"The Skill" provides valuable insights for anyone interested in personal mastery and effective leadership practice. The concepts of learning agility and adaptability are insightfully applied to a simple, yet powerful four-step process that can be used in any situation; at work and at home. The beauty of this framework is found in its applicability and its scalability. The emotional awareness and collective intelligence of teams and organizations that live and practice "The Skill" will equip them with the competitive advantages required to move from sub-optimal to optimal performance. Applying the ARTT principles in my own life have helped me to break through past fears to new and improved behaviours. ARTT has helped me shift from autopilot to the opportunities of the moment. For example, this past week I was in a certification program that required substantial amounts of public speaking. In the past I was extremely nervous about having to speak in front of groups. Using ARTT helped me to be aware of my feelings and negative self talk. Increasing my self awareness helped me to distinguish my past experiences from the present; I was able to target and practice new behaviours and not only passed my certification with flying colours but I had fun doing it!

A business book that led me to lose 80 lbs and gain a peace of mind!

The Skill is a concise, easy to read manual, which was more than I had expected. The four step process it offers of learning how to learn, ultimately leading to a powerful tool for change, is meant to be applied...not just read. As I applied The Skill to my own life, I experienced the most profound improvements in almost every way. Its application forced me to acknowledge my current feelings and constant search for links to the pain of my childhood [pain lumps]. This process helped me become aware of my reliance on unconscious behaviors to avoid the pain and fear that would often surface. I realized that I engaged in negative self talk, finding it easy to blame others for the failed events and never realizing my part in it. My way of dealing with stress was a puzzling emotional reliance on food. Since making the connection between my feelings and bouts of compulsive overeating, I have come to recognize the triggers that ignite these bouts and in turn used the steps of this book to identify alternative behavior. Ultimately it has resulted in being able to shed almost 80 pounds within 10 months of first reading it. Other improvements are not as visibly obvious, but I am now gaining confidence in my decision making, my relationships with others and my desire to participate in social and physical activities. I no longer need medications to ease both physical and emotional pain. As imagined, I am experiencing a newly found feeling of security and calmness. So how did this "business" book offer insights and tools for change, which are applicable to almost every obstacle, challenge and transition in life? The Skill is comprised of a 4 step process, which the authors call A-R-T-T, which stands for Aware, Reflect, Target and Try. The situations, scenarios and exercises in the book are focused on the work place environment, but as I experienced can easily be adapted and individualized for any life situation. I am convinced that if the steps in A-R-T-T are applied diligently, anyone would be assured of eventual success. Aware: is a step of self- directed questions raising ones awareness of their feelings, thoughts, words and actions and the impact these have on your behavior and impacts others. We gain an understanding of our tendency to act and react on "autopilot", an unthinking, damaging way of coping with stressful situations raised when we trigger a "pain lump" of unresolved hurts. Reflect: With a deep introspection led by "why" questions, the significance of connections between past memories and the emotions that lead to automatic behaviors in the present become clear. One can identify specific factors common to some situations which motivate one to make behavior changes. Target: One can target a similar up-coming event by setting a specific behavior change as a goal. One can rehearse and prepare for multiple outcomes. Early Warning Systems, both internal [quickening heartrate/shallow breathing] and external [meaningful objects to remind y

Connected

This book has been read by my husband who is in the middle of his biggest life change to date, I have reviewed this book and have had many deep discussions with my husband about "The Skill". It is a must read! The only thing constant in life is change, the skill grounds you again, and confirms what most of us already know- but most of us do not consistantly tap into our existing knowledge- "The Skill" teaches us how to better our selves and how to have clear focus A.A.R.T.! Thanks Les for EVERYTHING! You have helped confirm the changes in our life are positive events- the next journey will be better than the first, and we have gained amazing strength from you and your book.

Next Great Business Book

The Skill will be one of the most influential business books that you read in your lifetime. Teaching people how to be adaptable in our constantly changing world The Skill prepares people of all walks of life for the reality of everyday living. This book is definitely worth your time and your money.