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Design Thinking

What is Self-Direction?

 , updated on
Self-direction is an ability and tendency to act without being told what to do. It's considered a soft skill that is a basis for leadership. It is also associated with productivity, research, creativity and decision making.

Why Self-Direction is Valuable

Organizational cultures differ widely in the amount of direction that is provided to employees. Where one firm will carefully control the actions of employees, another will expect employees to find their own direction. It can be difficult for employees to make the transition from a position that is carefully constrained to one that is more open-ended. As such, self direction is considered a key skill for many positions.
Overview: Self Direction
Type
Definition
An ability to act without direction.
Value
A cornerstone of leadership, productivity and creativity.
An essential skill for firms whose organizational culture expects employees to find their own solutions to problems and negotiate their own path.
Related Concepts

Soft Skills

This is the complete list of articles we have written about soft skills.
Abstraction
Attention To Detail
Bias For Action
Active Silence
Business Acumen
Aesthetics
Character Traits
Creative Thinking
Big Picture Thinking
Critical Thinking
Facilitation
Charisma
Fluid Intelligence
Coaching
Humor
Competitiveness
Imagination
Counterfactual Thinking
Influencing
Listening
Logic
Delegation
Personal Presence
Emotional Intelligence
Personal Skills
Empathy
Public Speaking
Eye Contact
Resilience
Self Direction
Social Intelligence
Storytelling
Time Management
Improvisation
Troubleshooting
Wit
Introspection
Work Skills
Intuition
Managing Expectations
Networking
Office Politics
Problem Framing
Reasoning
Relationship Building
Self Confidence
Showmanship
Training
More ...
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A list of soft skills for job descriptions and resumes.

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