EXCELLENCE

Work Ethic
Effort
Attitude
Deliberate Practice
Grit/Endurance
Aspiration/High Standards
Goal Achievement
Coachability
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Innovation & Creativity

INTEGRITY

Honesty
Fairness
Equity
Justice
Ethical Competency
Humility
Respect
Accountability
Loyalty
Responsibility
Courage

GROWTH

Self-Awareness
Self-Management
Priorities/Time Management
Stress Management
Resilience
Growth Mindset
Engagement
Prudence
Harmony
Gratitude
Life Purpose

TEAMWORK

Leadership
Civility
Communication
Inclusion
Emotional Intelligence
Productive Relationships
Open & Flexible Mindset
Principled Negotiation
Collaboration
Team-First Mindset
Citizenship

The ESSENTIALS

No matter what you call them, everyone agrees they are ESSENTIAL! They are referred to as virtues, values, character skills, executive skills, mindsets, social and emotional learning (or SEL) skills, positive psychology strengths, STEM capabilities, 21st century competencies, employability skills, or the soft skills. Regardless of the setting, wherever you go, there is no debate that they are ESSENTIAL for success in school, sport, work, and beyond.

Whether you are an educator, a coach, a mentor, or an organization leader, each ESSENTIALS MODULE provides what you need to create powerful learning experiences around essential skills needed for achieving Excellence with Integrity by those you teach, coach, mentor, or lead.

To purchase for your classroom, school, or district please visit the online store of our partner CHARACTER COUNTS!, call 515-271-4840, or email Customer Service.

To find out how The ESSENTIALS can be used in your organization, please email us or call 315-692-8054.

Employability Essentials

The Facilitator Guide distills the latest research on the core workforce competencies — including topics on social and emotional development, positive psychology, and resiliency. The Guide introduces replicable strategies and applied practice activities for coaching on the targeted skills.

Student Workbooks feature class activities for skill development, followed by strategies for self-reflection, goal setting, and monitoring one’s progress.

The Internship Handbook  guides practice and introduces Optimal Performance self-reflection and mentoring instruments for the targeted skills.

 This program enhanced my confidence and my employability skills. 
 I love how this program brought the focus on soft skills that help build the bigger picture for us to become future leaders. 

Students, Leadership and Excellence by Tuskegee University Students (LET US) Academy

 The Employability Essentials curriculum has become a critical piece of our Cybersecurity program. Students are engaged in the personalized content and challenged by the application of these skills in their daily lives. This is giving them ownership of their own goals and dreams, deepens their communication skills especially in work environments, builds on integrity, and empowers them to do quality work for the greater good. 

Sam Oppel

Instructor, Cybersecurity

Des Moines Public Schools Central Campus