Skills vs Traits

Background

Recently, while working with a corporate leadership team, I mentioned the difference between ‘skills’ and ‘traits.’ This led to a longer discussion not only about the differences, but the importance of both. So, I thought I’d spend some time here discussing it.

What are skills?

For starters, we should define skills. One definition I like says that a skill is ‘a particular ability’, or ‘the ability to do something well.’ I like simplicity and these are simple enough.

Importance of skills?

No matter what job you have, or role you fill on a team, you must have some skills, even if they are basic. If you don’t possess the necessary skills, you can’t function as an individual or as a member of a TEAM!

What skills I’ve needed to learn?

Growing up on the farm, I had to know how to fix equipment, drive tractors, move hogs, fix fences, or bale some hay.

Playing football, I had to know how to ‘block and tackle’ (I wasn’t a skill player!). I also had to learn plays on offense and coverages on defense.

As a young adult, living alone, I had to learn how to budget, balance my checkbook, cook (basic stuff), clean (a little) and even do laundry! These seem basic, but good luck living on your own if you can’t do them!

In the SEAL Teams, I had to be able to shoot, move, and communicate. I also had to know how to pack a parachute, jump a parachute, build an explosive charge, navigate, and survive in harsh environments (to name a few). If I didn’t have these skills, I would have been a liability to my team. These are all hard skills, or tangible things I had to be able to do.

While in the SEAL Teams, I also needed to learn how to be a good teammate, how to lead others, communicate well, solve problems, remain calm under pressure, handle chaos and uncertainty, continue the mission when things got hard (suck it up), and just be able to learn things quickly. I consider these soft skills, or more general and less tangible things I needed to know how to do to survive and thrive as a Navy SEAL.

When I got out of the Navy, the soft skills (generalized skills) served me well. Being a good teammate, being able to lead, communicating well with others, and dealing with chaos and uncertainty translate to most professions. The problem: no one in the corporate sector was looking for a point man, lead climber, or sniper.

So, I had to learn some new skills to succeed. As an entrepreneur, I had to learn how to forecast our sales, build a budget, pay our vendors, and run payroll. I taught myself how to use social media and blogging to promote our retail business. I studied and learned how to be good at leading meetings, and even how to use Microsoft Word, Power Point, and Excel. I knew how to communicate effectively, but I had to refine my skills as a speaker if I wanted to be serious about public speaking. Again, just to name a few…

As a husband and father, there are other skills I need. I won’t go into them all here, but it ultimately boils down to ‘Love, Lead, Provide, and Protect.’ These are all my responsibilities and there are things I think I need to be able to do to fulfill them!

So, skills are VERY important. Without some basic skills, we are a liability to ourselves, to our teams (family or work), and to society as a whole!

Traits, Attributes, and Values?

Now, lets define traits. One definition I like (again simple) is ‘a distinguishing quality or characteristic, typically belonging to a person.’ A synonym for trait would be an attribute. An attribute is defined as ‘a quality of feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.’ Another word I like is value, or ‘a person’s principles or standards of behavior.’ These are all basically the same thing in my book.

Importance of traits? (or attributes, or values)

Since leaving the Navy, I’ve changed jobs a few times. Certain skills were required for me at the start of these jobs or roles. They were ‘pre-requisites.’ But I also had to LEARN new skills to succeed in these roles. Thankfully, I already developed the skill of learning and realized that skills can be developed through simple will power and determination. (for the most part).

If skills are WHAT you can do, then traits are WHO are. Skills can be learned more quickly (in most instances). Traits, Attributes, or Values are engrained over time. As I’ve changed jobs, professions, and even zip codes, my VALUES (or traits, or attributes) have been more important than my skills. Yes, I needed to have (or develop) certain skills. But, if you have the right VALUES, you will be able to succeed as an individual, or member of a TEAM!

Here's another way to think about it. At work, things change, either over time or rapidly. The economy changes, the competition changes, the customer or their expectations change, etc. As these changes occur, your company may need to change their product, service, offering, or price. Even if all these things change, your Core Values should remain the same. They are timeless. They transcend the situation or circumstances.

If you look at successful people, successful teams, or successful organizations. You will notice there is no ‘one way’ or ‘single recipe’ for success. You will notice, however, that all successful people, teams, or organization have their own STANDARDS. The ones that sustain success FIGHT to uphold those STANDARDS.

Good teams or companies have a good culture. Great teams have a great culture, a strong and healthy culture. Great teams that keep winning or sustain success over time maintain this culture over time.

“Players win games. Teams win championships. Culture builds dynasties.”

Summary

Skills are those things we can do. It’s important for us all to develop certain skills to function as an individual, member of a team, or contributing member to society. Skills can be developed with a little hard work, assuming we know how to learn.

Traits are who we are, or how we perform our skills. Traits take much longer to develop. So, we need to start now. As important as skills are, traits are what help set us apart, and they transcend the situation or circumstance we are placed in!

Next: Traits that I value and How to Develop Them!

In my next blog article, I will write about the Traits / Attributes / Values that I think are important, or that have served me well from the farm to the SEAL Teams, to the private sector, and most importantly as a husband and father. I will also give my thoughts on how we can develop these traits.

Thank you and I hope you enjoyed it. Just remember, I don’t have it all figured out. I don’t have a monopoly on good ideas. There are many ways or paths, and my experiences are my own. Yours may vary!

Character Traits

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