CEOs and teens agree: Hard work and soft skills are the key to success

By Tom Wilson and Tim Shriver

Let’s face it, there aren’t many topics on which seasoned CEOs and 16-year-old adolescents agree.

But a new report based on a national survey of more than 1,300 American teenagers has identified some encouraging common ground.

They agree that the key to success at work – and in life – are the so-called “soft skills” such as teamwork, listening and empathy.

The youth survey, conducted by Civic and Hart Research for the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, and made possible by The Allstate Foundation, found that a majority of both current and recent high school students say that going to a school that focuses on developing social and emotional learning (SEL) skills would: help improve student/ teacher and peer relationships, reduce bullying, help them learn academic material and real-world skills, prepare them for college and jobs/careers and prepare them to give back to their communities.

But only one-third (36 percent) of current U.S high school students believe their schools are providing them with these skills.

Not surprisingly, previous adult-focused surveys by Google, the World Economic Forum and other business-oriented groups reached very similar conclusions about the importance of SEL — what companies call “employability skills.”

For example, of 16 skills identified by the World Economic Forum as important for the 21st century, 12 are SEL skills, such as managing people and coordinating with others. At Allstate, we care about our communities and take our role as a corporate citizen very seriously. We address pervasive societal issues which stand to impact our communities. This includes taking a stand for the importance of social and emotional learning skills among youth and providing opportunities for them to build those skills by giving back and making a difference. 

Make no mistake. There is nothing soft about these “soft skills.” Look no farther than the conflicts that all too often paralyze companies — from boardrooms to loading docks — to see how difficult it is for many adults to master basic life skills as the willingness to recognize another’s point of view.

The good news is that these skills and behaviors are teachable. Thankfully, a growing number of schools and school systems are taking on the very hard work of doing just that — from large urban districts such as Chicago, Cleveland and Washington, D.C.; more affluent districts such as Palo Alto and Boulder; and rural districts from Maine to Arizona.

All are acting on the reality that these social and emotional skills and behaviors are a better predictor of success and well-being than academic intelligence alone. In fact, common sense and a growing body of research provide that academic learning is built on a solid foundation of relationships, hard work and related SEL skills.

Technology is booming. Automation is growing. Artificial intelligence is coming. But the nature of work is not all about chips and coding. It is about overcoming setbacks, persevering and learning from each other. Ask any business leader, parent, teacher or student: People skills trump raw IQ every time. Brains count, but heart matters more.

The kids get it. Educators get it; more than 90 percent of teachers and principals agree SEL is essential. Parents get it; they say attitudes such as confidence, patience and responsible decision-making are more important to them than good grades.

The business community gets it. For example, by 2022, Allstate and The Allstate Foundation will have invested $70 million to help ensure that 25 percent of our nation’s youth are served by programs that build their social and emotional skills.

All of us has an important role to play in helping students develop SEL skills – educators, families, businesses, civic organizations and philanthropies. Given this overwhelming demand from all sectors, it is time we expanded efforts to ensure all students have access to this kind of learning. Specifically, educators and policymakers should integrate social, emotional and academic learning and development; give students more of a voice in key decisions; strengthen training for teachers and administrators; and increase state support for full implementation of quality approaches to create the conditions where SEL can thrive so young people can thrive.

The students are waiting. So are we.

Learn more about empowering our future leaders

About authors:

Tom Wilson is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Allstate Corporation and Tim Shriver is the Board Chair of the Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL). 

__________________

This content is paid for and provided by an advertiser and published by WP BrandStudio. The Washington Post newsroom and WP BrandStudio were not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more about WP BrandStudio.

Content From