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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What has been the most useful skill in your working life?

300 replies

Bigfatfuckingfailure · 04/09/2018 20:56

What innate talents or acquired skill really stands out for you?

Bags of energy? Team player knack? Great networker? PRINCE2? Excel?

OP posts:
OlennasWimple · 04/09/2018 21:15

Touch typing

Fast reading

Being able to become an expert on an issue very quickly and convincingly

Being able to write well (and concisely)

Being practical - thinking about the real life implications of stuff as well as whether they look good on paper

A0001 · 04/09/2018 21:15

A few (I’m a Programme Manager).

Being flexible in my attitude and open to change
Being energetic and energising others around me.
Being highly organised and efficient when I’m not MNing

Oh... and touch typing!

Bluefargo · 04/09/2018 21:15

Speed reading and touch typing. Willingness to adapt to change.

Violetroselily · 04/09/2018 21:16

Diplomacy

I work with alot of arseholes and I've learnt to write emails that are the perfect balance of polite and terse

XenakisCarter · 04/09/2018 21:17

Touch typing
Quick thinking
Explaining things really well
Writing really well
Working smart - ie efficiently

2018SoFarSoGreat · 04/09/2018 21:18

Touch typing.

Being able to quickly figure out systems - people are usually too scared to try, but most are self explanatory and work in much the same way (office systems, that is)

Being creative. The same old way does not always have to be. It is okay to do things in other ways as long as one understands the goal, then how you get there is irrelevant - most of the time.

PlainVanilla · 04/09/2018 21:18

Humour

Muddlingalongalone · 04/09/2018 21:18

@serbska I think we might be twins!!

Would also add being able to quickly piece multiple half bits of info together and explain the implications.

Faster · 04/09/2018 21:19

I’m shit hot at getting blood out of people. Bring me your crappy veins and I shall bleed you.
Am a nurse. Not a weirdo. Honest.

CountFosco · 04/09/2018 21:19

Getting the best performance out of my team by giving them the freedom to fly and then recognising when they do a good job.

And giving constructive feedback if they need support. Most people want to do a good job and appreciate it when they get guidance on how to improve.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 04/09/2018 21:19

Working hard
Not passing the buck
Keeping my mouth shut when needed
Technical expertise - going on courses, doing exams etc

annandale · 04/09/2018 21:19

My National Cycling Proficiency Certificate. I use it every day.

Accepting real weaknesses and building in redundancies against them. I have nil ability to estimate, and accept now that I need to check any numerical work I do 15 times before letting anyone else see it. Conversely, I can spell, and rejig a sentence to take up half the space, with one eye remaining on the delicious new registrar throughout.

RJnomore1 · 04/09/2018 21:20

Being solution driven
Being able to sum up situations quickly
Being able to type talk and think all at once!

delphguelph · 04/09/2018 21:20

Yup, serbska

I recently worked with someone who was a total pro at this, mind god she could talk the feckin talk.

museumum · 04/09/2018 21:21

Understanding multiple points of view simultaneously.

StealthPolarBear · 04/09/2018 21:23

Organisation and related, delivering what I say I will when I say I'll do it

Original poster
Bigfatfuckingfailure · 04/09/2018 21:24

You are all massively accomplished. Bloody fantastic to get insight into what the valuable traits are, be they the more personality driven ones or the ones gained through learning.

OP posts:
Orlandointhewilderness · 04/09/2018 21:24

A fairly unflappable nature.
I can be 100% trusted to work on my own to the same high standards as if the boss was there.
Clipping.
Plaiting a mane in 20 mins with thread.

I work with horses!

Kemer2018 · 04/09/2018 21:25

Fast touch typing
Super organisation
I've got a degree in being the new girl....I'm an expert in first days..

BertieBott · 04/09/2018 21:26

Excellent thread,

Kemer2018 · 04/09/2018 21:26

Knowing who is good at what very quickly.
Knowing who is a turd quickly.

StealthPolarBear · 04/09/2018 21:26

If you like index matches you'll love array formulae.

chloworm · 04/09/2018 21:28

Don't do things too quickly, even if you're very efficient. People will either pile on more work, or think you're not giving things proper thought (even if you are!). Also don't ever disagree fundamentally with a senior. They will not appreciate it even if you are right. The smile and nod thing works.

Glumglowworm · 04/09/2018 21:29

Lessons I’ve learned the hard way: resilience and keeping it in perspective

Nothing I do is life or death, it’s really not worth making myself miserable over it. I care about doing a good job and I get frustrated when things go wrong. But I don’t cry at work anymore, and I don’t stress about it when I’m not there. I don’t get worked up about people who make a big song and dance about how brilliant they are, I just get on with quietly doing a good job. And I savour the compliments especially when they’re from people on other teams!

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 04/09/2018 21:32

Been a SAHP for years now, but prior to that my biggest skill was that I interview really well. I mean really well. If I got an interview, I got the job.

It's a pity that my on-the-job skills never quite lived up to that initial promise. I mean, I was fine. But I don't think I was ever as good at any job as first impressions led employees to believe I would be!