Skill Power Books

Skill Power Books, a division of Skill Power LLC, focuses on the development of basic life skills. If your goal is to attain greater personal success and happiness, strengthening personal, relationship and project skills is essential. The five books currently available are written by Karen A. Kolb. Others will be added as developed.

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Commonsense Management / Leadership - A Skill Power Book

This 65-page 5 ½” x 8 ½" paperback book, offered through Skill Power Books, explores seven basic qualities of an effective leader: Values, Vision, Passion, People Skills, Communication Skills, Ability and Realism.

This book can serve as a concise reference for new managers or group leaders or as a refresher course for seasoned managers who what to get back to basics. The following excerpts are the intro paragraphs for each of the skills discussed:

Values: Values are probably the most important element of effective management and good leadership. Mutual trust and respect are the foundations of any good relationship. The employer-employee relationship is no exception. To test this theory, ask yourself if YOU would work hard and do your best for someone you didn’t trust and/or respect? Or would you do just what you had to do to get by?

Vision: A manager or leader without a clear vision of the desired outcome has little chance of being effective. If you don’t know where you want to go, you can’t expect others to help you get there. Think of a vision as a dream or ultimate accomplishment. Some of the best visions and/or goals come from dreams because the possibilities are endless.

Passion: Passion is what keeps people motivated. If you are not passionate about something you are doing, does it take longer to finish? Are you quicker to give up on it? Have you ever had a supervisor who really didn’t seem to care about what they wanted – or were told – to accomplish? Did you energetically follow him or her?

People Skills: Strong people skills are an important part of good leadership. The best managers are people people. They enjoy being around people. And consider working with a difficult person a challenge, rather than an obstacle to be avoided if possible.

Communication Skills: Strong communication skills are an essential part of good management. Gathering and conveying information involve being able to develop a clear and concise message that is received in the manner intended.

Ability: To be effective and efficient, a manager must have strong project skills. Along with other skills, the ability to plan, organize, anticipate/solve problems and delegate responsibility is essential in keeping any group running smoothly.

Realism: It is wonderful to dream about being the perfect manager, with perfect employees in a perfect work environment. What a wonderful vision for the future! To be an effective manager, however, it is wise to allow for a certain amount of realism when turning dreams into reality.

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Life Skills Made Easy - A Skill Power Book

This 120-page 5 ½” x 8 ½” paperback book, offered through Skill Power Books, helps readers develop solid beliefs about self, others and the world in general. It then provides a plan for creating behavior that moves these beliefs from thought to action. Topics discusses include: Spirit, Faith, Character, Self-control, Image, Perception, Choice, Luck, Change, Relationships, Communication, Conflict, Boundaries and Differences. The following is taken from the “Tools” section of the chapter on Self-control:

Tools for Increasing Self-Control

Result: Less Stress + Better Relationships

Develop a Strong Sense of Identity. People who have a strong sense of identity are far less likely to be manipulated. Each of us should know exactly who we are – aside from any relationship we might have. What are our strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, dreams, goals? Knowing who we are, and what we want out of life will keep us from simply going along with what someone else wants. That’s especially so if what they want is detrimental to our plans.

Learn to Control Emotions. In many cases, our emotional state determines what our actions and/or reactions will be. Therefore, being able to control our emotions is an important part of overall self-control. This does not mean we never get angry or frustrated. It means we decide when and to what degree we will get angry or frustrated. This may not work all the time, but putting effort into controlling emotions will result in fewer situations in which we feel totally “out of control.”

As soon as we start feeling tense in any given situation, we should immediately identify the emotion and make a conscious decision as to how we will handle the situation. (Specific actions are then outlined in the book.)

Learn to Control Actions and Reactions. The most important tool in controlling our actions and reactions is thinking first. Avoiding impulse actions and reactions will minimize or eliminate negative situations.

Reduce Stress. Stress is not something that happens to us, it is our reaction to something. In other words, people, situations and events don’t stress us out. We stress ourselves out because we don’t know how to handle our reactions to those people, situations and events. Most of the time, staying calm will reduce stress. Tips for reducing stress include: laughing (which also reduces blood pressure), organizing and balancing demands, exercise and trying to develop a more positive attitude.

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Basic Life Skills and Job Success - A Skill Power Book

This 101-page 8 ½” x 11 ½” paperback book, offered through Skill Power Books, combines the 12 workshop booklets of the Skill Power Mini-workshop Series© and adds a worksheet for each topic that helps readers develop a plan for implementing the skill discussed.

Since this is the book version of the Skill Power Mini-workshop Series, sample content from this book can be viewed on that page.

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Job Search Basics - A Skill Power Book

This 54-page, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", paperback book explores 15 beliefs essential to getting - and keeping - a job that increases personal success and happiness. These beliefs are:

• Obtaining Meaningful Employment is a Process

• Attitude Affects Outcome

• Every Job is an Opportunity

• Individuals Can Control Future Success

• Goals Clarify Vision of Success

• Job Applications are Important

• Resumes Provide First Impression

• Resources Reveal Options

• Interview Preparation Increases Confidence

• Image Communicates Attitude

• Interview Nervousness is Expected

• Interview Follow-up Shows Determination

• Personal Strengths are Foundation for Success

• Relationship Skills Improve Every Situation

• Project Skills Save Time and Energy

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The Power of Skills Workbook - A Skill Power Book

This 118-page 8 ½” x 11 ½” paperback book combines the 23 personal, relationship and project skills discussed in the Power of Skills Program, along with the 36 life skill activities used in the program.

Since this is the book version of the Power of Skills Program sample content from this book can be viewed on that page.

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To place an order for one or all of the Skills Power Books currently available, please go to www.skill-power.com.

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