Go from ordinary to extraordinary with 7 essential soft skills. You need adaptability, resilience, optimism, integrity, critical thinking, pro-activity and empathy to stay one step ahead. Our world is changing - so fast, so furiously, so ferociously - that to stand out at work you need to change what you're doing. And quickly. To get ahead, you need soft skills. To stay ahead you need the advantage. Just doing your job won’t get you to the top, but what does it take? Soft skills are your secret weapon. These days we’re all working harder and longer, but finding it harder than ever to make an impact and get the results we want. Traditional skills like being a good team player, a solid leader or a brilliant negotiator don’t seem to be as effective anymore. To really stand out, you need to be doing something different, something better. You need the advantage. In this ground-breaking book, we set the scene for seven new skills that will propel you and your career forward. Through a combination of scientific research, no-nonsense advice, practical exercises and case studies, This book shows you how to understand, develop and use: adaptability - respond effectively to challenges and grab new opportunities resilience - Learn from experience and attack the next challenge with equal boldness optimism - be the most positive person you know integrity - trust, values and honesty are the name of the game now as is authenticity critical thinking - challenge assumptions and find solutions pro-activity - thinking and acting ahead empathy - respect and nurture your relationships stay ahead of the competition.