I believe that one of my jobs as a father is to make sure that my children get the education and training that the need to excel in life. This is a list of skills that I have observed as helpful to a successful career and some ideas on how to build these skills.

To keep this post manageable, I am only focusing on what I consider foundation skills, skills that should apply to any profession at any point in history.

Here is my list so far. Please share your ideas in the comments section below.

• Critical Thinking
• Research and Analysis
• Communication
• Teamwork and Sportsmanship
• Strategic Thinking

I believe training in these areas can make a huge difference in career success. Here are some thoughts on each of these areas, including ideas on how to build these skills.

Critical Thinking
By critical thinking, I am referring to the ability to think deeply and thoroughly, to consider multiple options and find new ways of looking at things. The goal is to learn to systematically pick apart a problem looking at it from multiple view points. Critical thinking skills, when applied will increase ones ability to make consistently good decisions.

Critical thinking skill builders - Play chess. Solve logic puzzles. Contemplate all sides of political issues. Learn to program.

Research and analysis
As with critical thinking, research and analysis skills help one make good decisions. The basic goals here are to learn how to formulate questions, organize of data and find answers.

Research and analysis skill builders - Read, discuss, question, google and read some more. Reading introduces you to new perspectives, concepts and lines of reasoning. When in conversation, ask questions that can help you better understand what is being discussed. In online forums, get comfortable asking questions. Learn to trust the axiom "There is no such thing as a bad question".

Communication
The value of good communication skills was recently brought to mind when a friend described the rapid rise of a colleague recently. The rising star was very capable of explaining complex issues in a simple and clear manner. When his boss noticed this, she started taking him to meetings with her supervisor. When her supervisor realized this, he started bring the rising star to important meetings with senior management.

Communication skill builders - Keep a journal. Join a debate club. Take a sales job. Send emails or letters to friends and family. Learn how to communicate in conversations, formal presentations, essays and emails.

Teamwork and Sportsmanship
Learning how to compete fairly, to contribute to team goals, to encourage and support others will ensure a long-term career advantage and help build lasting relationships that will become a valuable network.

Teamwork and sportsmanship skill builders - Pick a team sport and get active. Compete in the science fair or pine wood derby. Do your best to win!

Strategic Thinking
Learning how define a vision, set objectives, choose a strategy, setting tasks will help get you to a leadership role and lead effectively once you get there.

Strategic thinking skill builders - Play strategy games like chess, compete in the science fair, start a business.