20 Areas of improvement examples and how to identify yours

9. Decision-making skills

Making sound decisions aligned with company values is essential for any role. You want to make good decisions regardless of your decision-making style.

To identify if you need to improve:

• Do you make sound decisions?
• Do you have an established and transparent decision-making process?
• Do you make a decision in a timely manner, or is it a long and drawn-out ordeal?
• Do you trust your decision-making, or do you second-guess yourself?
• Do you make decisions aligned with the company's mission and values?

To improve your decision-making skills:

Take our Trust Your Gut Feel program to explore, strengthen, and stand by what you believe in at work and in life.

10. Goal setting and achievement

Without goals, you will become aimless and stagnant. Setting and achieving goals is essential to professional development. 

To identify if you need to improve:

• Do you set realistic and measurable goals for yourself?
• Do you strive to achieve them?
• Do you seek out the resources you'll need to reach your goals?
• Do you set a deadline by which to achieve these goals?
• Are these goals also beneficial to the company?

To improve your goal setting and achievement:

Start our Goal Catcher program to inspire yourself and others to set and achieve grand visions and goals.

11. Empathy

Empathy is a sought-after soft skill for good reason. One benefit is that it can improve company retention rates. Empathy is a critical skill for building relationships and making people feel valued.

To identify if you need to improve:

• Do you try to understand the other person's point of view?
• Do you have the emotional intelligence to recognize your and others' feelings?
• Do you respond with compassion, or do you immediately criticize?
• Do you have active listening skills?

To improve your empathy:

Explore, develop, and strengthen your emotional intelligence (EQ) with our Increase EQ program. Awareness of your and others’ emotions is key to influencing and building authentic connections at work and in life.

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12. Creative skills

Creativity involves finding novel ways to carry out projects and solve problems. It helps every company stand out and enhances customer service. Creativity is linked with a higher level of problem-solving.

To identify if you need to improve:

• Do you try to find innovative ways to solve a problem, or do you stick to old ways?
• Do you suggest ideas during meetings?
• Do you have a solid, big-picture vision for your work?
• Are you imaginative during the brainstorming process?

To improve your creative skills:

Try our Big Picture Thinker program to improve your comfort and use of abstract and strategic thinking, to gain a broader perspective on work and life.

13. Job knowledge

You were hired for a specific role. You need to make sure you have the knowledge to do the wide range of tasks listed in your job description.

To identify if you need to improve:

• Are you aware of the expectations and duties relevant to your job?
• Do you display the necessary knowledge and skills to fulfill these duties?
• Are you aware of your own shortcomings?
• Do you attempt to stay up-to-date on new developments, industry trends, and technical skills?
• Do you reach out for help if you lack resources?

14. Productivity

Productivity refers to the amount of work done and how well you utilize your time. Valuable team members are effective contributors, even in difficult times.

To identify if you need to improve:

• Do you fulfill expectations and/or quotas for your role?
• Do you remain focused on your work?
• Do you maximize the productivity tools available to you?
• Do you try to accomplish tasks using the most efficient method?

15. Quality of work

Quality of work assesses the accuracy and excellence of your output. You may be very productive in the sense that you make a lot of something, but what you deliver may be low quality.

To identify if you need to improve:

• Do you hold your work to a high standard of excellence?
• How well do you follow guidelines, procedures, and standards?
• Do you produce minimal errors and defects?
• Do you keep up with your field's latest news and best practices?
• Are your team members and managers satisfied with your work?

To improve the quality of your work:

Start our Attention to Detail program and develop a genuine appreciation, energy, and stamina for detailed thinking.

16. Dependability

Dependability means being able to be relied upon to do what you say you'll do. It is an essential skill for any employee to have.

To identify if you need to improve:

• Do you follow through on your promises?
• How well do you manage your workload?
• Do you show up to work and meetings on time?
• Do you hold yourself accountable to your commitments?
• Do your coworkers believe they can rely on you?
• How well do you manage your work-life balance?

17. Adaptability skills

While every job comes with a description, every role can expand into new areas. This is especially true for a successful career at a startup, where things change quickly. For that reason, employees must be flexible

To identify if you need to improve:

• Do you remain calm and flexible in the face of unexpected change?
• Are you willing to learn as you go?
• Do you adjust to changing circumstances with relative ease?
• Do you approach a change in plans with an open mind?
• How well do you embrace new challenges and opportunities?
• How well do you learn from your mistakes and failures?

18. Interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills enable you to communicate and interact effectively with others through verbal and non-verbal cues. These skills are essential for building and maintaining relationships with colleagues and clients. In a team setting, interpersonal skills influence how well you collaborate and work with others. Those with excellent interpersonal skills use appropriate language, actively listen, and demonstrate positive body language, such as maintaining eye contact and showing genuine interest in others.

To identify if you need to improve:

• Do you practice active listening in the workplace?
• Do you show empathy towards colleagues and clients?
• Do you make eye contact during meetings and conversations?
• How well do you adapt the way you talk to different people?
• Do you use body language and facial expressions to clarify your message?

To improve your interpersonal skills:

Develop your interpersonal skills with our Increase Emotional Intelligence program.

19. Organization

Strong organizational skills are essential for maximizing workplace productivity and efficiency. Many techniques can improve organization. Organizational skills include the ALPEN method, making lists, scheduling tasks, and creating Trello boards. Learning to be organized can set employees up for success and help the team work better as a whole.

To identify if you need to improve:

• How well do you manage your time?
• How well do you stay on top of your tasks and responsibilities?
• How well do you plan and prepare for meetings and other events?
• Do you use any tools or systems to stay organized?
• How do you keep track of deadlines and ensure they're met?
• How well do you handle multiple tasks and projects at once?

20. Problem-solving

To solve a problem well, you have to examine the situation, consider your options, and choose the best one. These skills help you handle challenging situations and find creative solutions.

Strong problem-solving skills can be very helpful at work. These traits are important for an organization's growth and success. They're also crucial for conflict resolution and leadership roles.

To identify if you need to improve:

• Do you actively seek out solutions to problems you encounter at work?
• Do you take a systematic approach to problem-solving?
• Do you involve others in the problem-solving process?
• Do you look at problems and think about how to solve them in more than one way?
• Do you follow through on your chosen solutions and track their effectiveness?

How to identify your areas of improvement for your performance review or interview

Now that you've considered your areas for improvement, you'll need to prepare some examples to support them. Think about some moments that demonstrate the areas in which you thrive and the areas in which you can still improve. Knowing your weaknesses is a strength, especially if you're aiming to improve them.

To help you get started, why not Ask Marlee? Once you've answered questions on what motivates you, you can Ask Marlee for your areas of improvement and receive instant answers, backed up with more than 20 years of research.

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How to improve your professional skills

So, how do you get started? Once you've completed our motivation assessment you'll learn more about your strengths and blind spots. Whether you want to be a strong leader, improve your conflict management skills, use more creative thinking, improve your time management skills, or reduce your stress levels, our AI coaching can help.

So, how does this relate to your areas of improvement? Let's say you are low in Group Environment, meaning you prefer to work in a private space. If you work in an environment where there are large groups, your productivity might drop. To be more efficient, you might start your work day early or stay late so that you have uninterrupted time to yourself.

The more you understand your workplace motivations, the more room there is for professional improvement.

How can professional development be supported within a company?

When managers push for professional and personal development, workers are more likely to be engaged and happy at work. Performance evaluations can assist in identifying areas for improvement, allowing for professional growth. Improving professional skills makes people more valuable to the company.

Companies can facilitate professional development through performance coaching, internal training programs, and encouraging employees to explore external learning opportunities.

F4S is a research-backed self-development platform that offers personal insights as well as free AI coaching.