16 Surprisingly Useful Skills You Possess Without Realizing It

16 Surprisingly Useful Skills You Possess Without Realizing It

You’re probably aware of some of your most obvious talents, but there are certain skills you have that you wouldn’t even consider to be anything special despite them making your life a lot easier. If you can do any of the following, pat yourself on the back — you’re ahead of a large part of the population.

1. You can read people.

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You have a knack for picking up on other people’s subtle cues, signals, and expressions, and you’re great at understanding their emotions, intentions, and motivations. You can tell when someone is lying, hiding, or feeling something, and you can adjust your approach accordingly. You can also empathize with people and relate to their situations and perspectives. You’re a superhero!

2. You know how to improvise.

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You have a talent for thinking on your feet, adapting to changing circumstances, and finding creative solutions to problems. You can handle unexpected challenges easily and you know how to make the best of them rather than letting them overwhelm you. Somehow, your killer combo of imagination, humor, and resourcefulness manages to help you overcome pretty much any issue with ease.

3. You listen well.

Young couple sitting at the table with cup of tea and talking to each other during their date in cafe

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You have a skill for paying attention, focusing, and absorbing the stuff people say to you, which puts you ahead of the pack. You can listen without interrupting, judging, or imposing your views. Not only that, but you always follow up with relevant questions, give constructive feedback, and show genuine interest. Not only that, but you even remember what you’ve heard later on, which always makes people feel valued and respected.

4. You know how to negotiate.

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You’re extremely persuasive and always manage to convince people to agree with you or do something for you even in the most unlikely circumstances. This is likely because you have a flair for communicating your goals, needs, and preferences clearly and assertively, and you understand other people’s too. You can also find common ground, compromise, and reach win-win outcomes.

5. You have a knack for learning new things.

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You have a passion for acquiring new knowledge, skills, and experiences, all of which really expand your horizons. You’re able to learn from all different sources, using different methods and formats, and you know how to apply what you’ve learned to different situations in life. This is peak! You can also learn from your mistakes and failures, which helps you continually improve yourself.

6. You can teach people things.

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You have a gift for sharing your knowledge, skills, and experiences with others, and helping them learn and grow. No matter who your audience is, you know how to explain really complex concepts, show practical techniques, and give them useful tips and tricks which they can use to move forward. Your approach is inspiring and encouraging rather than frustrating or belittling, making it a very useful skill indeed.

7. You can write.

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You have a way with words, and you can express your thoughts, feelings, and opinions clearly, concisely, and convincingly. You can write for various purposes, audiences, and formats, and you can tailor your tone, style, and language accordingly. You can also write creatively, humorously, and poetically, and capture the attention, imagination, and emotion of your readers.

8. You can communicate clearly and effectively.

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You have a voice, and you can use it to communicate clearly and effectively. You know how to broach sensitive topics in a way that’s more palatable to even the most sensitive or uptight people, and you always come across as eloquent and articulate no matter what you’re talking about or who you’re talking to. People listen when you speak, which is pretty much the highest compliment you can receive.

9. You can organize.

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You have a sense of order, structure, and efficiency, and you can arrange your life, work, and environment in really functional way. You can plan, schedule, and prioritize your tasks, goals, and activities, and you can manage your time effectively, which definitely isn’t something everyone can do. As a bonus, you’re also great at organizing other people and designating tasks, which is a great leadership tool.

10. You know how to lead.

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You have a vision, a mission, and a direction, and you can guide, direct, and influence other people. You lead by example, establishing standards and enforcing rules by not just talking the talk but walking the walk. Somehow, you always manage to pick up on people’s strengths and weaknesses, and you use this knowledge to encourage, support, and uplift them. When they succeed, you celebrate right alongside them.

11. You can follow too.

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While it’s great to be in charge, sometimes you’ll have to take a backseat and let someone else lead, and being able to do this when you’re used to calling the shots is a commendable skill. You know how to cooperate and collaborate with other people as you work toward a common goal, which is invaluable. You can follow instructions, directions, and guidelines without needing to be told twice, and you don’t feel threatened by other people’s authority.

12. You can network.

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You have a charismatic personality that allows you to connect with people effortlessly. You build a rapport with people almost without thinking; for some reason, people are naturally drawn to you and they trust you implicitly. As a result, your relationships with other people are strong and mutually fulfilling. You can also network by introducing, referring, and recommending other people, which shows now down-to-earth and non-competitive you are.

13. You’re great at research.

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You’re a critical thinker who’s naturally curious, and you can find, collect, and analyze information, data, and evidence from various sources pretty easily. You’re also great at parsing out the info you collect since you know not all of it is accurate or valuable. Not knowing the answer to a question doesn’t frustrate you, it excites you — you love diving in to finding out the truth.

14. You can design things.

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You have a creative talent that allows you to design and develop original concepts, whether it’s a DIY project at home or an artwork like a painting or a sculpture. Sometimes your design skills are used for more practical things like work projects that need sketching out from start to finish. Whatever the application, you’re a stellar architect.

15. You can perform.

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You have talent and passion, and you can showcase it in a captivating and memorable way. Whether you’re singing, dancing, doing stand-up comedy, or even giving a presentation at the office, you know how to connect with your audience in a meaningful way that will leave them thinking about you even after you’ve left the proverbial (or literal!) stage.

16. You know how to enjoy life to the fullest.

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You have a deep-seated sense of happiness and you can experience, express, and share it with other people so that they can have a bit of sunshine too. Life is short, and you plan on making the most of it. You won’t let life pass you by!

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Gail is Bolde's social media and partnership manager, as well as an all-around behind-the-scenes renaissance woman. She worked for more than 25 years in her city's local government before making the switch to women's lifestyle and relationship sites, initially at HelloGiggles before making the switch to Bolde.