Imagine a world where education doesn’t stop at math, science, and language but ventures deeper - focusing on life skills like curiosity, deep listening, and imagination. These aren’t abstract ideals; they’re skills that top CEOs and leaders cite as critical to their success. Yet, they often remain untaught in traditional classrooms. The good news? These are teachable skills. Ample empirical evidence shows that the more we practice curiosity, the better we become at spotting opportunities. The more we engage in deep listening, the stronger our connections grow. The more we embrace imagination, the more innovative we become. So, what if our education system evolved to prioritise these abilities and formally taught them?
The Impact of Life Skills on Business Success
Working with iconic companies like Bacardi and Diageo, I experienced firsthand the shock of realising that imagination—so crucial for building standout brands and driving successful turnarounds—wasn’t something most of us had ever formally learned. In these environments, imagination was vital for pushing beyond conventional approaches and finding creative solutions to complex challenges. But it struck me that this skill, which was so fundamental to my career, had been left to chance rather than cultivated through structured learning.
This gap in life skills education became clear early in my career: the skills I relied on most weren’t taught in any classroom but were shaped through trial, curiosity, and a willingness to explore the unknown. Imagine the impact if I - and countless others - had been given tools to develop these skills from a young age.
A Fresh Approach to Education
Imagine if school schedules included formalised, dedicated “curiosity periods” or “imagination labs” where students were encouraged to ask questions and explore beyond traditional subjects. These sessions wouldn’t be confined to art class, where imagination is often siloed, but would instead be dynamic, helping students tap into
their creative potential across all subjects. In these “Life Skills Sessions,” there would be no standardised evaluations. The focus would be on participation, exploration, and growth, with learning outcomes centred on discovery rather than grades.
their creative potential across all subjects. In these “Life Skills Sessions,” there would be no standardised evaluations. The focus would be on participation, exploration, and growth, with learning outcomes centred on discovery rather than grades.
Empowering Teachers to Foster Life Skills
For this vision to succeed, teachers need support and specialised training. Introducing new programs could equip educators with practical techniques for teaching these life skills, aligned with government-prescribed standards and performance objectives—an incentive for wider adoption and effective execution in the classroom.
These programs would also create pathways for teachers’ own growth and development. From my experience with deploying the "train-the-teacher": model at Narrative 4, where we trained thousands of educators globally, I deeply understand the unique challenges teachers face. They, too, seek growth and fulfilment, and equipping them to teach these skills can have a transformative impact on students and teachers alike.
These programs would also create pathways for teachers’ own growth and development. From my experience with deploying the "train-the-teacher": model at Narrative 4, where we trained thousands of educators globally, I deeply understand the unique challenges teachers face. They, too, seek growth and fulfilment, and equipping them to teach these skills can have a transformative impact on students and teachers alike.
Bringing Life Skills to the Workplace
What if we extended these skills into corporate training? Rather than focusing solely on upgrading sales or strategy skills, companies could invest in long-term training centred on developing curiosity, deep listening, and imagination. With clear, measurable metrics, employees could track their progress in ways that resonate beyond their current roles, offering genuine lifetime value. This approach could foster a more engaged, future-ready workforce, where employees feel more connected to their organisation’s mission and goals. In a world increasingly automated and standardised, it’s these human skills that make the difference. Isn’t it time we started nurturing them at every stage of life and embraced our unique human advantage? What life skill do you think schools and corporations should prioritise? Please share your thoughts in the comments!
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If you’re looking to drive digital transformation, scale businesses globally, or unlock growth through innovation, feel free to connect—I’m always open to meaningful conversations about transforming challenges into opportunities.