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8 KEY EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS

SKILL 1: Impulse Control

What it means: Impulse Control helps you think before acting

How it looks: People with weak Impulse Control might blurt out inappropriate things. They are also more likely to engage in risky behavior.

 

SKILL 2: Emotional Control

What it means: Emotional Control helps you keep your feelings in check

How it looks: People with weak emotional control tend to overreact. They can have trouble dealing with criticism and regrouping when something goes wrong.

 

SKILL 3: Flexible Thinking

What it means: Flexible Thinking allows you to adjust to the unexpected

How it looks: People with rigid thinking don’t roll with the punches. They might get frustrated if asked to think about something from a different angle.

 

SKILL 4: Working Memory

What it means: Working Memory helps you keep key information in mind.

How it looks: People with weak working memory have trouble remembering directions---even if they have taken notes or you have repeated them several times.

 

SKILL 5: Self-Monitoring

What it means: Self-Monitoring allows you to evaluate how you are doing.

How it looks:People with self-monitoring skills may be surprised by negative feedback or a bad grade.

 

SKILL 6: Planning and Prioritizing

What it means: Planning and prioritizing help you decide on a goal and a plan to meet it.

How it looks: People with weak planning and prioritizing skills may not know which parts of a project are most important. They might get caught up on the small details or the big picture, but not both at the same time.

 

SKILL 7: Task Initiation

What it means: Task initiation helps you take action and get started.

How it looks: People who have weak task initiation skills may freeze up because they have no idea where to begin.

 

SKILL 8: Organization

What it means: Organization helps you keep track of things physically and mentally

How it looks: People with weak organization skills can lose their train of thought---as well as their cell phone, car keys, or homework.

 

Source: www.Understood.org

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