Our practical themes
Communication
Expressing ideas clearly, understanding others and exchanging different views.
One of UnionOfSkills.com’s ten practical themes, not an official EU list. How we organise skills.
Why it matters
A clear explanation, careful listening and a useful exchange each play a part in communication. Expressing an idea helps others understand it; checking their meaning helps you respond; exploring different views helps clarify agreement and disagreement.
Skills in this theme
Communication
Clear communication
Express information and ideas in a way suited to the audience, purpose and context.
Communication
Active listening
Pay attention to another person’s meaning and check that you have understood it.
Communication
Constructive dialogue
Explore different views respectfully, using reasons and questions to keep an exchange useful.
Also connected with this theme
These skills have their main home in another theme, with a further connection here.
Creativity
Creative expression
Express ideas, experiences or meaning through creative forms.
Digital literacy
Digital content creation
Create, edit and adapt digital content for a purpose and audience.
Participation & citizenship
Civic participation
Contribute meaningfully to decisions, initiatives or collective action affecting shared concerns or communities.
Inclusion & diversity
Empathy & perspective-taking
Seek to understand another person's experience, feelings or viewpoint and take it into account.
Inclusion & diversity
Intercultural competence
Interact thoughtfully across cultural differences and recognise that norms and perspectives may vary.
Collaboration & teamwork
Collaborative working
Coordinate contributions, responsibilities and decisions towards a shared outcome.
Collaboration & teamwork
Negotiation & resolving disagreements
Work through differing needs or positions to reach a workable way forward.
Learning to learn
Giving & using feedback
Give useful feedback and use feedback received to improve an approach or outcome.
Connected themes
Youth relevance
Young people may need to put forward an idea, clarify a friend’s meaning or discuss a decision they disagree with. These skills offer different ways to contribute to conversations with peers, educators and community organisations.