588 Technology: Engineering Our World Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Workplace Skills To be successful at any job, you will need more than just job-related skills. You will need workplace skills, which are sometimes called soft skills. These include communication skills and the ability to get along with other people. They also include work ethics, dependability, and punctuality (being on time for work). Teamwork and Leadership Teamwork, or working well with others, is a very important soft skill. Most jobs require you to cooperate with other people on a daily basis (Figure 20-9). All team members are responsible for the fi nal output or results of a project. However, each member of the team has individual responsibilities. Each member must fulfi ll these responsibilities if the project is to succeed. Therefore, part of being a good team member is to do the part assigned to you. Taking your share of the responsibility and doing your part will make you a respected member of any team. All teams need a good leader. Leadership is the ability to guide team members and keep the team on track. It involves problem solving, creative thinking, and excellent communication skills. A good team leader respects each team member and inspires team members to contribute. To be a good leader, however, you must fi rst learn to be a good team member. Work Ethic and Legal Aspects When you accept a job, you take on certain responsibilities. You are responsible for arriving on time and for doing your work properly. These and similar responsibilities are known as work ethic. Your employer relies on you to be dependable and to work within the company rules. In many cases, other people depend on you to do your job so that they can do theirs. Your employer also expects you to work within the law and to treat everyone equally. Discrimination is the unfair treatment of someone based on a personal characteristic, such as race or gender. Discrimination is against the law. Employers are not allowed to discriminate when they hire, and employees cannot discriminate on the job. Harassment is another legal issue sometimes encountered in the workplace. Harassment means tormenting someone through your words or actions. It includes making rude comments about someone or making fun of someone. It can even include teasing if you keep teasing someone even after that person has asked you to stop. In most companies, you can be fi red for harassing coworkers. Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com Figure 20-9. Cooperating on a project helps to refine ideas and avoid future problems.