When we demonstrate all the other skills—competence, practice, cohesion, initiative—we increase our potential for success. But if we aren’t driven toward greatness, we won’t be our best. Along with our basic skills, composure and confidence are building blocks for greatness. With greatness (however we define it) as the primary goal, we can align our peak performance when our peak performance is needed.

Both universities and organizations are investing in training that helps people learn to present themselves—in big meetings or public speaking and compelling storytelling. Classes can instruct us in ways to walk, look, and act, but it is a mistake to think that any school can teach either composure or confidence. Those qualities cannot be taught. 

Composure and confidence are the byproducts of all of the other qualities (practice, commitment, bonding, determination, et al.) in place. We can't have either if we don't have all the others. 

A genuine consideration and regard for others that makes the group stronger and more resilient.

Skill is knowing all of the details related to complete a particular task and being able to execute them well. Expertise--deep skill--goes beyond knowledge and execution. It includes timing, the ability to perform the skills under pressure, in adverse environments, and the ability to improvise when necessary. 

Specific activities quire specific conditioning. This observation is most evident to us in sports. Training for a diver is different than it is for a tennis player. Conditioning is a form of tending. Buildings have a lifespan. The lifespan of a high rise has different needs than a single-family home. It's the same with businesses, social causes, and other inanimate things. Everything in the world needs conditioning and tending. 

Being determined requires perseverance, tenacity, and intention. It means the actions we are taking are deliberate.

Initiative is the courage to make decisions and act — people who take the initiative know when to act.

With the information we’ve been given, we act with self-control. With initiative, we move forward without fear of failure, even though we might make mistakes.

We can become more aware by observing what is going on inside and around us. Except for personal experience, we learn everything we know from someone else. We learn by watching others, reading, or listening.