Executive Functions (Cognition)
Working Memory
Working Memory
Working Memory
The ability to retain information from past experiences to address the current situation or to plan for future outcomes.
Metacognition
Working Memory
Working Memory
The ability to stand back and take a bird’s eye view of yourself in a situation, to observe how to solve your problem.
Prioritisation
Working Memory
Prioritisation
The ability to create a roadmap or set of steps to reach a goal or complete a task, as well as the ability to focus on what is most important along the way.
Organisation
Time Management
Prioritisation
The ability to create and maintain systems to keep track of information or materials.
Time Management
Time Management
Time Management
The ability to estimate how much time one has, how to allocate it, and how to stay within time limits and deadlines.
Executive Functions (Behaviour)
Response Inhibition
Response Inhibition
Response Inhibition
The ability to resist the impulse to say or do something immediately, allowing for time to evaluate the situation and reflection on one's behaviour.
Emotional Control
Response Inhibition
Response Inhibition
The ability to manage emotions in order to help ourselves regulate and guide our behaviour, perform tasks, and reach out goals.
Sustained Attention
Response Inhibition
Sustained Attention
The ability to keep focusing on a situation or task in a spite of distractions, fatigue, or boredom.
Task Initiation
Goal-Directed Persistence
Sustained Attention
The ability to begin projects without undue procrastination, in an efficient or timely fashion.
Goal-Directed Persistence
Goal-Directed Persistence
Goal-Directed Persistence
The ability to have a goal, follow through to the completion of the goal, and not be put off by or distracted by competing interests.
Flexibility
Goal-Directed Persistence
Goal-Directed Persistence
The ability to revise plans in the face of obstacles, setbacks, new information, or mistakes.
Competencies
Competencies refer to the ability to apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes effectively to meet the demands of real-life situations. In Singapore’s context, SkillsFuture defines these as Core Skills (SkillsFuture, 2024), essential for staying relevant in today’s and tomorrow’s workforce.
These SkillsFuture Core Skills are complex, and mastering them requires the seamless coordination of multiple Executive Functions—such as planning, self-control, emotional regulation, and cognitive flexibility.
That is why it is crucial to begin developing these Executive Functions early in life. By nurturing them in children and youth, we lay a strong foundation for building the Core Competencies needed to thrive in their future careers. Without these mental habits and capabilities, young individuals may struggle to meet the evolving demands of the modern workplace.