Iceberg LJ

Capabilities are a combination of knowledge (what you know), skills (what you can do), mindset (what you believe), behaviours (how you respond to things), values (what care about and want to improve) and worldview (how we see the world). A capability, for example creativity or communication, can be represented as the whole iceberg. You can think of skills as abilities that contribute to one or more capabilities. For example, drawing, writing, modelling, sewing and even the way you think about creating new things are skills that can form part of your capability for creativity. And active listening and public speaking are skills that can form part of your capability for communication. Your capability can be influenced by the situation around you – how much support and freedom you have to put these things into action.

A skill is an ability to do something well. It is based on your learning developed through life experience, work and education. Examples include drawing, public speaking, writing, listening and planning. Abilities are sometimes easy to identify (e.g. an ability to read, play soccer or cook) and can be represented as the top oficeberg, visible above the water. Other skills are harder to identify but are very important in how we cope in our environment (e.g. problem-solving). These skills are represented as part of the iceberg, but below the surface of the water.