20 Key Attributes Directors of Religious Activities And Education Need To Succeed In Their Career

by Michael Davis

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

National Endowment for the Humanities

Directors of religious activities and education plan, direct, or coordinate programs designed to promote the religious education or activities of a denominational group. They may also provide counseling and guidance relative to marital, health, financial, and religious problems.

The core tasks that directors of religious activities and education are likely to carry out include:

Identify and recruit potential volunteer workers.
Train and supervise religious education instructional staff.
Develop or direct study courses or religious education programs within congregations.
Select appropriate curricula or class structures for educational programs.
Implement program plans by ordering needed materials, scheduling speakers, reserving space, or handling other administrative details.
Counsel individuals regarding interpersonal, health, financial, or religious problems.

In order to successfully forge ahead with their careers, analysts in a survey carried out by U.S. Department of Labor (via O*NET) have marked out the following as important attributes that directors of religious activities and education would need. These attributes have been selected from characteristics and requirements strongly associated with the occupation. They are

Abilities: Enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance
Interests: Preferences for work environments. Occupational Interest Profiles (OIPs) are compatible with Holland's (1985, 1997) model of personality types and work environments. Six interest categories are used to describe the work environment of occupations: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. An OIP consists of six numerical scores indicating how descriptive and characteristic each work environment (or interest area) is for an occupation
Knowledge: Organized sets of principles and facts applying in general domains
Skills: These include basic skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate learning or the more rapid acquisition of knowledge. Plus cross-functional skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate performance of activities that occur across jobs
Style: Personal characteristics that can affect how well someone performs a job

We have listed out attributes which were scored 80% or more in terms of importance by the analysts.

Having a strong preference for enterprising work environments. Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 100%

A willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 99.2%

Preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 97.6%

Being honest and ethical.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 96.4%

Maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 96%

Being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 96%

Being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 94.8%

Being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 94.4%

A willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 91.2%

Accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 90.8%

Developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 88.6%

Being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 86.4%

Creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 85.8%

Having a strong preference for social work environments. Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 85.71%

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 82.6%

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 81.4%

Persistence in the face of obstacles.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 81.4%

Analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 80.4%

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 80%

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 80%