Power of Can Slides
The "Can" Philosophy
Understanding our lagging skills to build a better future.
The Big Idea
"People do well if they can."
If someone is struggling, it's not because they don't want to do well... it's because they lack the skills to handle the situation in that moment.
Myth vs. Reality
The Old View
- • "They're just lazy."
- • "They're being manipulative."
- • "They just want attention."
- • "They don't care."
The "Can" View
- • They hit a skill gap.
- • Demand > Current Skill.
- • They would do better if they could.
- • This is about brain wiring.
Why does this matter?
Self-Compassion
Stop blaming yourself for things that are actually "lagging skills."
Relationships
Understand why others (friends, parents, teachers) might be struggling.
Self-Advocacy
Learn how to ask for help with the specific skills you need.
The Ultimate "Soft Skill"
Identifying your own and others' lagging skills is a high-value skill.
Who is looking for this?
Employers
Coaches
Teachers
It shows emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and problem-solving maturity.
The Skill Scout Checklist
Language
- Understanding others
- Getting energy up
- Saying what I think/need
- Saying what bothers me
- Saying what I feel
- Finding words quickly
Regulation
- Managing anger/frustration
- Handling annoyance
- Nervousness or anxiety
- Handling disappointment
Cont.
- Pausing before responding
- Waiting for what I want
- Right energy at right time
- Calming down as expected
Flexibility
- Switching activities
- Seeing "shades of gray"
- Imagining different outcomes
- Changes to routine or rules
- Unclear or new situations
- Changing my mind
- Not taking things personally
Focus
- Sticking with focus tasks
- Doing things in order
- Keeping track of time
- Ignoring distractions
- Finding multiple solutions
Social Thinking
- Reading behavioral cues
- Starting conversations
- Understanding others' views
- Behavior's impact on others
- Positive attention seeking
Mental Check: Pick 2-3 that feel like they "lag" for you sometimes.
How to Build Your Skills
1
Name it to Tame it
Be specific. Instead of "I'm bad at school," try "I struggle with keeping track of time."
2
Practice in the "Green Zone"
Don't try to learn a new skill when you're already angry or stressed. Practice when calm.
3
Use Self-Advocacy
Ask for supports. "Can I have these instructions in writing? It helps my focus."
4
Focus on Baby Steps
Don't fix everything at once. Pick ONE skill to focus on for the next two weeks.
Dig Deeper on Naviance
Want to explore more? The Naviance platform has many other checklists to help you discover:
Unique Interests
Career Skills
Future Strengths
Skill Gap, Not Will Gap.
Now that you can name your lagging skills, you can stop feeling "bad" and start getting support.
Self-Advocate
Build Skills
Succeed
Skill Gap Teacher Guide
Skill Gap Facilitator Guide
20 Minutes
High School (9-12)
Slide-Based Reflection
Lesson Overview
The Philosophy
The core premise is that "people do well if they can." When individuals struggle, it is often due to lagging skills—developmental gaps in areas like flexibility, frustration tolerance, and problem-solving—rather than a lack of motivation or "will."
Learning Objectives
- Define the "People do well if they can" concept.
- Distinguish between "will gaps" and "skill gaps."
- Identify personal lagging skills as a high-value "soft skill."
- Understand basic strategies for building these skills.
- Connect lagging skill discovery to resources in Naviance.
20-Minute Pacing
| Time | Topic & Facilitation Tips |
|---|
| 0:00 - 0:03 | Introduction: Present the "Can" Philosophy. Validates student experience immediately. |
| 0:03 - 0:06 | Myth vs Reality: Challenge the "lazy" narrative. Emphasize empathy for self and others. |
| 0:06 - 0:09 | The Ultimate Soft Skill: Explain why employers, coaches, and teachers value self-aware "Skill Scouts." |
| 0:09 - 0:14 | Skill Scout Checklist: Show the consolidated checklist slide. Give students 5 minutes of quiet reflection. |
| 0:14 - 0:17 | How to Build Skills: Emphasize "Naming it," "Practice," "Self-Advocacy," and "Baby Steps." |
| 0:17 - 0:19 | Naviance Connection: Briefly mention other Naviance profile tools (Strengths, Interests). |
| 0:19 - 0:20 | Closing: Final empowerment slide. |
Key Discussion Prompts
Facilitation Notes
The blue and green theme is designed to be calming and professional. High schoolers respond well to the "real world" application. Remind them that building a neuro-cognitive skill takes time.
