Sometimes referred to as” habits of the mind”, a person’s “executive skills” are those brain-based skills required to execute tasks – that is, such things as getting organized, planning, initiating work, staying on task, controlling impulses, regulating emotions, and being adaptable and resilient.

Up to twelve executive skills have been identified, according to recent books, and these skills primarily reside in the front part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex. In this book, Harold reviews each of the twelve skills, providing descriptions, the impact of weaknesses, and ways of both coping with any weaknesses and strengthening them – so that you can excel at managing your time, your professional achievements, and your life.

1. The battle for your brain
   1. When you leave the office, the interruptions follow
2. What are executive skills?
   1. The CEO of your brain
   2. Executive skills and ADHD
3. The role of executive skills
   1. Strengthening your executive skills is a lifelong process
   2. Executive skills and management functions
4. Brain-based skills that impact how you manage time
   1. Working with your skills
   2. Twelve executive skills
5. Response inhibition – easy does it
   1. Think before you act
6. Working memory – hanging onto ideas
   1. Hold that thought – it’s harder than you think
   2. The importance of working memory
7. Emotional control – keeping your cool
   1. Do people who can’t control their anger really make you mad?
8. Sustained attention – a vanishing skill
   1. Is your attention span decreasing?
9. Task initiation – the uncommon strength
   1. A new way of looking at procrastination
10. Planning/prioritization – a time management must
    1. Getting the important things done
11. Time management and organization
    1. Do you have time to for time management?
12. Goal-directed persistence
    1. To achieve a goal, insist on persisting
13. Flexibility – a survival skill
    1. Bend over backwards to be flexible
14. Metacognition – the managerial skill
    1. Have you ever thought about your thinking?
15. Stress tolerance – a 21st century necessity
    1. Building stress resistance
16. Suggestions for strengthening all the executive skills
    1. Don’t cut back on sleep
    2. Exercise your brain
    3. Balance high tech with high touch
    4. Watch what you eat
    5. Break the habit of forming habits
17. About the author