New Skills?

We can all improve on our skills, it’s necessary to get ahead at work.  Today’s business environment is constantly changing and competitive, being able to learn new skills is a key to success.  It’s not enough to be smart – you need to always be getting smarter.  You need to look for opportunities to stretch in ways that are not always comfortable at first.  That’s what continual improvement feels like.  Here are some tips as you embark on acquiring new skills.

Tip 1:  Are you ready?  Ask yourself if the skill is attainable.  I know that I don’t have a gift for languages, in fact no matter how much I seem to study and memorize, it doesn’t stick.  Becoming fluent in a foreign language is not realistic for me.  Learning a new skill takes extreme commitment.  Unless your skill is attainable and you’re prepared to work hard, you won’t get very far.

Tip 2:  Is it needed?  Make sure the skill is relevant to your career and your organization.  Talk to your supervisor to ensure the skill is something that is valued.  Unless the skill is needed for your job or for a future position in the organization, you may not get the training or support of your supervisor.  Think of your new skill as an investment, you need to know upfront what the return will be.

Tip 3:  How do you learn?  Some learn best by reading or looking at graphics.  Others learn by demonstrations or listening to explanations.  Many learn by doing or need a “hands-on” experience.  You can figure out your ideal learning style by looking back.  Think about past learning experiences and make a list of the good ones and bad ones.  Think about what they have in common and what works best for you.

Tip 4:  Get help.  Find someone who has mastered the skill you’re trying to acquire.  Look beyond your immediate boss.  Approach the person and explain that you admire their skill and you would like to improve your skill in the same area.  Ask if they would be willing to spend sometime with you and get their advice and feedback on how to improve.  If you can’t find a mentor inside your company, look for others in your industry or your network.

Tip 5:  Start small.  Learning new skills can be overwhelming.  Choose one or two skills to focus on at a time.  Break down the skill into small bits.  For example, if you’re trying to become more assertive, focus on speaking up more often in meetings by pushing yourself to talk within the first five minutes.

Tip 6:  Reflect along the way.  Take the time to reflect on what you are learning.  Share your goals with those individuals who can provide informational and emotional support along the way.  Talking about your progress helps you get valuable feedback, keeps you accountable and cements the change.

Tip 7:  Teach your new skill to others.  This is one of the quickest ways to learn something new, and to practice it.  Share what you learn with your team, manager or co-workers.  Put a “teaching” date on your calendar or agree to lead a formal training session a few months down the road.  You’ll find yourself to be much more focused and practical.

Tip 8:  Be patient.  Many times we think that we should nail the new skill right away.  The reality is that it can take much longer.  It usually takes six months or more to develop a new skill.  It may take longer for others to see and appreciate it.  People around you will only notice about 10% of every 100% change that you make.

What has worked for you when you want to add a new skill to your tool box?  What hasn’t worked?  Leave your comments below.

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