In today's globalized world, competition and technological change require continuous skill development. Skills development is a necessary step in getting to where we want to be. With every new result you want to achieve, there are new skills you need to learn, new skills you need to develop. There is really no ‘magic’, ‘miracle’ or ‘quick fix’ behind it. If you try to skip the stage of learning, you become limited in what you can achieve. You will end up failing or achieving mediocre results.
For example, if you want to be an English writer, you need to master your fundamental skill first – your command of the English language. You can’t go far in your ambitions if you have problems with fundamental tenses, grammar and vocabulary.
The skills which you have define the boundaries you operate in. The more skills you learn and the more developed you are in those skills, the greater your capacity to perform. This means better results. By developing your skills, you literally expand your own boundaries. These boundaries can be as big as you want – they are defined by you.
BUT HOW TO START DEVELOPING SKILLS?
Break it down into smaller steps.
The process of skills development can be a daunting task, especially if it’s a new, high chunk skill. For example, starting a new business. Business management involves a whole series of different skills, such as project management, time management, leadership, problem solving, and so on. If that’s the case, break this down into mini steps. What is the first step you need to take to embark on this? Direct all your efforts into getting that first step into place, then move on to your second step. You will find things are much easier to handle that way.
Learn from the best.
It’s easiest to learn from the people who have been there before. Identify the people out there who are already experts in the skills you want to develop. Observe them. Model them if you want an exact same output. If you know them, approach them for assistance. Ask them to be your mentors. Seek guidance.
Research – Read up.
There is tons of excellent material out there with information waiting to be lapped up. Start off by researching on the internet. Read books related to the subject. Watch related videos.
Trainings, seminars and workshops are great sources to quickly develop skills. Depending on the quality of the training, trainings can sometimes be a one stop shop for the kind of skills you are developing. They serve as concentrated sources of information that is already organized and structured into a series of programs. The intensity of such events and the combined common intentions of the participants enable you to move forward much faster than if you were to do it alone.
Get into action – Do it.
There is no better way to learn than to get right into thick of things and do it. Strategizing and planning are important, but at some point you need to start executing the plans. When you start doing, you get immediate feedback on your progress and whether it fits with your expectations. Until you try it, it will always remain in your mind as a hypothesis. Doing things closes all the ‘what ifs’ and creates momentum to move forward.