Learning is a continuous process, one that should be a lifelong pursuit, whether you’re a student or a working professional. The global business environment we operate in today requires us to be consistently upgrading our skills and knowledge.
Skills can range from technical competencies such as the ability to use Microsoft Excel or speak a foreign language to soft skills which relate to how you work or navigate your environment. These include interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.
Consistently striving to learn new skills opens your mind to new experiences. You’ll be able to complete tasks more efficiently, add value in different ways, and offer fresh perspectives. Plus, with more time on our hands at home, there is no better time to start learning a new skill.
Set an attainable goal and plan for it
Before working on a new competency, you’ll need to consider how viable it is. Assess your skills planning and review any limitations using the SMART method.
Once you’ve set an attainable skill as a goal, you need to plan well for it. Recognise that learning a new skill takes a great deal of commitment and effort. Understanding this will allow you to plan more realistically and effectively. Parking small milestones along the way also motivates you towards the eventual goal.
Learn it the way you know best
Everyone learns differently. Some prefer the use of visual aids like mind maps, while others absorb information better through audio sources or by practicing it.
According to the VARK model, individuals may prefer one, two or three modes of learning. Not meant to classify them into strict categories, this model has benefited in steering individuals in the direction of strategies that might help them with their learning.
Unsure of your learning style? Begin by looking into your previous learning experiences and classifying them according to effectiveness. Identify common strands across the good experiences to understand what makes a good environment or style for you. Learning the way you know best is key to retaining the knowledge.
Try teaching the same skill to others
One crucial step in skills development is testing your new knowledge. Give yourself the task of teaching it to others, this could be anyone from family and friends to co-workers. There are a number of ways to go about this: plan for weekly training lessons, share a presentation, or lead a project that will employ the use of this skill. By teaching others, you get to identify gaps in your learning process and act upon them. If you can’t teach it, you probably don’t know it well enough yet!
Start with small steps
Putting a new skill into practice is a huge step. Sometimes, the journey towards completion can be a long one and staying motivated is essential to your success. Split your goal up into smaller milestones. Work mini goals into your development plan so that you get a boost of confidence each time you tick one off.
For example, if you’re working on acquiring public speaking skills, try speaking up in meetings before planning for a big presentation. Plan for it in phases so that you have time to pause, reflect, and adapt your skills development plan.
Work your way to a brighter future
Learning new skills is one of the most important ways to upgrade yourself, as a student and working professional. Depending on your profession or interest, PSB Academy offers short professional courses for individuals keen on taking their skills to the next level. Your future begins with a single step today.
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