LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The world does not stand still and that is why it is important that you continue to perfect your skills. But how do you do that without making it too difficult for yourself? 5 tips!
1. What do you want to achieve?
Think carefully about what you want to do and what it takes. You don’t necessarily have to come up with the best sales pitches, but is it enough to tell a story clearly? Maybe you are already an organisational talent, but you want to get even better at what you already do to get to the next level? Having a clear goal in mind makes it easier not only to map out the way there, but also to stay motivated.
2. Break the skill into smaller sets
Most ‘skills’ are actually bundles of smaller ‘sub-skills’ that are combined. Dismantling a certain skill into manageable parts makes practising it less intimidating and ensures that you get certain ‘subskills’ under control step by step.
3. Do enough research
Find out the best way to master that one skill. During your research, the most important techniques and ideas will quickly emerge, so that you can put them into practice. You can of course always follow a course or training , where you count on the knowledge transfer of an expert. Don’t forget to inform your boss about your plans, who knows, you may be able to take a course at the company’s expense. An employer will do a lot to keep versatile employees in the team.
In any case, act quickly, because the longer you wait, the greater the chance that you will postpone it. In short: get your hands dirty as soon as possible!
4. Eliminate barriers
The more effort it takes to practice something, the less likely you are to persist. Eliminate all possible distractions in your environment and make sure you have the crucial tools at your fingertips.
5. Practice for twenty hours
Don’t stop until you reach your goal. And practice at least 20 hours on that one ‘skill’. For example, 40 minutes a day for a month. This will help you persevere after frustrations that are bound to crop up. You might also want to check whether you can do an internship at a different department within the company for at least one day each week. It must be a place where that skill is really needed.
Skills are best developed in practice. Do you think a commitment of 20 hours or an internship is too much effort? Then that skill is simply not important enough for you at the moment and you can better focus on something else.
Lack of discipline? Then contact a career coach. This not only helps you to improve your skills , but also gives you insights into your strengths and possible stumbling blocks.
