In today’s business climate, self-improvement is no longer optional. We need to be continually improving if we want to make ourselves marketable to employers or if we want to get ahead in our career. Acquiring new skills is essential. So, we know what we need to do, but what is the best way to go about doing it? What is the best way to get those new skills? .
To begin with, the experts say, you need to think about two things. First, is the new skill you want to learn achievable? Your goal may be to become a concert pianist, but if you have arthritis, it is unlikely that no matter how much effort you put in, you will achieve your goal. The second thing to think about is your commitment – are you willing to put in the hours needed to learn the skill? Learning a new skill is not easy, it will take a lot of time and effort.
You also need to think about the relevancy of your goal. Will your new skill help you to advance in your career? Is it something that will be valued by an employer?
The next step is to think about how you learn best. Do you learn most readily by reading, or do you learn better by watching a demonstration and having someone explain things, or do you learn best by actually doing something, some kind of hands-on experience? Think back to learning experiences you have had in the past. Which ones were most helpful for you to get some idea of which learning style suits you best?
You also want to look for a mentor, someone, possibly in your company, who has mastered the skill you are looking to learn and who can help you.
Another piece of advice – don’t try to do everything at once. Mastering a new skill might seem overwhelming. What you need to try and do is break it down into smaller, more manageable goals, doing it step by step, a little at a time.
Reflect on what you are learning and talk about it with others. This will help to cement the skill in your mind. And finally, the experts caution that you need to be patient. It is going to take time.
If you are looking for temporary, temporary-to-hire or direct-hire work in the Anchorage area, send a message to the Opti Staffing Group. We would love to discuss how we can help you find the job you are looking for.