So, what new skills do you need to power forward? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but these 15 new skills are great places to start. All skills have value, but some are more helpful than others when it comes to your self-development. Adding these to your arsenal will increase the pace of your growth:
1. Goal Setting
On your journey toward your best self, you need to set goals. The key is balance: If your goals are too lofty, you’ll get discouraged when you fall short. Start too small, and you’ll become satisfied with your progress too early and stop pushing yourself forward. The better approach is to think in milestones. If you want to be a novelist, don’t set a goal to finish a book in a week. Focus on getting a couple of pages done each day, or on writing a chapter each week. This measurable progress is more sustainable and fulfilling. Some resources for you:
2. Stress Management
Personal growth can create a lot of stress. To keep going when times are tough, you have to learn how to manage your stress levels. If brisk walks help you keep your head on straight, schedule one for your lunch period every day. If you need to take Sundays off to recharge for the next week, it’s more than acceptable to do so. Some resources for you:
3. Organization
Organization is a skill that comes more naturally to some people than others. If you’re a naturally messy person, start small. Otherwise, you’ll get overwhelmed. Focus on the places where you spend the most time. Clean up your bedroom or vacuum your car. If physical cleaning is stressful, start by culling files from your computer. Believe it or not, one clean space can set the tone for the rest of your life. Some resources for you:
4. Problem Solving
On the road of personal development, you’ll run into some barriers. Nobody but you can remove these from your path. That’s why problem solving is a vital skill for self-development. Perhaps anxiety is keeping you from doing your best work. Instead of struggling through it, quietly take a mental health day. “You absolutely don’t need to disclose why you’re taking a sick day,” says Carissa Toyama of Forward, a membership-based preventive care group.[2] Don’t let personal challenges stand in the way of your growth. If you can solve them, do — and don’t let anyone give you flak for it. Some resources for you:
5. Time Management
To master yourself, you must master your time. You only get so much of it, and every minute wasted is a minute you’ll never get back. The good news is, time management is a skill that transcends every situation. Time management is about the power of routine. You can use an online calendar to give your day more structure.[3] You can develop morning and nightly rituals to promote better sleeping habits. When in doubt, replace idle time with projects geared toward new skills. If your goal is to learn to bake, spend an hour making muffins rather than scrolling through social media. Some Resources for you:
6. Work Ethic
You can wish for something all you want. But if you’re not willing to put in the work, you won’t actually achieve it. The first step is acknowledging the work you need to do for personal development. The second is actually getting your hands dirty. If you want to squat a certain amount of weight, you have to spend hours in the gym. Simply imagining yourself becoming stronger will do nothing. Some resources for you:
7. Accountability
You are responsible for your own actions. Hold yourself accountable to them. The sooner you do, the quicker you can get back on track after making a mistake. If your personal development slows down because you opted to sleep in instead of getting up early to work out, don’t blame the cold, grey morning. You made that choice. Some resources for you:
8. Networking
The fast track to self-development is through networking. By connecting with other professionals in your field, you gain access to the wisdom of those with more experience than you. The internet makes networking incredibly easy. Social media sites like LinkedIn allow you to connect with workers and leaders from all corners of the globe. Make meaningful connections, and they’ll give you not just something to aspire to, but a helping hand along that path. Some resources for you:
5 Steps to Master Networking Skills and Perfect Your Personal Branding How to Network on LinkedIn (6 Dos and Don’ts)
9. Empathy
The people around you impact your self-development more than you might realize. Treating them with empathy cracks the door not just to compassion and understanding, but to all sorts of mentorship opportunities. Remember, mentorship is a two-way street. Mentors benefit just as much from the arrangement as mentees do. One study of CFOs who mentored others found the top benefit they cited was improving their own leadership skills.[4] Some resources for you:
10. Self-Control
Self-development is no walk in the park. In challenging times, you’ll be tempted to find comfort in relaxing activities, such as playing video games or scrolling through social media. In order to truly progress, though, you have to learn self-control. Smartphones in particular are a threat to self-control. The average person spends hours per day on their mobile devices. If you fall into that bucket, ask yourself: How could you use that time more productively? Some resources for you:
11. Patience
Remember no meaningful goal is achieved overnight. Be patient. Self-development is a process that can take years, even decades. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t see immediate progress. Take pride and find joy in even your smallest accomplishments. Some resources for you:
12. Resilience
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. In other words, you have to push yourself through hard situations. Every time you throw in the towel, you lose momentum that’s difficult to get back. Resilience is a skill acquired through struggle. That may not sound encouraging when looking for quick self-development, but you’ll soon see the power that comes from never giving up. Some resources for you:
13. Balance
Spend all your time at your profession, and you’ll become a master at your trade. Spend all your time with family, and you’ll have wonderful relationships — but fewer skills and a much smaller bank account. The key to getting the best of all worlds is balance. If you’re tired of working on one thing, take a break. You can always come back later, when you’re feeling more up to it. Some resources for you:
14. Self-Care
Self-care means different things to different people, as it should. But the overarching truth holds for everyone: If you don’t care for your health, you won’t see the self-growth you want. Make time to exercise regularly, either at home or at a local gym. Choose a diet that will supply you with the nutrients you need, and stay hydrated. Meditate at least once per day. And if you’re having trouble managing your health on your own, reach out to a professional. Some resources for you:
15. Sacrifice
What do you have to give up to achieve your goals? When it comes to personal development, there’s always something. When you’re learning a new skill — especially if you also work full-time — you can’t spend the night socializing with friends. You may even need to sacrifice your weekends. While it’s important to find time to enjoy life, this isn’t the same as indulgence. Too much of any good thing is bad. Be prepared to give up a few pleasures in service to your self-development.
For Best Results, Start Today!
Developing all of these skills is a tall order. You’ll find, however, that in doing so you’ll already have made a lot of progress. Use that progress to push even harder. Keep honing your skills, and you’ll see just how life-changing self-development can be. Featured photo credit: Melanie Deziel via unsplash.com
