Recently I gave up part of my weekend to spend some time learning a new skill, (Brand Marketing). I had to travel to London, not a huge distance, you can do it in a few hours, but it can still be a rigmarole, and then I’m giving up part of my weekend thats usually dedicated to spending with my Wife. It’s not easy to find the time to learn a new skill, or enhance/refresh skills we already have, but it’s so important.
I would even argue that life is all about learning new skills. If you invest time to learning a new skill and it’s the right skill, you can be wealthy, play a musical instrument, have a great relationship, or juggle five balls. Learning a new skill is a skill in itself.
There are several ideas to keep in mind as you learn a new skill. Setting goals, getting expert coaching, and having reasonable expectations are all important.
7 Steps To Learning a New Skill Quickly and Efficiently
1. Choose an appropriate skill.
You don’t have time to learn everything, so make sure if you’re going to spend time learning a new skill, it’s a skill that’s meaningful to you. It can either be a skill that will greatly aid you in some way or a skill that you find fascinating. If the new skill doesn’t fit into one of these two categories, you’re unlikely to stay motivated enough to master it.
2. Set both long-term and short-term goals.
Your long-term goal is mastering your chosen skill. Just how good do you want to be? The short-term goal is no more than 12 weeks in the future. At the end of this short time, you set a goal for how far you want to be after the next few months. This will keep you focused on making continuous progress.
3. Have reasonable expectations for your progress.
Your ultimate progress is virtually unlimited. However, learning a new skill takes time, and there is a limit to how much you can accomplish in 12 weeks. Realize that you’re unique and your rate of progress could be faster or slower than average.
4. Breakdown the skill into its components.
When learning a new skill, it can seem daunting at first. For example, playing the piano isn’t just about hitting the correct keys in the correct order. It has several skills interwoven into a larger skill. To be a good pianist, you must be able to do several things well:
- Sight-reading
- Compensating for the fact that some fingers are much stronger than others
- Understanding music theory
- Scales
- Arpeggios
- Dynamics
- And more
5. If appropriate, get a coach.
You can learn to play piano by yourself, but you’ll have a hard time finding a high-level pianist that didn’t receive expert instruction. At the very least, take time to find materials created by an expert. These may be in the form of books, videos, webinars, or websites. Even periodic meetings with a coach can keep you on the right track in the early days of learning a new skill.
6. Focus on what’s most important.
Remember the Pareto Principle The old adage that 20% of your efforts will account for 80% of your results is true. When learning a new skill, first, determine which activities and skills will yield the greatest results.
Most people spend too much time focusing on the activities that are the easiest or the most interesting. Avoid being that person. Whilst learning a new skill your progress will be faster if you spend your time wisely, by focusing on the most important tasks.
7. Get started quickly.
If you plan on learning a new skill, It’s important to make a start as soon as possible. Avoid falling into the trap of gathering an excessive amount of information before you get started. The person that masters a skill is the one that spend their time wisely. Spending your time watching videos of someone playing the piano isn’t a substitute for doing it yourself. Dive into the practical part of learning quickly.
You’ll be surprised by how quickly you learn if you choose an appropriate skill, and spend time focusing on the most effective tasks, and practicing consistently. Learning a new skill can change your life. Choose a skill that will add value to your life and you’ll benefit from it forever.
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