Organisations often look for skills that go beyond mere qualifications and experience. While education and experience are critical to help bag a job, it is equally essential to exhibit an array of skills in order to be successful in the job role. These skills translate across disciplines. In today’s fast-paced business world, it’s easy to be left behind if you don’t polish your skills because an employee who has developed his skills and capabilities right from the beginning is more valued than an employee who hasn’t progressed since the day he walked through the door. So here’s how you can develop your core skills.
1. Perform a self-analysis of your abilities and skills
Begin by analysing yourself, your skills, strengths, and weaknesses. This will give you an insight into your core skills, while also helping you realise where you need to improve and develop. Self-assessment is a crucial aspect of self-development.
2. Polish critical skills
You may want to polish some critical skills such as communication skills, interpersonal skills, and analytical thinking skills. Good interpersonal skills are essential to work in a team, satisfy customer expectations and negotiate and make decisions. By polishing your communication skills – both verbal and written – and by demonstrating a strong vocabulary, you can get your messages across effectively. Additionally, the ability to solve problems and think logically can help you stand out from the crowd. You could be an asset to your employer.
3. Work on your weaknesses
It’s absolutely essential to work on your weaknesses. For instance, you may fall short of technological know-how, or you may not be a confident public speaker. Turn these weaknesses into your strengths and work towards developing these grey areas. It will open up new avenues for you.
4. Master the art of decision making and time management
In order to achieve success in your career, being decisive is indispensable. Begin by evaluating different decisions for an organisation’s pros and cons. It’s essential to ensure that your decisions are well thought out. Another skill that will take you a long way is time management. Avoid procrastinating and keep everything under control by meeting deadlines. Maintaining a detailed diary to list out deadlines and planning a schedule for your work will be beneficial. Set challenging, yet realistic, goals that will help you make use of your time efficiently.
5. Find a mentor
Finding a mentor is one of the finest ways to develop your skill sets. An expert from whom you can learn will help you gain insight and knowledge into the tricks of the trade. Working closely with mentors will help you understand how they do things, and you can soon mirror their actions and find out what works best for you.
6. Future proof your skill sets
When improving your skills ensure that you not only upskill but also work on skills that are critical, even if you change your line of work. Be a master of the skills required for your job by consistently upskilling and also work on skills such as leadership skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills and presentation skills. By keeping your skill sets up-to-date, you can perform better, and it will eventually increase your value in the company. It will also help you adapt to a new position or job in the future.
As you aspire to climb to the top of your professional ladder, it’s common to hit a roadblock, which may slow your ascent. By honing your skills and practising a strong sense of discipline, you can keep yourself on track and achieve long-term success.