Why and How to Develop a Skills Learning Plan

Lesson on developing a Skills Learning Plan. And suggestions on what factors you need to consider in developing your Skills Learning Plan. (Updated Jan 26, 2023)

Added By: ASC

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January 2, 2017

Learning Subjects

Economics

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3 Types of Skills

There are 3 Types of Skills I need to Master in order to thrive in the 21st Century:

Skills that I can definitely learn – Usually job related Skills like Java or welding or auto repair. Also includes personal skills like balancing a check book, or buying a house.
Skills that I can only partially learn – These are skills like creativity, empathy, perceptiveness, assertiveness.
Skills that I already know – These are skills like accountability, honesty, caring, considerate, dependable, etc..

Skills I Can Definitely Learn

There are almost an infinite number of skills that I can learn. Here are just some of the skills I am trying to learn right now: Java Networking, SQL, iOS Application Programing, WordPress, Photoshop, Lightroom, Landscape Photography, blogging, writing, editing, iBook Author, iTunes Producer, Facebook, Google Analytics, video editing, sound editing.

The thing about all these skills is that I know I can learn these skills to a large extent. I know that I can learn theses skills to the extent that I need to master them in order to achieve my personal goals. And, I know that I can always improve skills I already know.

I know there are classes I can take to help me learn these skills, I know I can learn some of these skills by just doing it and experimenting. And I know there are some of these skills I can learn from others.

I can tell if a skill is in this group by looking to see if there are there specific and extensive classes to teach the skill. I also tell the importance of the skill by seeing how many classes there are that teach the skill. The more important a skill is the more classes are available.

Job Related Skills

This group of skills are usually seen in Job Related skills but there are many that are personal skills. The skills I need to know only as a part my job are skills like Java Networking. I don’t need to learn Java Networking to achieve my personal life goals. This group of skills I’ve often gotten through “On-Job-Training” (OJT). I did not know networking until I was hired by GTE and worked at Verizon and took networking classes as part of my job training.

Personal Skills

Personal skills I’ve learned over the years have included Quicken Personal Financial Management, Auto repair (much of this from my father), cooking, balancing my checkbook, plumbing, gardening, communication, writing, public speaking. I am always trying to improve these skills. For example, last might I cooked Potato Pancakes for the second time. This was a learning experience. The more I do things the better I get at it. So, I am always doing things.

Skills I Can Only Partially Learn

I know I can learn to be more creative, more perceptive, more assertive, but I have a basic genetic predisposition that constrains my ability to learn these specific skills. So I am not going to spend a lot of time trying to improve.

My running is a great example. I know that I can learn to run faster, but how much faster could I ever learn to run. There is no way I could ever learn to run a 4 min mile. I couldn’t run a 4 min mile when I was 18, there is no way I could learn to do it at 65.

There may be a learning opportunities for me on how to be more creative, perceptive, assertive, or run faster, but there is little benefit to me taking these classes. I have so many things to learn that I know I can learn, that there is little return on my investment of time to spend learning these things.

I know I want to be creative and perceptive, so, I am always looking to learn to be more creative and perceptive, but I prefer to learn these things simply as I go through life learning the stuff I know I can learn.

Skills that I already know

There are a whole hosts of skills I already know. These are skills like accountability, dependability, honesty, faith, empathy. I learned these skills at a young age and they have not changed.

I might not always exhibit the skill, but I know how to do it. And I know I should do them as often and as well as possible. I don’t have to learn this. I already know it.

Take empathy and dependability for example, I know I need to have empathy in order to improve my communication. And I know I need to be dependable in order to build trust. I don’t have to learn this. I already know it.