Most of what I write is aimed at helping loan officers achieve greater levels of success, but whether you’re working to improve your career skills, master a foreign language, or learn an instrument, there are several proven ways to boost your progress. Here are some tips to help you become more proficient at the things you do:
Reflect
Before you can begin working to improve, you need to evaluate. Figure out where your strengths and weaknesses are, and then identify the areas where you want to improve. For instance, let’s say your goal is to learn to speak Spanish. Maybe your strength lies in memorizing vocabulary, but you’re not as good at picking up on grammar. By reflecting on this, you can determine which areas to prioritize and where to invest your time and energy for maximum reward.
Create a Plan
Once you’ve determined which skills you need to work on, you need a plan to get you there. Create goals that are S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound). Once your goals are outlined, you can carve out the actionable steps it will take to reach them. What should you practice each day, week, and month in order to succeed at achieving proficiency? Record your plan in some way to hold yourself accountable.
Devote Time to Practice
The more you practice a skill, the more you solidify it as a regular habit. The more hours you put into getting better at something, the more likely you’ll be to improve. It’s a fairly simple idea, but committing to it can make a major impact on your success. In order to become proficient at anything, it requires a dedication of your time and energy (more on the importance of persistence, here). Studies show that it takes more than just putting in the time though. It’s not only how much you practice, but also how you practice. Practicing with a specific purpose proves to be most effective. This is called deliberate practice, where you have a defined intention each time and small goals to aim for.
Seek Out Feedback
Ultimately, it’s up to you to achieve what you want and to get better at what you do. While the responsibility lies with you, there are some external factors that can help you grow and motivate you along the way. One major source of fuel is feedback. When you ask people in your community for feedback, you gain useful information to help you improve. Outside perspectives can give insights that you might not have gotten on your own. Asking people who practice the same skills as you will be most beneficial because they’ll have the understanding needed to evaluate you most accurately.
In order to get better at what you do, you need to assess where you are, identify where you need to improve, make a plan to get there, and seek external input along the way.
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