Encouragement Plus Coaching

Learning a New Skill

Don H. Morris
Life Coach

Some people make it happen,
some people watch it happen,
and some people say
"What happened?"
Anonymous

Five Steps in
Learning a New Skill

Skills are sets of behaviors that must be learned. They are not acquired automatically, but take work to develop and use. Here's how you can start.

When trying a new skill, you may feel some anxiety. It isn't comfortable to try out new behaviors. They don't "fit" yet. To overcome this natural, normal sensation of nervousness, just relax! You'll get a handle on the skill with continued practice.

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References

      Bennis, Warren; Schein, Edgar; Steele, Fred; & Berlew, David. (1968). Personal change through interpersonal relationships. In Interpersonal dynamics: Essays and readings on human interaction (pp. 333-369). Homewood, IL: Dorsey.
      Authors discuss the three step process of developing a new skill first presented by the social psychologist Kurt Lewin.

      Johnson, David W. (1972) Reaching out: Interpersonal effectiveness and self-actualization (p. 6). Engelwood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
      Author presents a five step process of developing a new skill.

      Tubbs, Stewart L. (1984). A systems approach to small group interaction (2nd ed.) (pp. 334-337). Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
      Author presents both Lewin's and Johnson's modles for learning a new skill.

      Schein, Edgar H. (n.d.). Kurt Lewin's change theory in the field and in the classroom: Notes toward a model of managed learning. Web Address: http://www.a2zpsychology.com/articles/kurt_lewin's_change_theory.html.
      Schein is one of the authors of the Bennis et. al. book chapter listed above. He presnets an excellent discussion of Lewin's change theory.

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