|
|
CDS Member News and ArticlesProfessional News Articles : FRONT DESK by Mary M. Byers, CAE : Master new skills Master new skillsSeptember 29, 2009 Want to get really good at something? Then spend 10,000 hours mastering the skill. That’s what it takes, accordingly to Malcolm Gladwell, author of Outliers. According to an article in The Sunday Times: “What’s really interesting about this 10,000-hour rule is that it applies virtually everywhere,” Gladwell told a conference held by The New Yorker magazine. “You can’t become a chess grand master unless you spend 10,000 hours on practice. But what if you didn’t start as a kid? Are you doomed? Yes. . . and no. Though you may not be able to turn yourself into an Olympic swimmer or self-made billionaire, you can master new skills. Here’s how: Focus. Identify very specifically what you’d like to learn. Recently, I wanted to learn how to use a specific accounting program for my computer, but only to create invoices and track income and expense. I know the software is much more powerful than that, but learning how to use it to its full potential felt overwhelming and was holding me back. By focusing specifically on what I wanted to learn, I made the task more manageable. Find a tutor and/or mentor. I could have taught myself to use the accounting software by sitting down at the computer and exploring the program on my own. Instead, I chose to find a tutor to teach me what I wanted to know. This saved both time and frustration and provided me with an individual I could call for help when I got stuck. Set time aside. Though you may not have the 10,000 hours necessary to become an expert, it is essential that you carve out time in your schedule to do what’s necessary to master a new skill. Maybe you’ll need to take a day out of the office to attend a training program or ask for time off to shadow someone. Or maybe you simply need a morning to find the answers to the questions you need to resolve about the new skill or procedure you’ve committed to learning. Practice. It was difficult to remember what I learned about the accounting software until I started using the program on a regular basis. The more I used it, however, the more familiar it became. The same is true with any new skill. I’m currently taking a tap dance class and I’ve found my retention is much higher when I come home after class and practice the steps I’ve just learned rather than waiting until the next class to do them again. Find your sticking points. What’s keeping you from mastering the skill? Maybe you don’t understand why, or how, something is done. Or maybe you’ve been able to master part, but not all, of it. Partial understanding or ability isn’t mastery. But once you’ve identified what’s holding you back, it will be easier to gain the knowledge you need to confidently perform the skill. Whether you spend 10,000 hours, 10 weeks, 10 days or 10 minutes, the above tips will help you master new skills in order to further your career.
CDS presents Front Desk, a column addressing problems dentists and staff members experience in the office. Front Desk is prepared by Mary M. Byers, CAE, a professional speaker and freelance writer. Ms. Byers may be reached at mbyers@marybyers.com or www.marybyers.com. Send suggestions for topics to be covered to review@cds.org. |
|
 | ||