Mastering a skill sounds overwhelming. Mastering. Might even seem impossible! Let me encourage you. If there is something you want to learn how to do, chances are that if it’s realistic then it’s possible to master – or at least get pretty good at. In the following I’ll show you the three steps you can follow to master any skill!

The prerequisite to mastering a skill is of course to have one in mind, and to choose one that you have a good amount of interest in. If you’re not sure, you can still start on the three steps outline below! Because movement brings clarity you’ll find out if this is a skill you want to stick with and master or one you are content with just knowing something about.

Step 1: Learn

The first step to mastering a skill is to learn about what it is you want to do. How you learn about a skill depends on the skill. You may be able to learn from books, videos, or podcasts. Or you may need to watch other people engaged in the skill. Or you may need to sign up for a class, either with an instructor or an online, self-paced type. Some background is usually necessary to master a skill. Jumping right into the next step without putting some time in the Learn step … well, I’m sure I’m not the only one who has shown up the local hardware store with my head hung a little low and a bunch of broken parts in my outstretched hands.

The amount of time you need to spend in the Learn step varies by skill as well. I might be able to watch a video and get started down a path. I may need to attend college for 4 to 8 years. Or I may need to be an apprentice or junior member of a team for a length of time. Figure out who knows or has figured out already what you want to learn. Seek out the ways you can learn from them.

Step 2: Do

The second step is Do. We need to put aside the books, courses, and classes and do the skill we have set out to learn. This can be scary! But it’s also necessary. Think of anyone you know of that has mastered a skill – a master chef, a master carpenter, a renown researcher, engineer, or scientist, or a successful businessperson. At some point they shifted their focus from learning to doing.

This is not to say all learning stops when you start doing. Nor does it mean that you must learn everything about the skill to get started. You’ll find once you start doing you have less time for learning. Making the shift intentional will help you feel good about your choice. Because let’s face it – when we start with a new skill, we’re probably not going to be very good at it. But knowing that with practice we will get better at our skill will also make us feel good about sacrificing learning time for doing time.

Step 3: Teach

The third step is Teach. When you learn enough and you pass knowledge onto others, your own skill level goes up. I’ve found that when I teach a skill to someone I learn even more about that skill. To teach we need to prepare. And preparation forces us to dive a little deeper and know our material even better.

Students often challenge the mentor or teacher as well with questions from an unconsidered perspective. This forces us to expand how we look at the skill and how the skill can be exercised. In the end, we learn more about the skill itself. (Oh look, we’re back to Step 1, Learn!)

Summary

Mastering a skill takes as long as it’s going to take. Keeping in mind the three steps to mastery: Learn, Do, Teach, will help us to know where we are in our mastery journey, and will remind us to transition from one step to another. Once you get going the steps will not likely be linear. You’ll find you will be learning, doing, and teaching at the same time.  

Ask yourself: what skill do you want to master? (I know you can do it!)