Lesson 5: Personal Development Skills

Lesson Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
1. Explain the personal development skills
2. Describe how to improve their personal development skills

Self-development skills are those abilities and talents which an individual

possess that may help him to grow both personally and professionally. Once these
skills are improved, an individual can maximize his potential. One of the most rational
decision that an individual make for himself is to struggle toward continuous
development.

Lesson 5.1 What are Personal Development Skills?

People build personal development skills to make themselves better, to be

satisfied with their lives and to reach their goas. These skills can be attained by an
individual through continuous education, self-help and advices from mentors and
professionals.

Individuals set personal development goals so they may improve the quality of
their lives, they want to become better people and to achieve more so they can better
version of themselves.

Personal development skills are used personally and professionally by

individuals to improve their strengths, enhance their career, make themselves better,
find contentment and to reach their goals.

Examples of Personal Development Skills

 Personal development skills are those traits or abilities which an individual
already acquired through education and training. People value their personal
development skills depending on their goals in life.

Examples below are skills which people usually aim to develop:

1. Leadership
2. Communication
3. Interpersonal
4. Human Relation
5. Self-confidence
6. Work Ethic
7. Integrity
8. Problem Solving
9. Adaptability

1. Leadership is the ability to direct and guide people. Good leaders are good in
motivating other people to finish their task and to accomplish their goals. They are also
good in building confidence and improving the morale of the employees. Good leaders
are happy in developing subordinates to become leaders.

2. Communication is the ability of on person to speak, listen and write using different
media. This skill is relevant for all people so they can say what they want to convey.
People need this skill so they can be confident in dealing with other people both
personally and professionally.

3. Interpersonal skill or person to person skill use both verbal and nonverbal
communication to interact with other people. This skill affects the ability of a person to
build good relationship and make a positive impression about himself.

4. Human relation skill is the ability of an individual to interact with other people in a
good way in order to build a harmonious relationship with others.
5. Self Confidence is an individual’s positive attitude toward himself. This skill will
help you trust yourself more so you will likely reach your goals and ambitions in life.
Being confident about himself means accepting one’s strengths and the weaknesses.

6. Work Ethic is an attitude which an individual person possesses which permits him
to perform his duties and make decisions with positive moral values like humility,
teamwork, discipline, responsibility and determination. Individuals with good work
ethics are those with positive attitude and productive.

7. Integrity means doing the right thing in all situations. This is the practice when an
individual is honest and shows strong ethical principles and values in his actions. A
person with high integrity has also good name and more opportunities for career
growth.

8. Problem Solving skill is the ability of an individual to solve challenges and problems
in all the situations. This skill can be seen in a person when he stays calm during
challenges. Those persons who have good problem solving skills are those who can
continue working under pressure.

9. Adaptability Skill is the ability of a person to adjust to changes in an environment.

Individuals who possess this skill can respond quickly to changes in ideas, work tasks,
expectations, trends, systems and processes in the place of work. Adaptable people possess
soft skills like problem solving skills, creative thinking skills, interpersonal skills and others
(Indeed, 2020).

Lesson 5. 2 How to Improve Self-Development Skills

Personal development skills can be enhanced by continuously educating oneself,
learning from mentors and other professionals, acquiring more talents and enhancing the
existing ones. The following strategies may help improve self-development skills:
1. Overcome Fears

A person who have so many fears can hinder him to progress and grow. If an
individual is afraid to talk in front of many people, he can enroll in a class which focus on
developing confidence while speaking in public. If a person always fear of taking risks, he
can find a mentor or professional who can help him build his confidence so he can take
risks. People have to learn new things and processes which he has not learned before
and he is not confident of doing, so will grow.

2. Read

Being a wide reader always has an advantage of increasing his/her vocabulary

and will keep him informed. Reading inspires us and arouses our interest to learn new
things. Reading at least one book, motivational article per month is an important tasks
which keeps us brilliant and updated.

3. Learn something new

Learning something new like new process, method, skill, topic or concept will add
to your knowledge. To continuously learn, a person can take special courses like learning
foreign language, public speaking, leadership course, Coursera, new software, learner’s
management system and others. Students at present are valuing the online learning and
using some platforms to learn at home. Professors have learned some new system on
how go teach online. They also attended many webinars and professional development
topics so they will be updated on some trends in different subject areas.

4. Ask for Feedback

Asking feedback from a colleague, friend or family member about your recent
accomplishment or finished tasks will be very helpful. The positive and negative
comments from these people have to be used and evaluated. The constructive criticisms
have to be accepted so it will be used to improve for the better. The different
perspectives of other people who are unbiased will be useful information and input for a
person to improve his craft.

5. Observe Others

The role models which an individual always looked up to can serve as an

inspiration to do better. They can be a manager, a public figure, family member and
professionals. The good qualities and characteristics of the role model being observed
can be used in improving oneself.

6. Network

Building network by means of joining different organizations and participating with

different programs, attending seminars, trainings and events may be useful in meeting
more people and establishing relationship with them. New ideas and knowledge from
these people can be used in improving self development skills.

7. Blogging

Keep your thoughts and ideas written by blogging. Through this, you can share
your experiences and ideas about a recent subject matter which are important part of
your self-development. A deep reflection on a certain topic or events, decisions or
conversation can be thought of carefully and be written in the blogs.

8. Reflect

People have to learn to deeply reflect on something to reduce anxiety and stress.
Thinking deeply may help an individual assess himself better so he can focus on
improving self-development skills in a very calm and positive manner. By self reflection
and analyzing your self for some time, you can focus and relax.

9. Get a mentor
 A mentor is someone who can help a person build his self-development skills.
This can be a former professor, manager, professional whom you admire. These
mentors may help a person identify some of his weak points so it may be turned into
strengths (Indeed, 2020)

Personal Development Skills in the Workplace

The personal development skills that an individual had developed may also be
useful when he enter the corporate world.

1. Be an active listener

To be an active listener is to pay attention to what the speaker is saying. An

employee has to focus and understand on what the supervisor or clients are saying so
he can use those information to do his/her tasks well. Effective listening and
communications skills are tools in developing skills in the workplace.

2. Work well with others

People’s skills are valuable skills that an individual need to have so he will be a
team player in an organization. The human skills which are the social skills that have to
be maintained with co-employees, customers, superiors and to other acquaintances in
order to build positive relationships.

3. Organize work, time and other materials

Organizing as an important function involves putting things and people in order in

an organization. All the tasks and activities have to planned in order to know which
should be prioritized. A well organized person can better accomplish his tasks well and
achieve his goals.

4. Work through challenging situations

 Challenges in the workplace are normal and an employee has to deal with these
challenges. He has to evaluate the alternative courses of action and choose the best
solution from these options in order to come up with a sound solution. Those people
who work under pressure with so many complexities in the workplace usually are more
likely to work under pressure and make better decision in personal life and career life.

5. Believe in yourself

Self confidence is a positive feeling that a person can have to make him better
employee. An individual has to believe in himself that he can make sound decisions so
other may likely believe in him as well. This positivity about oneself can be a good
motivator for other employees so they can also handle challenges in the workplace.

6. Adapt to Change

Flexibility is the ingredient used to be able to adapt to changes. An employee has

to learn to adapt in his work environment, with his/her tasks and with employees and
superiors. People with this kind of attitude can work in a team, accepts new ideas, learn
through training and continuous education and other ways so he can welcome changes
in his work and in his personal life.

7. Be true

Positive relationships start by being true and honest with oneself and with
colleagues. Practicing values and ethics in all an individual’s undertakings can motivate
other employees. Integrity of the people inside an organization leads to job satisfaction,
motivation, respect and good reputation.

8. Commitment and Passion about your Job

The commitment and passion about one’s job serves as their passport to be a
productive part of the organization. People who are dedicated and committed are
productive employees and they often produce quality jobs. Their dedication will motivate
them to even work harder to complete their tasks on time.
9. Mentor others

Mentoring employees and being a good leader requires vision, knowledge,

communication and self confidence. People who possess leadership skills may help the
organization attain teamwork and achieve their objectives (Indeed, 2020).