My actual 6-step process to develop new skills.

I was asked how I develop new skills.

This is my actual 6-step process:

Step 1: Define my end game.

Step 2: Research, then find a role model.

Step 3: Define a set of micro-behaviours.

Step 4: Practice the micro-behaviours.

Step 5: Evaluate how you improved your performance.

Step 6: Keep adapting and refining until you achieve the desired skill level.

And here's how you might use this process yourself.

First define the skill level you want to achieve. That's important so you know when to stop. You may decide to set a higher goal after that, or move on to a different skill.

Next research the skill by watching it in practice. Book learning isn't much use for this. What you want is a baseline model to work from.

Once you have that pick your role models.

That means three people who practice the skill at the level you want.

Watch them in action to see 'what good looks like'. Observe what they do in practice. Then pick out some of the crucial micro-behaviours you see that make up the skill.

Ask them about these behaviours and their thinking behind them too.

Often they're not conscious of what they're doing. So, you have to unpack things carefully. Try to avoid asking why they do something, instead ask what's important about it.

Based on what you've observed and been told create your own micro-behaviour experiments.

Now run the experiments and see what results you get. Did it move you closer to the skill level you want? If so, move it to the next level; if not, note what changes are needed

That's it.