With the rapid pace of change in today’s world, it’s essential to keep learning and developing new skills throughout your career and life. But with so many potential skills to learn, how do you decide which one to tackle next? Here are some tips for choosing your next skill to acquire:

Follow Your Genuine Interests and Passions The skills that will be most rewarding and valuable for you to learn are likely the ones aligned with your innate interests and passions. What topics do you find yourself curiously reading about in your free time? What activities give you a sense of flow and keep you totally engaged? Lean into those areas of interest when selecting a new skill – you’ll learn faster when it’s something you care about.

Consider In-Demand Skills Look at job postings, salary surveys, and growth projections to identify skills that are in-demand in your current or desired field. Skills related to data analysis, digital marketing, cloud computing, and cybersecurity are hot right now in many industries. Having marketable skills increases your professional opportunities.

Fill Gaps in Your Skillset Analyze your current skills and experience. What areas are lacking that are commonly required for roles you’re interested in? Learning complementary skills can make you a more well-rounded professional. For instance, if you have strong hard skills but need better communication abilities.

Learn for Personal Development Not every new skill has to be purely vocational. Pick up skills that aid your personal growth and allow you to work on weakness or blind spots. Public speaking, time management, emotional intelligence – these can enhance all aspects of your life.

Make a Learning Plan Once you identify the skill, research the best approach for effectively acquiring it. Massive open online courses, books, tutorials, in-person classes, or hands-on projects? Set concrete goals and create a realistic timeline to build the skill.

Remember, you don’t have to master every new skill – the goal is continuous learning. Stay curious and consistently challenge yourself to pick up new tools that unlock growth in your career and life.