The first step to BEing more skillful

What do you want to be good at—and what are the skills involved?

This is the first in the BE Series on BEing Skillful. As I wrote this collection, I found it raised more questions for me than it answered. That’s the beauty of inquiry—it keeps us curious and honest. So I’ll carry those questions forward in each post, inviting you to look at your own relationship to BEing skillful.

Pick something—anything—you’d like to become more skillful at. This week, write it down. It might be improving your listening on sales calls, reading your numbers with more confidence, or practicing how to delegate more effectively. Ask yourself if this is just for a short-term accomplishment, like closing a deal this month, or if it’s the beginning of a lifelong journey, like mastering leadership or communication.

Once you’ve named the skill, take ten minutes to reflect on what it will bring to your life and work. Then, decide how good you want to be at it right now. You don’t have to become an expert overnight. In fact, aiming for perfection can sabotage the joy of learning. Instead, set a level of “good enough” that serves your current goal and frees you to actually practice.

Here’s a simple way to start this week:

1. Write down the skill you’re focusing on.
2. Capture in a sentence why it matters to you.
3. Decide what “good enough” looks like for this season of growth.
4. Take one action—read something, practice for ten minutes, or ask someone for feedback.

Begin with clarity about what you want to be skillful at and why. That clarity will be your anchor when the process tests you—as it surely will.

Now, go get clear—and take that first step today.