How to Improve Yourself

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How to Improve Yourself

In order to improve your results and be successful, you need to constantly improve performance.

There are seven major ways to improve yourself and your performance.

1. Improve your knowledge bank.
2. Improve your technical skills and abilities.
3. Improve your energy levels.
4. Improve your ability to think logically.
5. Improve your self-belief.
6. Improve your communication skills.
7. Improve your ability to gain the willing cooperation of other people.

Let us say a few words on each one.

1. Improve your knowledge bank.

Knowledge is power. If you are not achieving the results you want in your life, it is partly because you don't know how.

If you learn more, you will earn more.

But learning more means specialist knowledge. We live in the age of specialists. You need to train yourself in some form of specialist knowledge, that others will pay you for. The more you know in a specialist field of endeavour, then the more you will be valued by people in that field.

Study your craft. Ignorance is a not bliss. Knowledge is power.

2. Improve your technical skills abilities.

In a similar way, develop your technical skills that relate to your work. If you are at work, then strive to be the most knowledgeable person in your workplace. If you are unskilled relative to your colleagues, then you won't get far.

If you are a highly skilled operator, then you will excel and earn the respect of others.

3. Improve your energy levels.

Science defines energy as, "the capacity to do work". Many people don't do well because they don't have enough energy. Your energy is governed by three factors:

• your nutrition,
• your sleep and
• your exercise programme.

You need to eat well, sleep well and exercise regularly.

Then you will have terrific amounts of energy and you will be able to work well.

4. Improve your ability to think straight.

The ability to think straight means the ability to think logically. Logical thought is a special way of thinking that is based on observed fact, not subjective feelings.

Logical thought is systematic.

Logical thought is self-consistent, coherent, NON-contradictory thought.

Logical thought is based upon using language where the meaning of every term is well defined and does not change. In logic, every word holds a specific meaning.

Logic is the method of the rational person. And if you're not rational, then you are irrational. And irrational thought, leads to irrational action, which leads to failure.

Logic can lead you to the achievement of your goals, by showing you how to organise information into practical plans of action.

5. Improve your self-belief.

Your mind has a logical component, see above. It also has an emotional component. Your emotions are based on your beliefs. If you believe in yourself, you will achieve more than if you don't.

Every day you should practice talking to yourself in encouraging and supportive ways.

Drop any self-destructive thought habits.

Replace them with goal directed thought processes.

Think optimistically for the future.

6. Improve your communication skills.

Improve your communication skills by combining the above notes and using them as a basis for your communication.

Talk to others in an optimistic manner.

Explain things to others in a logical way. Talk about observed facts, not subjective feelings. Present your message systematically and in a self-consistent, coherent, NON-contradictory way.

It is not enough to have good ideas, you need to be able to communicate them effectively: Which means with good reasoning and a high degree of self-belief.

7. Improve your ability to get on gain the willing co-operation of other people.

To succeed, you need to gain the willing cooperation of others.

So be nice to people.

• Be friendly.
• Don't lose your temper.
• Never swear.
• Don't criticise and condemn.

Instead try to be empathetic. Even if you don't agree; you can empathise.

Keep the relationship between you and others as good as you can, because you need people to assist you in the achievement of your goals.

Keep your communications with others always friendly and as polite as you can.

Summary

Your continued personal development relies on you improving your:

1. Knowledge bank;
2. Technical skills;
3. Energy levels;
4. Ability to think logically;
5. Self-belief
6. Communication skills and
7. Ability to get on well with others.

About the Author: Chris Farmer

Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years’ experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.

Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.

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Further Reading in Personal Development

• How to Improve Yourself
  If you want to be successful and achieve your life goals, you must look to your personal development. Do not be content with what you already know, improve your knowledge, your self belief and ability to get on with other people.
  Read Article >
• Personal Development: Wise words from Jim Rohn
  Discover the one reason you are not doing very well.
  Read Article >
• Why Free Online Management Courses Won't Get You the Results You Need
  Discover why free online management courses fall short in providing essential leadership skills. Learn about the qualities every successful leader needs and why investing in professional training, is crucial for achieving results.
  Read Article >
• How can we continually improve our results?
  Results are the measure of our own performance. Your performance can be continuously improved by three elements; improving yourself, others and the systems around you.
  Read Article >
• How to take criticism
  We all make mistakes, but most of us probably don't take criticism well. Being able to use negative feedback constructively, is one of the most important gifts you can give yourself. We must also learn to give proper constructive criticism to others.
  Read Article >

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