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iQuestions Faculty, Ron Price 
 
 
Question: 
 
I want to learn new skills for advancement in my company. What are 
some tips to help me succeed? 
 
Answer: 
 
In today’s world we all have to keep learning new things, especially if 
we want to advance in the workplace.  
 
So the first thing to do is to define what new skills are going to 
prepare me for that next level of involvement or promotion I’d like. 
Then we think about how to practice those skills—what are the things 
that I can do to develop these skills in me, and then finally, if we do it 
enough we become it.  
 
I’ve learned a really great trick in coaching executives when it comes 
to developing new skills. Actually, I learned it from my younger 
brother, who was a tennis pro, which means he taught people how to 
play tennis. He had me out on the court, and he was telling me to 
change my footwork and change my grip, and then at the end of this 
wonderful session, he said to me, “Now, Ron, the next time you play in 
a match, forget everything I’ve told you.” And I’m thinking, “What? 
Why?” he said, “Because, if you focus on the mechanics when you’re in 
the game, you’re guaranteed not to perform as well.” 
 
So what I do with executives is, I look for opportunities for us to 
practice these new skills in neutral territory, and then as a result they 
can focus more on the mechanics of the skill—not worry about the 
outcome—and they’ll learn much faster and be ready for advancement 
much sooner. 
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