I wish I had appreciated the power of self-education to develop my professional skills. It is essential to reflect on the roles we’ve played in the past and learn from our behaviors. I have compiled a list of 8 skills that would have accelerated my development if I had taken action sooner. Maybe you can relate or adapt your current trajectory based on my experiences. Here we go…
Leadership
- I only sometimes viewed myself as a leader. I initially thought leaders were those standing at the front. I have since learned that leadership stretches well beyond those at the front. Everyone can lead in creative ways. You must identify a need and take action to solve it. This skill can be developed with the purposeful pursuit of knowledge and know-how.
Communication
- It is essential to learn the craft of communication. There is a psychological component, and we must all understand how others operate to meet them where they are. Learn to read others’ body language and gestures to create messaging that resonates with them.
Technology
- I was late to join the social media movement. I did not seize the opportunity to create professional relationships via Twitter / X. Social media has allowed me to discover educational information I was once not privileged to. It gives you access to individuals who teach their craft that is transferable to my niche. Graphic design, website design, filming, photo capturing, copywriting, and scripting are all technological skills that would have propelled me toward my professional goals if I had acted sooner. I have since found ways to maximize their use and consider myself a professional.
Storytelling
- I must know how to tell a story to inspire others and create great educational content. I have begun researching the art of storytelling to communicate my message to my students and those I hope to reach through my leadership and performance brand Youniversalife.
Curriculum Development
- I wish I had been more detailed and organized in my curriculum development in my physical education environment. The silver lining to the pandemic was that it required me to pivot my teaching mode. I was forced to become creative in how I taught physical education virtually. I discovered that I enjoyed crafting messages through storytelling to motivate others to make sound decisions about their physical and emotional health. This sparked my desire to create the Youniversalife platform that continues to educate others today, not only in the classroom but beyond.
Repurposing Content
- The beauty of Physical Education is that much of its content is universal for everyone. Everyone must exercise in some capacity to develop a healthy well-being. The 6 Dimensions of Wellness, according to the National Wellness Institute, include emotional, occupational, physical, social, intellectual, and spiritual wellness. The dimensions allow me to create content that can be shared across multiple platforms that are relatable to everyone. I wish I had recognized this sooner to reach a larger audience by repurposing content and adapting it to all youth and adults. This is a skill that many educators should familiarize themself with to expand their intellectual property.
Self-Care
- As a coach, it was necessary to model healthy behavior through exercise, consuming a healthy diet, living out my spirituality, continuing my education, loving my family, etc. I knew that if my players were to follow me, I must live out what I was teaching. As a result, I was practicing self-care by default. I am imperfect and continually work on self-care, but I understand its benefits. I routinely adapt my self-care practices because of my changing needs and life’s curveballs.
Educational Acumen
- I struggled to understand and relate to other teaching departments early in my teaching career. I sat in Professional Learning Community meetings and felt lost. I did not have a grasp of all the terminology and educational design. This was a product of being a football coach and holding a Sport Management degree. My initial background was not in education. I was training how to develop players and sports programs. There was a learning curve that I had to overcome. Physical Education is vastly different than math or science. My teaching strategies and curriculum are presented differently than those of other departments. While this was an initial deficiency, it has become my strength because I have a diversified background in education and sports.
