The Power of Intention in the Infinite Game of developing Soft and Hard Skills

Last year, I was reflecting on the journey we made in our career path since we usually started focusing on hard skills like technical expertise and industry-specific knowledge. These kinds of skills make you a great individual contributor, however, when you start facing bigger challenges, it is not enough. You need to start focusing on soft skills to learn how to establish intentions and a clear vision of what a business needs to stay or become competitive. This combination makes you a great team player.

But as time flies, you will need to focus again on hard skills in order to keep the flow you have, because the journey of developing skills is an infinite game. Inspired by this, I would like to share some words:

According to Peter Gollwitzer, intention is "the mental state that represents a commitment to carrying out an action or set of actions in the future." Intention is a powerful tool for creating lasting change, especially in the context of developing skills. By setting specific intentions for developing a particular skill or attribute, we are committing to taking the necessary actions to achieve that goal over the long term. This aligns with the concept of the infinite game, as defined by Simon Sinek, which emphasizes the importance of a long-term perspective and a willingness to adapt to changing circumstances.

When it comes to developing hard skills, intention is also essential. Hard skills are typically acquired through education, training, and practice, and require a significant investment of time and effort. To develop hard skills, we must set specific goals and intentions for learning and practicing those skills over the long term. This might involve taking courses, attending workshops or conferences, seeking out mentors or experts in the field, and practicing regularly.

To apply the concept of intention to the development of both soft and hard skills, we must first identify the specific skills or attributes we wish to develop. This might involve reflecting on our strengths and weaknesses, seeking feedback from others, and researching best practices in the relevant area. Once we have identified our goals, we can set specific intentions for achieving them, such as:

• I will practice active listening skills in every conversation I have.
• I will seek out opportunities to lead and take on new responsibilities in my job or community.
• I will learn a new programming language and practice coding for at least an hour every day.

By setting these intentions, we are committing to taking specific actions to develop our skills over the long term. We are playing the infinite game, focusing on ongoing growth and learning rather than short-term gains or competition.

Of course, setting intentions alone is not enough. To achieve our goals, we must also take consistent action and adapt to new challenges and opportunities as they arise. This requires a growth mindset, which emphasizes the importance of embracing failure and using it as an opportunity for learning and growth. We must also be willing to seek out feedback from others and adjust our approach accordingly.

In conclusion, the power of intention is a crucial tool for developing both soft and hard skills in the infinite game of life and career. By setting specific intentions for the skills and attributes we wish to develop, we can commit to taking the necessary actions to achieve our goals over the long term. We must also adopt a growth mindset and be willing to adapt to new challenges and opportunities as they arise. With these tools and a commitment to ongoing growth and learning, we can thrive in today's fast-paced and ever-changing world.