In this fast-paced life, there are moments in all our lives where we have felt that we are missing out on important things, whether they are concerned with our personal lives or professional pursuits.
Often, we might think that we are not able to cope with every challenge or we are not being enough in our jobs or even when it is concerned with our family lives. We face these challenges when we do not follow a well-rounded path in life.
Coming to the basic meaning of the word “well-rounded,” – it means being experienced in a wide range of ideas according to the Cambridge Dictionary. The best way to define the term well-rounded would be to be well informed on different niches and genres or have experience in performing multiple activities. Well-roundedness has been a part of human civilization since the times of Romans and Greeks.
Well-roundedness is more of a personality attribute that you need to acquire through learning and discipline rather than an intrinsic quality that some are just born with. Many of us yearn for it, but it can only be cultivated in oneself through years of practice and self-leadership.
So, if you are wondering how to be a well-rounded person, then read ahead to discover the attributes of a well-rounded person. Before delving deeper into the characteristics of a well-rounded person, let’s take a look at the benefits that well-roundedness offers.
Definition of a well-rounded person
A person who has the expertise in performing successfully in various spheres of life is referred to as a well-rounded person. A well-rounded person could be described as someone who performs in his profession with excellence, manages his personal relationships and responsibilities, finds time to grow mentally, and practices integrity and good values in life.
A well-rounded person is able to manage time efficiently, displays integrity and commitment to work. They are responsible and resilient by nature and keep themselves well-informed about several spheres of this world.
They strive to make themselves better with each passing day and are always enthusiastic about learning new skills in life. They are also adept at resolving conflicts efficiently in life.
Advantages of being a well-rounded person
A well-rounded person is:
- Successful in all walks of life
- Is able to adapt better
- Is able to acquire new skills rapidly
- Is able to make the best of opportune moments in life
- Is influential and resourceful
- Has a unique personality and skillset
- Is able to sustain and survive better
How to become well-rounded?
Now let’s focus on the attributes that can help you become a well-rounded person.
Read extensively
Quoting the words of Henry Ford, “If money is our hope for independence, you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.”
The above lines hold a lot of meaning and truth, and hence quitting to acquire knowledge after finishing school and college is the biggest mistake you can make.
Reading books of different genres, newspapers, blogs, listening to podcasts, and various other sources can help shape you up into a well-informed, sharp, and intelligent human being.
Being a voracious reader can also offer a competitive edge because you have sound knowledge about what’s happening in the world. Making news apps and newspapers is a part of your daily routine and also reading fictional and non-fictional books can have a significant impact on your personality and mental health.
Enrol in new courses
In the book “How We Learn,” author Benedict Carey writes that when we start following a routine that does not include daily learning, our intelligence, mental development, and ability to learn something new become limited. This can be detrimental to us because learning is directly connected to our happiness.
Some research also indicates that learning constantly helps out brain to develop and can promote newer neuronal connections. This can thus even prevent the development of degenerative motor diseases like Parkinson’s.
According to research conducted by Statista, the value of upskilling and online certifications has grown at a 38% compound annual rate from 2016 to the present day. Thus, the online education market in India is currently valued at 460 million USD. As per Research and Markets forecasts, the online learning market is expected to rise to a valuation of 350 billion USD by 2025.
Several online learning platforms serve millions of professionals worldwide, such as Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, Domestika, etc. Nowadays, even top-tier universities and educational institutes have joined the bandwagon to offer certifications and upskilling courses like Harvard Edu.
So, there is no dearth of opportunities if someone is genuinely interested in acquiring newer technical and professional skill sets and achieving success.
Be a people person
At this time, the words of Bill Bullard ring a bell in mind and seems appropriate enough to quote, “The highest form of knowledge is empathy.”
Without empathy, none of us can survive, and hence it is important to practice it in our daily lives. Exuding an empathetic personality is an important attribute to becoming a well-rounded person both in family and professional circles.
Learn to sell yourself
Knowing how to sell your skills in this world is an important aspect of becoming a well-rounded person. For this, you need to be aware of your key strengths, and you also need to develop ample amounts of confidence in yourself.
Exhibiting skill sets and the right professional attributes can make you a highly sorted professional.
Work on your personality
Developing your personality in a way is essential so that it works in favor of you. Getting along easily with others, showing loyalty towards others, exuding confidence, being helpful, and being the kind of person people look up to are a few ways in which you can make an impressive personality.
Manage your time effectively
Time Management can be defined as a process of splitting your time in an organized manner for all your activities. It is about creating appropriate space for all your priorities during the day so that you can complete them efficiently.
Knowing how to manage your time is one of the key aspects of becoming a well-rounded person. A well-rounded person is able to balance their work and life perfectly because they know how to manage their time.
Essential time management skills include organization, prioritization, goal-setting, planning, delegation, and setting short and long-term goals. Most importantly, having self-discipline can be a game-changer.
Another way to manage time is by multitasking during idle hours, like when you are commuting to work and back.
Learn to communicate effectively
As per a report by McKinsey, a team’s productivity increases by 20-25% if they can communicate effectively. Effective communication also increases retention, helps in trust-building, and ultimately helps to resolve conflicts and issues.
Some of the pillars of effective communication are:
- good listening ability,
- empathy,
- conveying your thoughts clearly and concisely,
- communicating confidently,
- and keeping an open mind.
Volunteer for social activities
This is again a way to exhibit empathy and a helpful attitude. Attending social get-togethers and volunteering for social groups can help form newer connections. At the same time, it also gives the opportunity to gain new experiences and perspectives in life.
In Conclusion
In the end, we can say that the goal of being a well-rounded person is to be able to attain a certain balance in life and maintain a requisite performance instead of focussing unidirectionally.
Although some people argue that it is a fallacy to expect that everyone can excel at everything yet many others argue that it is an attribute that is sacrosanct in modern times.
The tips shared in these articles can help you become a well-rounded person, but as it is said that the sky is not the limit, you can improvise accordingly and find out what’s best for you. If some other ways can help you improve yourself, then you can incorporate them as well in your journey towards self-reformation.
