Natural alternatives to “developing skills” include “building skills,” “improving skills,” “strengthening skills,” and “honing skills.” The best verb depends on whether the skills are new, already established, becoming broader, or being refined to a higher level.
Choose the Verb for the Stage of Development
- Building skills
- Improving skills
- Strengthening skills
- Enhancing skills
- Expanding skills
- Refining skills
- Acquiring skills
- Cultivating skills
- Honing skills
- Advancing skills
How the Alternatives to “Developing Skills” Differ
Building skills
A broad, natural phrase for creating ability through learning and practice. Example: The course focuses on building skills in data analysis.
Improving skills
Best when the skills already exist and are becoming better. Example: Regular feedback can help employees improve their communication skills.
Strengthening skills
Suggests making existing ability more reliable, confident, or robust. Example: The placement is designed to strengthen leadership skills.
Enhancing skills
A polished professional phrase for increasing the quality or effectiveness of existing skills. Example: The workshop supports staff in enhancing their presentation skills.
Expanding skills
Useful when broadening the range of tasks or techniques someone can perform. Example: The new role gave her opportunities to expand her technical skills.
Refining skills
Best when making an existing skill more precise, polished, or sophisticated. Example: Practice sessions help participants refine their interviewing skills.
Acquiring skills
Use when gaining new skills that the person did not previously have. Example: Students acquire practical laboratory skills during the module.
Cultivating skills
A more gradual, developmental phrase that works well for interpersonal or professional abilities. Example: Mentoring can help cultivate management skills over time.
Honing skills
Suggests sharpening an existing ability through focused practice and experience. Example: She spent several years honing her negotiation skills.
Advancing skills
Useful when moving established skills to a higher or more complex level. Example: The program supports clinicians in advancing their research skills.
New Skills Versus Existing Skills
Use “acquiring” when the skill is new. “Improving,” “strengthening,” “refining,” and “honing” all assume some existing ability, but they emphasize different kinds of progress.
“Building” is the most flexible general alternative because it can cover both early learning and continued development.