3 Pillars of Skill Growth: Challenge, Complexity, Connection

Consider for a moment how a tree grows. It starts as a small seed. Then it becomes a sapling. Eventually, it becomes a large tree. The tree doesn't need a human to stand beside it or convince it to grow. Growth happens naturally. The same is true for humans. We naturally strive to grow.

This insight comes from Self-Determination Theory[2], a framework explaining why people behave the way they do. Because human beings are inherently proactive, Skill Tree strives to create that nurturing external environment for skill growth. In this article, we will explore the three essential needs of skill growth: Challenge, Complexity, and Connection, as noted by Matt Beane. [3]

Challenge

A person could easily point at a tree when one is visible. Meanwhile, seeing a foreign tree’s leaf and being able to recognize it from the first try would be an overly complicated challenge for anyone without special experience. Would a person even try voicing out a tree's name if the leaf in their hands is the first time they ever see such?

Everyone is at a different point on their skill journey. The challenges should meet you where you are, matching both your skill level and your learning pace. One powerful approach to managing this is called scaffolding[3]. Rather than presenting a towering goal to be climbed alone, scaffolding breaks that goal into smaller, manageable steps. Each step builds on the previous one, giving a sense of progress and accomplishment along the way. Even when you stumble, you learn something valuable about what doesn't work. That, too, is growth. Failure isn't the opposite of success; it's part of the journey toward it.

Skill Tree welcomes everyone - whether you are just starting or highly experienced, there's a place for you here. When a specific workshop challenge is experienced as too difficult by a novice, we would be by their side and provide guidance. When a challenge feels too simple for an experienced member, we invite them to think outside the box - to go beyond what they already know, to experiment, to discover new branches of their skill. Skill growth doesn't require a finish line. This endless potential for growth leads us to our second growth pillar.

Complexity

Imagine that you have gained the skill to unmistakably recognize all the different types of trees in the world just by touching their leaves. What happens if the leaf blown into your hands by the wind is actually from a bush?

In reality, skills don't live in isolation. They exist within webs of other skills, contexts, and relationships with other skills. Lighting a candle indoors is simple. But light that same candle in a strong wind, and suddenly the task becomes more complex - one would need different techniques, different knowledge, and different skills. This example seems simple and small compared to real-world complexity. Therefore, a skill is never truly 'finished'. It can always grow. Like the Challenge section above, Complexity needs to be grown gradually.

Skill Tree enables people to grow their own complex way. For example, a person growing in their glass skill would realize that glass can be bent into different shapes. With us, he can also explore clay skill to create moulds for their glass design. One skill branches naturally into another, creating a rich ecosystem of growth. We are working to offer many diverse skill development opportunities in complex and interesting settings.

Connection

Challenge and Complexity are directly linked to the skill itself. But Connection is a need because humans are fundamentally social creatures. Self-Determination Theory researchers call it 'relatedness'[2]. When we connect with others, we experience belonging. We find friendship, receive care, and feel respected. These experiences are fundamental human needs [4].

Looking at it the other way around, when you have genuine connection and feel competent at something you are learning, your life becomes richer and more fulfilling. Connection includes something else too: autonomy[2}[3] —the freedom to make your own choices. When you have genuine agency in how you learn and grow, motivation deepens. It's about being trusted to shape your own path within a supportive community. When you choose what to learn, how to approach it, and where to take it next, the growth becomes yours. It's personal. It matters.

At Skill Tree, we create connection in several ways. We're present as you develop your skills, offering guidance and feedback so you know how you're progressing. We understand that choice matters deeply. Members decide which skills to pursue, which workshops to attend, and which creative directions to explore. We offer the foundational information you need, then step back to make space for your questions, experiments, and vision. You're not following a script—you're exploring and discovering your own relationship with the skill, supported by mentors and peers who believe in your growth.

Conclusion

Humans naturally desire to grow. Yet growth requires more than intention; it requires an environment that supports it. Skill Tree provides that environment. We work with the three interconnected skill growth pillars: Challenge, Complexity, and Connection.

If you're ready to plant your skill tree and grow your own way, we'd love to have you join us. Explore our workshops and events, or simply reach out. Come as you are—and grow in the way that's authentically, uniquely yours.