What Skills Do Planners Need?

In addition to a formal educational background, planners possess a unique combination of skills that enhance their professional success.

Because planning is a dynamic and diverse profession, individual skills vary depending on a planner's role and area of specialization.

Skills of Successful Planners

• Knowledge of urban spatial structure or physical design and the way in which cities work.
• Ability to analyze demographic information to discern trends in population, employment, and health.
• Knowledge of plan-making and project evaluation.
• Mastery of techniques for involving a wide range of people in making decisions.
• Understanding of local, state, and federal government programs and processes.
• Understanding of the social and environmental impact of planning decisions on communities.
• Ability to work with the public and articulate planning issues to a wide variety of audiences.
• Ability to function as a mediator or facilitator when community interests conflict.
• Understanding of the legal foundation for land use regulation.
• Understanding of the interaction among the economy, transportation, health and human services, and land-use regulation.
• Ability to solve problems using a balance of technical competence, creativity, and hardheaded pragmatism.
• Ability to envision alternatives to the physical and social environments in which we live.
• Mastery of geographic information systems and office software.