Skills of a successful planner:

(Source: American Planning Association)

• Understands spatial relationships, physical design, and how cities work

• Ability to research and analyze information on a wide variety of topics (population, employment, environment, transportation, stormwater, etc.)

• Master of techniques for involving a wide range of people in making decisions

• Understanding of local, state and federal government programs and processes

• Ability to communicate and coordinate with engineers, architects, surveyors, realtors, and a variety of other professional consultants

• 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 conflicts occur

• Understanding of the legal foundation for land use regulation

• Ability to solve problems using a balance of technical competence, creativity and strategic thinking

• Ability to envision alternative scenarios, identify and weigh advantages and disadvantages, and to develop and pursue win-win solutions when applicable.

• Understanding of geographic information systems and office productivity software.