Thoughtful Tuesday | Deliberate Practice
How to best apply deliberate practice based on skill level.
Have you read about 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert? This was based on Anders Ericsson’s study of dedicated practice for musicians. Malcolm Gladwell broadened it but also oversimplified it. It’s not just a counting of hours, but also a matter of what you’re doing in those hours. What is certain, however, is that deliberate practice is necessary in order to improve skills.
So when do we have enough knowledge to gain from practice?
And how do we most effectively practice?
You’ll notice that our deliberate practice gets started as momentum slows down and we transition into integration.
For knowledge work, it’s almost impossible to practice at the Familiarity level as there just isn’t enough information yet to know what to try, how to try, and why to try.
However, there is high return on investment for continuous and deliberate practice once people know instructions they can start practicing.
Comprehension
I recommend one recipe designed for maximal usage, such as solving a commonly seen problem or handling a common need. This recipe, or set of instructions, is simple enough that learners feel safe to use it. It is also explicit enough that learners perform correctly, giving those positive results. This opens up the curiosity that nurtures growth mindset.
Conscious Effort
Although there is a lot of deliberate practice in Comprehension, there is also a lot of hands on guidance and collaboration. When we move into Conscious Effort, we have more recipes that cover the majority of common issues and variations.
At this point, the learner is likely practicing on their own with frequent check-ins with an expert or mentor. This is the perfect time for people to be simply “messing about” with the recipes. This helps them see what is working, what is not working, and figure out why.
Conscious Action
Deliberate practice in Conscious Action focuses on problem solving and structured planning. One approach is to create your own recipe, follow it a few times, observe effects, and then edit it.
So whether you’re needing a team to develop a skill or you are self-developing a skill, design your practice intentionally!
I’m developing my Green Path Masterclass! A huge gratitude to those who have already requested to be notified of it’s first offering; your interest keeps me motivated <3
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