5 Principles of Deliberate Practice

Anders Ericsson is a psychologist who studied how people reach peak performance based on talent and learning.  He coined the term deliberate practice to describe a mental state when a person actively works on their technique, seeks regular and critical feedback, and focuses ruthlessly on shoring up weaknesses. Deliberate practice is more involved and conscious and leads to faster, more significant learning and improvement.  Regular practice, on the other hand, does not lead to significant improvements. If you are doing as you are told, following orders as directed, not critically thinking through your tasks, and not proactively asking for feedback, then you are probably doing regular practice.  Regular practice can be described as going through the motions.

Deliberate practice is more easily understood when comparing it to performing a sport or musical instrument. Let’s consider the difference between regular practice and deliberate practice in the context of training for a marathon.  A runner who is doing deliberate practice will be consciously focused on their running every step they take.  They will concentrate on their form: their posture, how their feet hit the ground, and how their legs launch them forward on every step.  They will track measures of their performance such as their mile times, their heart rate, and their breathing rates. They will have structured practice plans with different running and muscle-building routines.  They will also typically have a coach or other runners who will provide additional guidance and continuous, specific feedback. They will set goals and adjust their technique and practice plans based on the feedback and in-process measures they track.  On the other hand, a runner who is doing regular practice may follow a running plan or maybe not.  When they run, they will not focus on their technique and form. Instead, they will probably zone out for long periods of time as they run.  They will not track specific measures and they will not seek feedback on their performance.  There will be natural improvement, but the rate and quality of the improvement will be minimal compared to someone performing deliberate practice.

This example of running is different than the work done in many organizations, but the concept of deliberate practice is fully applicable.  Employees typically have a defined set of skills and abilities required to effectively perform their roles. As technology advances and interdependence increases within organizational teams, interpersonal skills have become critical. For example, employees must develop skills such as communication and teamwork as well as strong technical skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving.  The more developed an individual’s skills and abilities, the higher their performance.

When it comes to quality, we should all strive to be the best version of ourselves by consciously working on our technique in the workplace. We always focus on efforts that achieve results and never ignore the details.  Focusing on efforts to achieve results means that we focus on what we’re doing; we focus on the effort and the process.  In our daily actions, we are detail-oriented.  We never let the details slip by and we focus on each aspect of our work down to every last email, document, drawing, test, assembly, screw, pallet, and workstation.

When demonstrating accountability, we always take ownership and pride in our work, and we never shift blame or point fingers. In doing so, we actively seek critical feedback and acknowledge our mistakes. We cannot improve upon our technique and performance without taking ownership of our capabilities and shortcomings. Seeking constant critical feedback is an essential part of deliberate practice that enables us to provide quality products.

Another aspect of deliberate practice is to proactively improve upon our weaknesses by actively focusing on developing our skills. When we are proactive, we always stay one step ahead and embrace our curiosity, and we never sit around and wait.  The concept of deliberate practice empowers all of us to proactively improve and eventually master our respective craft.  Being proactive is about choosing your attitude and focusing on what is within your circle of influence, especially when you have faltered or desire to improve your performance. We can only affect change for what we can control and influence whether for ourselves or others; it is important that we not let problems or challenges outside our span of control negatively impact our attitudes and actions. If you make a mistake, own it, and improve upon it. The skills you bring to the table are yours, and you have the power to change and improve upon them.

Leveraging deliberate practice will lead to faster and more comprehensive growth in a role.  Are you going through the motions in your role, or are you actively focused on your skills and technique, leveraging feedback to adjust and improve in your role? Do you notice a measurable improvement in your performance daily, monthly, yearly, or are you not noticeably improving? Curiosity starts from within yourself. To fully master your craft, you must actively work on your technique and processes by critically thinking about what you are doing and why. Seeking constant critical feedback is imperative to improving your skills and habits. Additionally, never stop improving and focusing on turning your weaknesses into your strengths.  Be deliberate, not just in practice, but in everything that you do.

References

Colvin, G. (2008). Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else. Penguin.

Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087-1101.

Ericsson, A. (2016). Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise. Eamon Dolan/Mariner Books.