In the early stages of any activity or career, you don’t know what you don’t know. This is normal. There is a sense of refreshing confidence and idealism that comes from not knowing what you don’t know. It allows you to take risks, try things others won’t, and charge straight ahead.[1]
However, this isn’t competence. Some are talented enough to get away with it for a while, but we think it is a ticking time bomb. Why? Because not knowing what you don’t know after a while is a choice and a heart issue. As you have experienced, and if you intentionally reach out to others to learn, you’ll understand that there are a lot of ways to do things and ways to do things that you have never even thought about. This creates a level of humility that will allow you to learn, adapt, and be successful AND be willing to accept inexpensive experiences.
Recently, we were listening to a podcast called “Farewell.” We found it because it features two authors, we are big fans of…. Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness. They have written some great books on resilience and toughness. In one recent episode, they discussed a model for understanding competence. This model provides a lens through which you can view the stages of learning something and where you are at on those levels. We think the model was developed by the Gordon Training Institute and Noel Burch. We found some conflicting information, but that is also who Stulberg and Magness credited. They are much smarter than us, so we’ll go with that.
Here are the four stages:
1. Unconscious Competence (Ignorance) You don’t know you don’t know
2. Conscious Incompetence (Awareness): You know you don’t know
3. Conscious Competence (Learning): You comprehend how to know or do it
4. Unconscious Competence (Mastery): You intuitively know it
Most people live in Conscious Competence if they put effort into learning, and much of our careers are spent learning and comprehending. However, with enough time, repetition, and learning, unconscious competence is possible.
The challenge with unconscious competence is when things change and evolve. Continuous learning and feedback loops are essential in order to be aware of changing landscapes and information. The ability to adapt is, in our opinion, as important a skill as there is.
[1] Always continue to ask these questions. Being curious is a sign of maturity that will keep you relevant as a coach.
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Things That Are Making Us Think
Avoiding Stupidity Is Easier Than Seeking Brilliance: Article from Shane Parrish that says it’s easier to succeed by avoiding big mistakes than by trying to be brilliant. Staying focused, making smart choices, and knowing your limits can lead to long-term success.
“The performance of a team rises or falls on behavior. Winning behavior, on purpose, and skillful. But it’s easier to be impulsive, on autopilot, and resistant. Losing behavior is comfortable and convenient.” -Urban Meyer
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