The Learning Curve

While writing yesterday about acquiring new practices, using the term 'conscious competence', the thought process nicely segued into this space.

It's a core principal in coaching and  counselling.

The learning curve so beautifully brings out the process......that it enables you to identify the stage you are in, and what it'll take to get to where you want to get to. 

This fits with just about any learning. Could be a skill or a trait or a process.....could be used at work, at sport, at activities, in relationships, in attitudes...anywhere.

Most times we believe what we want to do or be should come naturally or just be easy. But like most things in life, we need to practice to get to a place where it just “flows”. Knowing these stages really helps. Helps to have the patience and grit and love to know where you are and where you want to get and almost what it takes. 

This picture nicely reflects the states of mind in each phase:

The four stages:

Unconscious incompetence: 

'you don't know what you don't know'

It's when you might not even recognize what's missing. There could be the restlessness or dissatisfaction. Incompetence sounds kind of harsh, it's basically a status quo space. When we're still doing the same thing or living the known pattern over and over, but expecting things to be different. 

It's when a stimulus for change might enter.....when that 'aha' moment can happen. The need or thought for change.

Conscious incompetence: 

'you know what you don't know'

This is a difficult phase. Where you recognize what you need to do, but don't have the wherewithal to get there. This is the stage where you get help, figure the what and how, find expertise, pave the path so to say. It's a stage dominated by hope, desire, goals, dreams.

Conscious competence:

'you know and you grow, and it starts to show'

A stage of raw effort, of conscious striving, training and practice. Engaging in the experience, keeping an open mind and working at it.  It can be a stage full of pitfalls as patterns and habits can kick in, and so it becomes important to be consciously striving towards whatever it is that you know you want to acquire.

Unconscious competence:

'you know and you've imbibed, it's become second nature'

You've learnt, you've practiced, you've imbibed, and it's become second nature now. Change has happened. It feels good and right. It can alter ones default ways of thinking or behaving or being. You've gotten to where you wanted to get. In flow.

It's a powerful tool of Self Awareness and Growth.