We all seem to get locked in our day to day routine, but here is a way to change your life for the better!

Date:   11/4/2009 11:22:28 AM ( 15 y ago)

 The  Stages of Learning a New Skill

Stage 1. Unconscious Incompetence. This is when you don't know how to do it, and you don't even know that you don't know.
  Example:

 Stage 1A. When you were very young, you didn't even know that there were 26 letters in the alphabet. You didn't know what you didn't know. Hence, you were unconsciously incompetent.

Stage 1B. You learned that there was such a thing as an alphabet, and that it had 26 letters, but you didn't know them all. You knew what you didn't know. Hence, you were consciously incompetent.

Stage 1C. You finally learned all the letters. So you knew what you needed to know. But in order to write a word, you had to really concentrate on each letter. Hence, you were consciously competent.

Stage 1D. Now, you can write words without even thinking about it. Hence, you are unconsciously competent.

 
Stage 2. Conscious Incompetence. This is when you know what you don't know, and you begin to work on learning it.
  Example:
 
Stage 2A. There was a time when you had no idea of what was involved in driving a car. Hence, you were unconsciously incompetent.

Stage 2B. You started to learn about driving. You read the book. Your parents explained what they were doing while they were driving. You asked questions and got answers. You gave it a try -- with Mom or Dad in the car -- and realized you still had a lot to learn. You were consciously incompetent.

Stage 2C. After a lot of practice, you could drive. But you had to really concentrate on what you were doing. You were consciously competent.

Stage 2D. By now, you've driven so much that it's become automatic. You no longer have to think about what to do, you just do it. You are an unconsciously competent driver.

But... are you unconsciously competent at parallel parking?

Most people are not. They haven't parallel parked enough. They are consciously competent at it -- meaning they can parallel park. But first they have to turn down the radio, stop talking, and focus.



Stage 3. Conscious Competence. This is when you know what you need to know -- and you can do it. But it takes all of your concentration.
 Example:
 
What all this has to do with the achievement of your goals...

The parallel parking example illustrates that when you are working on developing the skills you need to achieve your goals, simply being effective from time to time won't help you fully establish the habit.

To become unconsciously competent at those skills, you must recognize which stage you are at -- and then understand what you need to do to move to the next stage.

More than likely, there are still a few areas where you are unconsciously competent -- things you simply don't know you don't know.

So your job right now is to become cognizant of what you need to know to achieve your main goal.

That will help you transition to Stage 2.

In Stage 2, you will start to learn what you need to know to be effective.

In Stage 3, you will apply your new found knowledge. But you must do it consciously, consistently, and often.

Before long, you will pass on to Stage 4: unconscious competence. At that point, you will be effective by habit, performing the skills that ensure your success without even thinking about it.


Stage 4. Unconscious Competence. This is when you can perform the skill without even thinking about it. It's now a habit.

 You can do it if you really want to!

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