I was talking to one of my mentors last week and he reminded me of the 4 Stages of Competence. This process can be applied in many areas of our lives so take a few moments to see how this applies to you.
The 4 Stages of Competence, is a model based on the premise that before a learning experience begins, learners are unaware of what or how much they know (unconscious incompetence), and as they learn, they move through four psychological states until they reach a stage of unconscious competence. By understanding the model, trainers can better identify learning needs and develop learning objectives based on where their target audience is in the four stages related to a given topic.
1. Unconscious Incompetence
In unconscious incompetence, the learner isn’t aware that a skill or knowledge gap exists. You don’t even know what you don’t know.
2. Conscious Incompetence
In conscious incompetence, the learner is aware of a skill or knowledge gap and understands the importance of acquiring the new skill. It’s in this stage that learning can begin.
3. Conscious Competence
In conscious competence, the learner knows how to use the skill or perform the task, but doing so requires practice, conscious thought and hard work.
4. Unconscious Competence
In unconscious competence, the individual has enough experience with the skill that he or she can perform it so easily they do it unconsciously.
A learner in unconscious incompetence will respond differently to training than a learner in conscious incompetence. If someone doesn’t know there’s a problem, he or she is less likely to engage in the solution. On the other hand, if someone is in conscious competence, he or she may just need additional practice rather than training. You’ve likely heard that it takes at least 10 000 hours to become an expert at a task, but the closer psychologists look at the careers of the gifted, the smaller the role innate talent seems to play and the bigger the role preparation seems to play. There are no short cuts. Learning and healing take time.
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