The path to self-improvement is often filled with twists and turns that leave us speculating if we have made the right choices, or if we’ll ever get to the level of proficiency that we desire. For some, this involves hours of practice or study to achieve Mastery. For others, it is an enjoyable hobby that became a full-time passion. Whatever skill or subject we choose to pursue, understanding our level of competence is key to being successful on our journey. Diving into the 4 Stages of Competence, (founded by Martin M. Broadwell in 1969), gives us an idea of where we are and where we need to go so as to achieve an enjoyable sense of Flow:
- Unconscious Incompetence – Here a person does not perceive their substandard skill levels and does not know or may deny that this is a shortfall. This person may feign ignorance towards wanting or needing to learn the new skill, further doubting its usefulness. A person stuck in this stage must not only acknowledge that they are unskilled, but also believe that they are able to learn it if they chose to do so. Frequently, a person will stay in this mindset until thoroughly provoked or required to change.
- Conscious Incompetence – This person has now acknowledged their skill level and has begun to address it by “trial and error” learning. This can often be a long process (especially if the new skill is difficult to perform) but is the first step towards mastery.
- Conscious Competence – They are now fully competent at their new skill after spending time making mistakes and learning lessons. They can complete their new task or skill through a moderate to heavy level of concentration. Most of their time is spent refining the nuances of the new skill in this stage. While reaching this level is acceptable, this does not ensure long-term success.
- Unconscious Competence – This person has now achieved mastery of their new skill, which has now become second nature to them. Enjoyment and Flow States are achieved and this person may now be able to perform this task so easily that they can do it alongside other tasks at the same time. At this level, a person may be able to have long-term success in whatever they’ve chosen to pursue.
Thanks to this model, we are able to not only identify where we are but we can also identify an end goal in which to work towards. Mastery is not a singular route; at times we will have to course-correct, switch gears, or even abandon ship and make a new plan. This model, along with hard work, dedication, perseverance and discipline, can help us explore a new area of life that we didn’t know possible.