Eduardo Briceño: How to get better at the things you care about | TED

Summary

This script explores the concept of balancing between the learning and performance zones for personal growth. It emphasizes the importance of deliberate practice, with examples like Demosthenes and modern professionals, to foster improvement. The speaker advocates for a growth mindset, purposeful improvement activities, and creating low-stakes environments to encourage learning and innovation, ultimately leading to continuous self-improvement.

Takeaways

• 😀 Striving for continuous improvement is a common aspiration, but often we find ourselves not getting better despite our efforts.
• 🔄 The most effective individuals and teams alternate between the learning zone and the performance zone to maximize both growth and execution.
• 📚 The learning zone is dedicated to improvement through activities that involve making mistakes and learning from them.
• 🎯 In the performance zone, the focus is on executing what has been mastered to minimize mistakes and maximize immediate performance.
• 🚶 Stagnation in improvement often occurs because we spend too much time in the performance zone, neglecting the learning zone.
• 🗣️ Ancient Greek orator Demosthenes exemplified deliberate practice in the learning zone to overcome personal challenges and improve his skills.
• 🤔 Deliberate practice involves breaking down abilities, focusing on specific skills, and engaging in challenging activities with feedback and adjustments.
• 🔬 Research indicates that professional performance often plateaus after a few years due to a lack of time spent in the learning zone.
• 💡 Successful individuals, like top salespeople and chess players, continue to improve by dedicating time to learning activities outside their regular performance routines.
• 🌐 The performance zone is still valuable for getting tasks done effectively and for providing insights on what to improve next in the learning zone.
• 🔑 To spend more time in the learning zone, we need a growth mindset, a clear purpose, knowledge of how to improve, and a low-stakes environment.
• 🌟 High achievers like Beyoncé alternate between learning and performance zones, using reflection and feedback to continuously improve.
• 🛡️ Even in high-stakes environments, individuals can create low-stakes spaces for learning and lead by example to foster a culture of ongoing improvement.

Q & A

What is the main issue the speaker discusses regarding personal growth and improvement?

The speaker discusses the issue of stagnation in personal growth and improvement despite hard work, suggesting that people often spend too much time in the performance zone rather than the learning zone.

What are the two zones the speaker refers to in the context of personal development?

The two zones are the learning zone and the performance zone. The learning zone is focused on improvement and making mistakes, while the performance zone is about executing what has already been mastered with minimal mistakes.

Why is it important to alternate between the learning zone and the performance zone?

Alternating between the learning zone and the performance zone is important because it allows for both immediate performance and growth, leading to long-term improvement in skills and abilities.

What historical figure does the speaker use as an example of someone who practiced in the learning zone?

The speaker uses Demosthenes, an ancient Greek orator and lawyer, as an example of someone who engaged in deliberate practice in the learning zone to improve his skills.

What is 'deliberate practice' as described by Dr. Anders Ericsson?

Deliberate practice involves breaking down abilities into component skills, focusing on specific subskills to improve, engaging in high-level challenges outside one's comfort zone, using frequent feedback, and ideally having a skilled coach for guidance and expert feedback.

Why do many people stop improving after the first couple of years in a profession according to the script?

Many people stop improving after the first couple of years in a profession because they believe they have become good enough and stop spending time in the learning zone, focusing only on performing their job.

What can individuals do to create more opportunities for learning in their professional lives?

Individuals can create more opportunities for learning by engaging in activities designed for improvement, such as reading to extend knowledge, consulting with experts, trying out new strategies, soliciting feedback, and reflecting on performance.

How does the speaker illustrate the importance of the learning zone with the example of typing on a computer?

The speaker illustrates the importance of the learning zone by pointing out that simply spending many hours typing on a computer does not lead to improvement. Instead, deliberate practice, such as focusing on typing faster with full concentration and identifying mistakes for practice, is necessary for improvement.

What are some strategies the speaker suggests for spending more time in the learning zone?

The speaker suggests strategies such as having a growth mindset, wanting to improve at a particular skill, understanding how to improve through deliberate practice, and being in a low-stakes situation where mistakes have minimal consequences.

How can we create more spaces for growth in our personal and professional environments?

We can create more spaces for growth by starting conversations about when we want to be in each zone, understanding what we want to get better at, and how to support each other in achieving those goals. Additionally, we can create low-stakes islands for practice and lead by lowering the stakes for others, encouraging a culture of learning.

What is the significance of having a 'low-stakes' environment for learning according to the script?

A low-stakes environment is significant for learning because it allows for the expectation and acceptance of mistakes as part of the learning process, without severe consequences. This encourages exploration, experimentation, and taking risks, which are essential for growth and improvement.