The 3 Step Process To Improve Anything

I heard this question asked on a podcast recently... 

How much better has your driving gotten this year?

I bet if you’re like me your driving has remained the same or even become worse because I haven’t actually been any challenging situations which would make me better...

Between checking Facebook making a phone call and posting to Instagram between turns of the wheel or the change of gears let’s be honest you have not really become a better driver.

There is nothing wrong with this. It just is.  

What it does is serve as a reminder that just because you do something all the time doesn’t mean you get better at it by default.

So how do you go about intentionally improving something?

Whether it be driving a car, playing a musical instrument or your golf game?

It comes down to deliberate practice…  

Step 1:
Set a clear stretch goal. Something which makes you slightly uncomfortable and will push you beyond your current capabilities.

Step 2:
Gain immediate and informative feedback  This is easy with the instrument because it will sound bad when you go off track. Much the same with golf. You aim to hit the ball one way and it either goes there or it doesn’t.

Step 3:
Focussed repetition. This means putting time into trying and failing multiple times and changing your approach based on feedback until you become better at or master the skill.

You used this method when learning to walk, talk and eat. It works!