How do you develop implicit learning and deliberate practice as a lifelong skill for decision-making?

1 What is implicit learning?

Implicit learning is the process of learning from experience without conscious attention or intention. It is often contrasted with explicit learning, which involves deliberate and conscious efforts to acquire new information or skills. Implicit learning occurs when you perform a task repeatedly and gradually improve your performance without being aware of the rules or principles underlying the task. For example, you may learn how to ride a bike, speak a language, or recognize faces implicitly.

2 What is deliberate practice?

Deliberate practice is the process of engaging in focused and structured activities that are designed to improve specific aspects of your performance. It is often contrasted with naive practice, which involves simply repeating a task without feedback or guidance. Deliberate practice requires setting clear and challenging goals, seeking feedback, identifying and correcting errors, and monitoring your progress. For example, you may practice chess, piano, or math problems deliberately.

3 How do they differ?

Implicit learning and deliberate practice differ in several ways. First, implicit learning is unconscious and effortless, while deliberate practice is conscious and effortful. Second, implicit learning is more general and flexible, while deliberate practice is more specific and rigid. Third, implicit learning is more influenced by the context and environment, while deliberate practice is more influenced by the individual and the task. Fourth, implicit learning is more resistant to forgetting, while deliberate practice is more prone to decay.

4 How do they complement each other?

Implicit learning and deliberate practice are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they can complement each other and enhance your decision-making skills. Implicit learning can help you acquire a broad and intuitive knowledge base that can serve as a foundation for deliberate practice. Deliberate practice can help you refine and optimize your knowledge and skills that can improve your implicit learning. For example, you may learn a new language implicitly by listening and speaking, and then practice it deliberately by studying grammar and vocabulary.

5 How do you apply them to decision-making?

To apply implicit learning and deliberate practice to decision-making, you need to balance the two modes of learning and adjust them according to your goals and situations. When you face novel or complex problems that require creativity and flexibility, use implicit learning such as trial and error, observation, or imitation. On the other hand, when you face familiar or simple problems that require accuracy and efficiency, use deliberate practice such as feedback, analysis, or repetition. If you encounter a plateau or a challenge in your performance, switch between the two modes of learning by reviewing your implicit knowledge or seeking new explicit knowledge. Finally, when you want to master a skill or domain, combine implicit learning and deliberate practice by integrating your implicit and explicit knowledge or applying your knowledge and skills to different contexts.

6 How do you measure your progress?

Measuring your progress in implicit learning and deliberate practice requires different types of indicators and methods. Subjective indicators, such as confidence, satisfaction, or enjoyment, are often used to measure implicit learning. Objective indicators, such as speed, accuracy, or consistency can also be used. Comparing your performance before and after the learning experience, or by testing your implicit knowledge with implicit measures like reaction time, priming, or recognition are other methods to measure implicit learning. For deliberate practice, objective indicators like goals, feedback, or errors can be used. Additionally, subjective indicators such as effort, difficulty, or motivation can be used. Measuring your deliberate practice can be done by tracking your performance over time or by testing your explicit knowledge with explicit measures like recall, explanation, or application.