The 4 Stages of Learning

Have you ever wanted to pick up a new skill and thought… ‘I’m never going to master this!’?

Starting a new job or picking up new skills can be daunting. In the early 1970s, one Noel Burch, who, working for Gordo Training International, developed an amazingly practical theory that breaks down learning into four stages, called “Four Stages of Learning Any New Skill”

This theory suggests that in the early stages of learning there are blind spots, or things we aren’t aware of that will aid development. It also suggests that we follow the same sequence when learning anything new, and to support learning we should identify where exactly we are in the process!

Here is a break down of the four stages with two examples for each – from when you first think about a task and realising (like Jon Snow ‘you know nothing’), to being so confident with a task that you could do it with your eyes closed!

I’ve given two examples for each stage to put into context – learning to drive a car and joining a New Company.

 1.      Unconscious Incompetence

“I don’t know that I don’t know how to do this”

Car

Remember sitting in a car for the first time? Chances are you weren’t aware of what the various pedals, switches, and buttons do.

Did you know what that weird stick thing in between the seats did? What’s making that clicking noise? Wait, that mirror isn’t for checking yourself out?!

New Company

You will probably go through a few rounds of interviews, and, before you start, have a copy of your job description. But when you join, there are new tasks, different nuances in each company, and ways of doing things that you’re unlikely to be aware of until your first day and beyond.

Detail

Commonly, people stay in this stage the longest. Of course, how can you know what you don’t know!? It can be difficult, but at this stage, you need to trust in the individuals who know better and put faith in their ability.

People move out of this stage quicker who are willing to learn, and accept they don’t know the answers. It helps to work with a coach/trainer who can identify the blindspots and guide you through.

2.      Conscious Incompetence

“I KNOW that I don’t know how to do this”

Car

This is when learning begins. You learn how to drive the car. You’ve grasped what you need to do, it’s time to practice, practice, practice.

Mirror, signal, manoeuvre!

New Company

You begin to learn your role and particular tasks. You can set goals based on room for improvement and with some time and effort, you will start to find your feet.

You will make mistakes, and remember… this is fine!

Detail

We are often hyper-critical of our performance when we're at this stage of learning. The worst-case scenario is you give up on the task at hand. The best-case scenario is to accept you don’t know, you are learning, and you will work hard to improve!

A good support network or tutor should consider this, and give you more time and/or resources if you are working to your goal.

3.      Conscious Competence

“I can do this and I know it”

Car

You might not be fully comfortable, but you can now drive the car. At this point, still have to think about each action you take.

You may make some minor mistakes still but ultimately you’re in control, and you know what to do to drive from A to B safely.

New Company

Using sales as an example, you might have had your sales training by now, and you’re confident enough to be on the phone and making calls. As you’re still learning, you may still be using a script.

Some of those earlier calls may include some awkward conversations with particular clients, or you might be using the ‘hold’ button to ask questions from the team.

You still may have room for improvement but generally, you feel more confident in the role.

Detail:

It’s important to not get complacent at this stage, but also not too disheartened if you do continue to make minor mistakes (and yes, even the odd big mistake)

Knowing your strengths is great – yet building on these with practice will set you apart from others and help you improve.

4.      Unconscious Competence

“I don’t how I do it, I can just do it!”

Car

This is the point where you now know how to drive the car, and you don’t have to think about where the gear stick is going or about indicating, you just, do it! Chances are you couldn’t even explain how you got to A to B - some journeys you could take 100 times and you might not even be able to give directions for.

New Company

It’s great when you’re comfortable in your role, or you get to that ‘I can do this with my eyes closed’ moment.

Detail

When you’re at this stage, beware …

You can often be blindsided at this stage of learning. People often stop learning at this stage because they think they know it all.

The key is to look out for blind spots as the environment you learn in and the skills you are learning develops and changes. People can find themselves drifting back to stage one when in stage four!

Good learning is working your way back and forward through these stages, a bit like changing gear in a car.

Summary

I hope you found this article as useful as it has been for me in my career.

This article was written with some support from source material: https://exceptionalleaderslab.com/its-time-to-give-noel-burch-some-credit/

Thanks also to Business Coach Andy Sleet from Fluid Business Group who introduced me to this concept: https://www.fluidbusiness.co.uk/

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Joe is the recruiter at Reorg – Europe. For recruitment questions please e-mail [email protected] – No agencies, please.