Does practice really make perfect?

“If you don’t practice, you don’t deserve to win”

“Practice every time you get a chance”

“Practice makes perfect”

We all have grown up listening to these quotes about practice. Whenever an insurmountable problem would strike, or we came across an “out-of-syllabus” situation beyond our comprehensible skills, the first thing we were told to resort to was “practice”. And I was no exception to this.?

Back in school, I was good at Maths but Physics as a subject was a torment. In senior secondary, I decided to start studying this subject (dreaming to nail it by the end of the year) and outperform others as well. I was so invested that I made the most of the lull period - our summer vacations, and studied Physics when others would enjoy their holiday. Yet, I scored an average percentage in every exam that year, and even in the subsequent year.

Didn’t I practice enough? Of course, I did

Didn’t I put in the hours? God, yes I did

So what happened here??

This is exactly where all the above philosophical quotes on “practice” come across as fabricated, one-dimensional and pointless. Achieving mastery isn’t simply about the number of hours of practice, it is the quality and effectiveness of that practice. And most importantly, the result proliferates when the weakness (that we are trying to overcome) lies at the edge of the current abilities. The practice and the number of hours I put into execution had everything, but a) it didn’t lie anywhere near my innate talent and b) practice was regardless of natural aptitude

The 10,000-hour rule

In 2008, Malcolm Gladwell, a famous journalist, author, and speaker, published his famous novel,?Outliers. The common theme that emerged from the book was later popularized as the 10,000-hour rule. Gladwell attributed the success of the music ensemble Beatles to this rule. Gladwell explains that reaching the 10,000-Hour Rule, which he considers the key to success in any field, is simply a matter of practicing a specific task that can be accomplished with 20 hours of work a week for 10 years. The Beatles performed live in Hamburg, Germany over 1200 times from 1960 – 64, amassing a total of 10,000 hours, thereby meeting this rule and hence, they became genius in what they did.?

While partly this rule appears to be true, when we highlight the concerted practice and effort, majorly it is loaded with flaws.

Flaw#1 – The rule quantifies the number of hours, but does not focus on the quality of practice

Practicing Salsa for 3 hours a day by yourself against practicing the same number of hours with a coach, there would be a world of difference in the results of both. Gladwell doesn’t differentiate between deliberate practice and generic practice. In the former, one practices to get better, and with a defined goal, making tangible progress regularly while in the latter, it’s a disoriented approach

Flaw#2 – The rule works on a misconception that anyone can become an expert at anything by giving in the required time

In a recent analysis by psychologist Brooke Macnamara, deliberate practice resulted in upskilling by 26% in chess, 21% in music, and 18% in sports. Clearly, other factors lead to expertise than just deliberate practice. Age is one of them as complex skills are easily acquired at a specific age and not when one grows up to be an adult.

So how to practice effectively?

1. Do not leave emotions out – Contrary to the popular belief of ruling out emotions while making important decisions, research has made it clear that emotions play a critical role here and must always be considered. Without the guidance of emotional learning, rational and logical thinking are meaningless. Knowing that a decision is risky when backed by the feeling of anxiety and fear, then makes it a concrete decision
2. Mental practice – It occurs entirely in the mind but it can be remarkably effective for learning new skills and improving performance. Stalwarts like Muhammad Ali, and Michael Jordan have constantly vouched for a combination of physical and mental practice, together they work wonders and led to better outcomes
3. Motivation – Without motivation, the practice loses focus and intensity. Practice becomes more potent when connected with a long-term goal and purpose. And this is what can keep the fire alive within, and a sustained motivation.?

While Malcolm Gladwell was right about the years of concerted effort and practice to become a true expert in a field but apparently, it is not the only factor. Your overall genetics, the age when you start, how quickly you learn, etc combines to determine how many hours it would take you to master a specific craft – or if “mastery” is possible at all.

As for me, I knew Physics wasn’t my cup of tea, so I began paying more focus, concerted effort, and deliberate practice towards my English skills (which came more naturally to me) and became a ranker in that subject in no time ??

Check out my new book, titled?The Unburn Desire , now available on Amazon