From Novice to Expert: Uncovering 3 Essential Levels
I was studying a book recently and came across an idea that sounded very intelligent and reasonable for a new skill I am currently trying to build. While reading, the writer indicated that there are three levels to the skill I am currently trying to develop.
For anyone who would like to get the gist quickly and move on; the first level is internalizing the goal. The second is getting the skill out there, and the third is mastery or refinement (as he put it).
Now, let me attempt to break it down a bit further. I want you to imagine a skill you currently have. It could be anything. The only condition I would place would be that you currently have a certain level of mastery over this skillset. It could be as fancy as fencing, as versatile as writing, or even as mundane as cleaning. It could be anything. I'm emphasizing this because I already realize how looking at building a new skill through the lens of these three levels can effectively overcome any mental barriers or blocks.
In my case, a skill I currently possess that fits the bill is "playing football as a defender". Anyone who's played with me would know,?? but enough about me.
Have you got the skill in mind? Great, let's get into it!
Level 1: Internalize the Goal
I want you to try and remember the very first time you thought about the skill. Maybe you saw it on the TV, heard it on the radio or even saw another human being performing this very same action. Either way, you must have heard, seen, felt, or even dreamt of it your very first time.
You found it interesting, or perhaps even uninteresting, but for some reason, you felt compelled to learn it. That's the internal level! No action. Just instinct. Monkey see, Monkey wants to do. Simply brain synapses firing.
In summary, the internal level is two-faceted.
The most accurate depiction of this internal dialogue would be something like: "I liked how that player kicked the ball. I wonder if I could do that too" or "I really enjoyed listening to her sing. I wonder if I could sing as well." All that needs to happen for you to understand that you're in level 1, is to see the skill (or be reminded in some cases) and acknowledge internally that you would like to be able to perform that action.
Level 2: Get It Out
It sounds really basic, but that's it. Get the action out! I cannot tell you I remember the very first time I kicked a ball or the very first moment I thought playing as a defender was what I enjoyed being on the field. My brain's good, but not that amazing; anyone who can remember that had school exams feel like a breeze. Just saying.
However, I can recall a few times through the years when I saw someone playing in a defensive position do something cool, and wanted to do the same thing.
I want to take a few minutes to emphasize my choice of words. I said through the years for a reason. The reason is simple - I want you to know that the skill does not have to be a final product the first time you attempt it. Just like there are different layers and forms to me being a great football defender, there are probably layers to being amazing at the skill you currently have in mind. Say for example you chose to think of chess, you probably needed to learn all the strategies you currently possess one after the other. If yours is cooking, for example, you had to learn all the recipes you currently hold one by one.
This is a digress from the idea of getting it out. However, I think it's a huge component of it. It's my way of saying you could achieve your goal of climbing Mount Everest by first learning to climb the hill right in your backyard. A great way to look at it is to view it like levelling up in a video game. For our unique example, let's say the skill is riding a bicycle; here's what each level could look like:
Level 1: Internalizing the Goal
Fikemi saw Fisayo (my sister) riding her new bike down the street and thought he'd also want to be able to ride a bicycle as well.
Now comes level 2.
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Level 2: Getting it Out
Fikemi asks Fisayo, could I try riding your bike and you show me how to do it?
Done! Level 2 is complete.
That's pretty much it. Getting to this stage is already a victory. We identified something we wanted to do, and then we did it. No preoccupation with looking good. No expectation of being great at it. The essence of this level is simply doing the thing. There are logical and psychological reasons why simply just doing the thing is a great win, and I can explain that a tad further, but I'm planning to cover that in another article because this one is already taking longer than I had initially planned??
Now, if you simply follow these steps in the pursuit of the skill, you'd already be doing fantastic. However, I'd like to introduce a simple task you can include in this level to make learning the skill a little easier, maybe even more actionable or even simply organized for some people. Try not to take it too seriously though. Level 2 is simply a doing phase. I don't want anyone stuck doing what I'm about to say. And that's thinking of what to learn, or in our case, what to do first.
Remember, for example, we'll use Fikemi learning to ride a bicycle. Based on what I just said, learning to ride a bicycle could be broken down into several steps (the steps below are just to help illustrate):
I'm trying to show that you might find it easier to do the thing if you're able to first identify an easy-do right away.
I currently function as an IT Specialist. Say a student in his/her current program sees something I created and figured they'd like to be able to do the same, getting stuck in the do-phase can be an easy trap to fall into. They have the motivation and knowledge to know to simply start, however, they're stuck on what to start doing.
That's where this little step comes in. Do a simple high-level scan of what you'd need to learn to arrive at your desired outcome.
You want to cook. Maybe your immediate learning point is to figure out how a stove works and your initial do is turning it on and off.
If you thought about swimming, you might want to focus on figuring out how to simply jump into a pool (the shallow side though??).
Another point to consider is that some of the skills you choose may not require a high-level overview. I used the bicycle example because it seemed like an easy example. But in some cases, you might even find that you do not necessarily need to know the high-level stuff and you simply jump on the bike (bicycle - not motorcycle with motors that could damage the environment and people walking by if not done right??). You get the gist right???
In summary, Level 2 is simply the doing-phase. The idea is to not get stuck on the how-to, but to jump in simply. Knowing all situations aren't equal prompted me to include doing a high-level scan, if not knowing what to immediately jump into becomes a problem.
Level 3: Refine/Obtain Mastery
And finally, there's level 3. Simply put, this is the stage where refinement and fine-tuning come in. As much as I would love to give tips on how to improve whatever skill you currently have in mind for development, I'd have to say I don't have a generic set of systems I can recommend as of right now. However, this is the stage where you reach or acquire mastery.
Unlike the previous level, here you are concerned with becoming a master of your craft. How do I become an amazing speaker? How can I play the piano more masterfully? What do I need to do to acquire mastery over my craft? - These are the sort of questions that preoccupy your mind during this phase. And that is fine. You've put in the hard work of starting your journey of learning the skill; now it's time to become a master or, at the very least, graduate from novice status.
Final Words
In conclusion, these three levels offer a structured approach to skill development. By recognizing the internal level, initiating action in Level 2, and aiming for refinement in Level 3, you can advance and attain mastery in any skill. Remember, it's a journey, and each level offers its own rewards. So, go ahead and embark on the path of skill development with confidence and determination; I'll be rooting for you...unless you start crossing my lane????