Skills or Routines?

As a dramatist and learning and development professional, I have always believed that mastering Routines offers advantages that surpass the mere acquisition of Skills. It is through the consistent practice of Routines that we truly excel in our respective fields.

My path has taken me through various roles- from actor, singer, and orchestral trumpet player to kitchen hand, Emcee, mediator, facilitator, executive coach, and football goalkeeper. In each of these contexts, I've come to realise that no noteworthy performance is possible without the use of Routines. Whether it's about clearing the mind before defending a penalty kick or helping others develop their power and ability, significant achievements are only possible when a sequence of workable actions or Routines are followed.

This is more granular than Habits.? Many Habits are Routines in themselves.? Cleaning one's teeth is a good Habit, especially when you follow a Routine:-

1.???? Brushing

2.???? Flossing

3.???? Rinsing.

Each step in the Routine is supported by Micro-routines. Micro-routines are the small, quiet routines that support more obvious Routines, skills and actions.? They are mostly thoughts, but they can include physical actions.

Take the manner in which you Brush. There's a Micro-routine holding the brush as you squeeze the ideal amount of toothpaste onto it. You've learned from experience that there is a Goldilocks zone, not too much or too little. There's a Micro-routine for brushing; there are so many repetitions in a certain motion. There are Micro-routines for Flossing and Rinsing. The more practice you have with each Micro-routine and the more practice of linking them up in dynamic scenarios, the better you get.

Practice makes perfect, but only if you practice the right things.

This is true for many business competencies.? Those who have worked with us will recall the Routines we teach to support leadership impact: -

• Presentation structure for influential Communication - COUP Method + CARDS
• Critical Thinking for Effective Cognition - Question Evidence > Test Reasoning > Seek Perspectives
• Mindful breathing and posture for maintaining Composure - ABCDE + ACT
• Meeting structure for high-performing Collaboration - 5 energies + Creative Intervention.

Coming from theatre and dramatic art, I think I've always taken it for granted that when training people to perform a role, it is critical to emphasise mastery of the Routines that bring a great performance into being. Skills are table stakes. Without Routines keeping everything tight, there's no cohesive performance.

Expecting to develop people with knowledge and skill definition alone does not make sense to me, and I'm starting to question whether the distinction between Learning Skills and Mastering Routines is widely appreciated. So, I'm calling out some of the notable benefits of emphasising Routines in development programs:-

?1.???? Integration of Skills:

Routines involve the systematic integration of skills to achieve a desired outcome. Rather than focusing solely on skills in isolation, Routines teach how to combine and apply skills effectively in unfolding real-world scenarios.

In acting, we can use different methods to break down a character’s psychology, from dramaturgy to “animal work.”? We use movement skills to embody the character's psychology and vocal skills to give the character's mind a voice. The final performance synthesises innumerable skills crafted into a dynamic, dramatic Routine. Great actors make it look easy and authentic.

This is not dissimilar to developing mastery over a range of competencies valued by recruiters, boards and the talent market in general.

2.????? Efficiency and Effectiveness:

Routines streamline the learning process by providing structured sequences of actions or behaviours. By following routines, individuals can perform complex tasks efficiently and effectively, including when they are under pressure.

When defending a penalty in football, I have a Routine to increase my impact on the outcome, that is, to keep the ball out of the net.? It involves having words with the ref, then the opposition player, and then I mark out my lines, jump and touch the crossbar, and then settle.? It works occasionally.

3.???? Consistency and Reliability:

Routines promote consistency and reliability in performance. By practising routines regularly, individuals develop habits that become automatic and dependable, reducing the likelihood of errors or inconsistencies.

A concrete example of this from the resources and manufacturing sectors is the "Take 5 Safety Checklist".

Meaningful Routines should drive coaching or development conversations, which should be consistently and reliably consistent. It’s too easy for unconscious biases to shortcut important exchanges. For some, switching from speaking to listening requires a Routine: stop talking, breathe out, breathe in slowly and ask a question.

4.???? Enhanced Learning Retention:

Repeated practice of Routines reinforces learning and improves skill retention over time. The structured nature of Routines helps encode information into long-term memory, making it easier to recall and apply skills when needed.

This is where “muscle memory” can be the saviour in moments of intense pressure, from avoiding a motor accident to being under cross-examination. In the latter case, we are talking about Micro-routines of thought and self-direction that help you remain calm and credible, such as exhaling as you stand tall and nod slowly or drinking from a glass of water before answering a question. If you want to develop skills to employ when the stakes are high, you’ll want to practice them as Routines.

5. Improved Adaptability:

While Routines provide a structured framework, they also foster adaptability. As individuals become proficient in Routines, they gain the flexibility to modify or adapt them to suit changing circumstances or goals, enhancing their ability to respond effectively to new situations.

For several years, when I was studying at NIDA and in the years after graduation, I performed Theatresports! at the Belvoir Street Theatre.? I had some very public face plants.? They make me cringe to recall them.? I learned that my survival relied on the Routines that made it possible for me to be adaptable in the moment.? A simple Routine began with saying “Yes!” to every offer.? And we trained to play the games with greater assurance by finding our collective Routines for immediate innovation and invention.?

If you claim to “put the customer at the heart of everything you do,” you better cultivate adaptability because customer service is one long, complex improvisation!

6. Increased Certainty and Mastery:

Mastering routines instills certainty and a sense of mastery in individuals. By following established procedures and consistently achieving desired outcomes, individuals build self-assurance in their abilities and feel more empowered to tackle challenges.

Australian Cricket Legend Sir Donald Bradman famously practised managing the uncertainty of a cricket ball's speed, bounce, and swing by bouncing a golf ball against a water tank and striking the ball with a stump. This Routine gave him elite eye/hand coordination.

There’s nothing like the feeling of certainty. When you master a routine, you are entitled to feel satisfaction. If it’s the right routine, and you’ve trained hard, and the event is yet to happen, you can be certain you have prepared well.

7. Facilitation of Collaboration:

Routines can facilitate collaboration and teamwork, providing a common framework for individuals to work together towards shared objectives. When everyone understands and follows the same routines, coordination and cooperation are enhanced.

Hello, high-performing teams. From emergency services to show business to any business with customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders, the cohesion that comes from people who share the same outcome-driven Routines is bankable.

In sum, learning that focuses on practising Routines and Micro-routines increases efficiency, consistency, adaptability, and confidence in performance.

That’s been our experience, and it defines well what we aim to achieve with all our development modalities—executive coaching, ACT, leadership communication, culture, and teams - to teach and coach people to master the Routines that work for them.

It’s worth identifying the Routines and Micro-routines that work in your business and industry, and evaluating the effectiveness of development activities used to train and reinforce them.

We're keen to engage in conversation with people about the rain-making Routines that they or their teams would like to master.

How strong are your Routines for?

• Crisis management
• Communicating strategy
• Change and transformation
• Cross-discipline problem-solving
• Performance conversations
• Stakeholder engagement
• Preparation of Board papers
• Pitching for work or resources
• EBA Negotiations
• Handling aggressive customers and colleagues
• Resource allocation.

Reach out about these or any other knotty performance issues.