For a long time, the gurus and popular science literature have told us that the best way to master anything is by engaging in deliberate practice. Unfortunately, as I explain in The Myth of Deliberate Practice and Mastery, it’s not that straightforward. As I summarise below, deliberate practice works well in ‘kind’ learning environments but isn’t particularly effective in ‘wicked’ learning environments.
Now I want to double down on the usefulness of deliberate practice specifically as it relates to business and leadership. Can deliberate practice help you master these disciplines? It turns out that whilst it can be very helpful in the earlier stages of your leadership journey, it becomes less helpful as you advance in your executive career. That’s because of the ‘wicked’ nature and complexity of the learning environments that senior leaders operate in.
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