Deliberate Practice
Definition: A structured form of practice specifically designed to improve performance, involving focused attention and specific goals.
Deliberate practice is a highly structured activity with the specific goal of improving performance. It was first identified by psychologist Anders Ericsson, who studied how experts in various fields develop their skills.
Key characteristics of deliberate practice:
1. Specific goals: Working on particular aspects of performance, not just general practice 2. Intense focus: Full concentration, not mindless repetition 3. Immediate feedback: Knowing what's working and what isn't 4. Working at the edge: Practicing at a difficulty level that stretches current abilities 5. Repetition with refinement: Doing it again, but better each time
Deliberate practice is different from regular practice in several important ways:
- Regular practice is often comfortable; deliberate practice is often uncomfortable
- Regular practice maintains current skills; deliberate practice improves them
- Regular practice can be mindless; deliberate practice requires full engagement
Research shows that deliberate practice is the single most important factor in developing expertise in virtually any field. It's not just about putting in hours—it's about how you spend those hours. This concept directly supports growth mindset by showing that improvement is possible through the right kind of effort.