The Curse of Automaticity for Those Who Want to Become Experts

You are learning a new skill…say Yoga and start with Tadasana or the mountain pose.

You learn the basics from a teacher, a book or a video. Then you practice till you reach an acceptable level. Soon you can do it easily without needing any instructions.

It's automatic now. Yeahh!

For most of us, this is a good enough result.

But if you want to become an expert, you have just encountered the curse of automaticity.

Research has shown that, once you reach that level of “acceptable” performance and automaticity on a new skill, more practice doesn’t lead to improvement.

We learn skills through 3 stages –

1. Cognitive stage – Frequent errors, having to consciously think while executing the skill, and the need for frequent feedback.

2. Associative stage – lots of practice. Smaller and less frequent Errors.

3. Autonomous stage – You can do it automatically. It’s easy and comfortable.

Our goal is usually to reach the autonomous stage as soon as we can and stay there.

The zone of comfort. Home...

But for an expert, this is just a milestone to reorient.

Expert performers find new ways to go back to the cognitive and associative stages. This usually involves breaking down the skill further, getting feedback, isolating specific areas and setting up drills for further improvement.

Back to Tadasana. Feet specifics.

Stretch the sides of the feet in the four directions to expand them. Stretch the toes. Raise the arch. Press the heels to the ground.

And that takes you right back to the cognitive and associative stages.

The zone of discomfort. The real home.

You are growing again.