Deliberate Practice: A Game-Changer for Leadership Skills Development

Estimated reading time: 2 mins

Emerging research on deliberate practice as a conversation skills training tool highlights its effectiveness in honing communication and leadership skills.

Popularized by psychologist Anders Ericsson, deliberate practice combines repetition and structured, goal-oriented exercises with coaching and feedback designed to improve performance.

In conversation skills, such as empathy, this method surpasses traditional didactic workshops (containing presentations, group discussions, and pair activities) and roleplays by emphasizing targeted practice on specific communication skills, such as curiosity, attention, empathy, and clarity. In addition, it allows individuals to address their gaps in a safe learning environment where they receive positive and constructive feedback to refine their capabilities.

"Studies confirm that deliberate practice significantly improves empathy and communication skills, making it a crucial tool in leadership development."

Studies demonstrate that learners who engage in deliberate practice are more likely to internalize the nuances of effective communication, leading to more meaningful and impactful interactions. Unlike passive learning methods like eLearning, deliberate practice actively engages participants, making it easier to retain and apply these skills in real-life situations.

As organizations increasingly recognize the value of solid communication in leadership and teamwork, deliberate practice is becoming vital in training programs. It offers a practical, evidence-based approach to building lasting conversational competencies. Let’s examine the recent evidence.

Deliberate practice is a significant improvement over conventional methods.

Several recent studies explore the effectiveness of deliberate practice in enhancing communication skills. A study published in Nordic Psychology by Larsson et al. (2023) compared deliberate practice with traditional didactic training in teaching empathy. The results showed significant improvements in empathic expression among participants who engaged in deliberate practice, suggesting it is more effective than conventional training methods.

Another contribution comes from Sentio University, where researchers John Young and McCall Schruff examined how deliberate practice can be applied to psychotherapeutic techniques, including empathy. Their findings reveal rapid improvements in skill acquisition, underscoring the potential of deliberate practice in structured training environments where focused feedback is integral.

"Our research shows a 22% increase in coaching skill proficiency with just two hours of deliberate practice, proving its impact in real-world scenarios."

Our research aligns with these findings, particularly in sales, coaching, and leadership training. Recently, for example, we have been comparing the leadership skills of participants who attended only a didactic GROW coaching workshop with those who also elected to complete two hours (three repetitions) of deliberate practice coaching scenarios.

The evidence is compelling: one week after the standard didactic workshop, 64% of participants could demonstrate coaching skills at the required standard. However, with two hours of deliberate practice, 76% of participants successfully demonstrated the coaching skills. That’s a 22% increase. For essential skills like asking open questions, inviting suggestions, and guiding the coachee to define the way forward, the improvement was as high as 41%.

Here’s a graph of the data.

These studies and our ongoing research reinforce that deliberate practice is a powerful tool for developing communication and leadership skills in both educational and professional settings. As this approach is integrated into various training programs, it is helping individuals achieve a higher level of proficiency in these essential skills.

But don’t take my word for it. Contact me and try it, for free, yourself.

References:

Ericsson, K. A., Krampe, R. T., & Tesch-Römer, C. (1993). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance. Psychological Review, 100(3), 363-406.

Rousmaniere, T. (2016). Deliberate practice for psychotherapists: A guide to improving clinical effectiveness.

Routledge.Duvivier, R. J., van Dalen, J., Muijtjens, A. M., Moulaert, V. R., van der Vleuten, C. P., & Scherpbier, A. J. (2011). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of clinical skills. BMC Medical Education, 11, 101.

Larsson, B. P. M., Broberg, A. G., & Kaldo, V. (2023). Does deliberate practice improve therapists' empathy? A randomized controlled trial. Nordic Psychology, 75(1), 3-18.

Young, J., & Schruff, M. (2022). The impact of deliberate practice on psychotherapeutic techniques: A case study. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 32(1), 67-78.

Internal research data (2024). Comparison of coaching skill proficiency between didactic workshop participants and those engaging in additional deliberate practice.