Mastering the Art of Cross-Country Skiing: A Journey of Deliberate Practice
Estimated reading time: 2.5 mins
Embarking on a cross-country skiing adventure up north with friends may sound like a picturesque getaway, but let me tell you, it was anything but a breeze. At the start, I barely managed to stay upright on my skis. It took perseverance, numerous tumbles, and some expert guidance before I could confidently navigate the backcountry trails.
As the morning progressed, the trails became a map of grooves, so staying on track was smoother and more effortless
One bright, sunny morning, we set the first tracks. Early skiing is so quiet and peaceful with beautiful virgin snow, but it also has its challenges. Without groomed trails to follow, every movement requires conscious focus, as the slightest misstep can send a beginner veering off course.
I continued to practice and my friend, an expert skier, helped me to refine my approach. As the morning progressed, the trails became a map of grooves, so staying on track was smoother and more effortless. It reminded me of the concept of Deliberate Practice – the idea that practice with a clear goal in mind, coaching and repetition leads to improvement. Additionally, as we practice a skill over and over, it strengthens neural pathways and creates new “maps,” so we become much more proficient at skill development.
Think of practice as waxing your skis and then skiing the tracks on the trails… It's much faster and easier with the wax.
Beyond the realm of skiing, deliberate practice holds profound implications for skill development in many domains.
Whether it's getting better at skiing or mastering other skills like leadership and communication skills, the principles remain the same. With each deliberate repetition, new neural pathways are forged, and long-term memory retention is enhanced, paving the way for non-conscious and more effortless performance.
Why is deliberate practice so effective?
The process of deliberate practice produces something called myelin, it's like a lubricant that surrounds the neurons and enhances the speed and efficiency of nerve impulses. Think of it like waxing your skis and then skiing the tracks on the trails… It's much faster and easier with the wax.
As we navigate through life's high-stakes situations, the principles of deliberate practice remain invaluable. Just as we wouldn't leave our skiing success to chance, we shouldn't leave critical conversations or communications to fate.
By embracing Deliberate Practice, we can approach these challenges with poise and precision, leveraging our honed skills to navigate even the most challenging terrain.
Remember the power of Deliberate Practice!
The journey of mastering cross-country skiing mirrors the broader journey of professional skill development. Through Deliberate Practice, we unlock our potential, creating new neural maps, and undertaking challenging situations and hard conversations with resilience and grace.
So, whether you're hitting the slopes or communicating difficult information to your teams, remember the power of Deliberate Practice. It's what helps us carve out new paths, both on the slopes and in our most important business communications and conversations.
Go ahead, embrace the challenge, and enjoy the ride!
Contact Kathleen Meehan, Learning Consultant: kmeehan@practica-learning.com
About Practica Learning
We offer customized scenarios to practice skills most critical for your leaders: foundational, situational and specialized skills and scenarios.
Our learning methodology – deliberate practice – is evidence-based and leads to measurable improvement in performance. We measure participant performance improvement and give you detailed analytics and aggregate reporting.
We are a creative team of learning experts, professional actors, and experienced coaches dedicated to understanding your communication challenges and strategic goals to provide you with the most engaging, immersive, and compelling learning experiences.
Engage with our customized communication training to empower your leaders with the skills they need to excel in today’s leadership environment.
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