What does “Unconscious competence” have to do with your Excellence Zone™?

The Unconscious Competence concept was presented to me while listening to a CD set provided by a friend of mine.The keys to success in that CD set where your personal teachability index and the four stages of competence. That CD set got me thinking again about stuff I would have said – yeah, yeah I already know that. (low teachability index – btw)

Because of my many years of studying adult education techniques and teaching adults on a daily basis these were not new concepts to me.

This time around when I was reflecting on these concepts, it immediately became apparent to me that when you are operating in your Excellence Zone™ – when you are in the zone – you are operating at the highest level of competence: Unconscious Competence.

One definition for Unconscious competence is: The individual has had so much practice with a skill that it has become “second nature” and can be performed easily.

As a result, the skill can be performed while executing another task. The individual may be able to teach it to others, depending upon how and when it was learned.

If you are trying to figure out exactly where your Excellence Zone™ is, or you are trying to define your definition – you need only ask yourself this question: What would you spend $5000 or more on a weeks worth of education and you would be happy to invest the time and money there to gain more expertise?

By the way – you also demonstrated the highest teachability index for that topic.  Being ready and willing to learn more, even when you feel you know everything about that topic.

In the martial arts the term master is common – some deserve it, others not so much. The ones that do deserve the title always talk about there being more levels, more steps on the journey. They openly admit that they are still learning more everyday as they practice and teach their art form.

Until next time, keep Discovering your Natural Abilities.

What are you trying to master in business or at work? Let us know how this fits into your Excellence Zone™.