How to help people get better at anything - a conversation with Scott H. Young
May 17, 2024
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In this conversation, Scott H. Young, author of 'Ultralearning' and 'Get Better at Anything', explores innovative approaches to mastering new skills. He reveals what Tetris players can teach about improvement and emphasizes that the mind isn’t just a muscle. Scott advocates for valuing variability over repetition and explains why skill development isn’t linear. He also discusses the need for practice to align with real-life scenarios, offering listeners practical strategies to enhance their learning experience across various domains.
Choosing challenging learning environments enhances skill acquisition through creative thinking and quick decision-making in various domains.
Recognizing cognitive biases in expert judgment is essential, as overconfidence can lead to poor decision-making and overlooked talent.
Embracing trial and error within unpredictable settings fosters rapid skill development by allowing individuals to experiment and learn from feedback.
Deep dives
The Importance of Learning Environments
Learning environments significantly influence the development of skills, especially in competitive domains like sports. For instance, Brazilian soccer players thrive in small-sided games like futsal, where they face close proximity opponents, allowing them to cultivate their skills rapidly. This environment forces players to think creatively and make quick decisions, ultimately enhancing their ability to adapt to larger fields. Therefore, choosing a challenging learning environment can lead to quicker skill acquisition compared to traditional settings that prioritize bland, repetitive drills.
Cognitive Bias in Expert Decision-Making
Experts often believe their intuition is a reliable guide for decision-making; however, studies show they can overestimate their accuracy. In fields like hiring, experts may feel confident in their selections, but research indicates they perform no better than random chance in many cases. This overconfidence can lead to disastrous consequences, such as overlooking potentially talented candidates based on flawed assumptions. Understanding and addressing cognitive biases in expert judgment is crucial for improving outcomes across various professions.
The Value of Trial and Error
A crucial aspect of learning involves embracing trial and error, particularly in uncertain environments. Noisy, real-world situations provide invaluable feedback that allows individuals to experiment and refine their skills, even if that process initially leads to mistakes or setbacks. Rather than shying away from variation, exploiting unpredictability can catalyze rapid skill development. This iterative learning approach distinguishes successful individuals, as they adapt and grow from their experiences.
The Process of Learning: See, Do, Feedback
Effective learning can often be distilled into a simple formula: see, do, and feedback. Initially observing examples creates a foundation, enabling learners to comprehend concepts and methods. Subsequent hands-on practice reinforces these learnings, while well-structured feedback helps to identify areas for improvement. This cyclical process fosters mastery by integrating observation, enactment, and evaluation, which is applicable across various fields, from sports to arts.
The Role of Environment in Skill Transfer
The transfer of skills from one context to another is often misconceived as a straightforward process, like weightlifting leading to better overall strength. However, research indicates that the brain is not a singular muscle; its ability to transfer learning varies widely. For example, golfers might excel under pressure due to years of practice, but that doesn’t guarantee success in unrelated domains. The key lies in building a diverse knowledge base and flexible skill-set that can be adapted to new challenges.
Rethinking Skill Acquisition and Retention
Skill acquisition is often mistakenly approached as a linear journey where techniques are acquired and perfected in isolation. In reality, it is a nonlinear process characterized by variation and adaptation. Successful individuals continuously evolve their skills rather than adhering strictly to a fixed technique. This insight highlights the importance of cultivating an open mindset in learners, allowing them to adjust and improvise as they encounter new challenges.
Scott Young makes an extremely welcome return to the podcast having written a new book about learning that follows up on the smash hit 'Ultralearning'. 'Get Better at Anything' has a different flavour as it takes us on a more practical journey to explore the development of skill in multiple domains.
I was gripped by this conversation as we explored:
What Tetris players can teach us about getting better.
