The Importance of Recognizing the Behind-the-Scenes Work in Skilled Performance

Carol Dweg and I were colleagues at Columbia before she went to Stanford. Trying things that may fail is essential because we often overlook the hard work behind someone's skilled performance. People only see the final product, not the failed attempts or initial drafts. Bob, my writing partner, had the privilege of reading the pathbaked prose that became our book. Skilled performance requires work, effort, revision, and practice.