To err is human…and key to achieving goals

In my last two articles, I discussed the concept of deliberate practice. This is a focused approach which leads to high achievement in endeavours such as chess, musical instruments, sports and therapy. The approach has as its cornerstones the setting of individualized learning objectives, working with a coach, getting feedback and making successive refinements as the keys to becoming proficient in an endeavour.

The feedback provided which is typically most helpful in attaining proficiency focuses on identifying errors which are detracting from performing the endeavour correctly. In the following sections, I will give several examples from my own experience of how identifying errors has been pivotal to my attaining proficiency and achieving goals.

How identifying errors leads to progress

Although it feels better at the time to be told that you’re doing something correctly rather than making errors, recognizing errors is essential to becoming proficient at a skill. The simple reason is that making errors is ‘part of the game’ when you are learning a skill. Identifying your errors allows you to make adjustments so that you no longer make them. As such, it is fundamental to improving and achieving goals at your chosen endeavours.

How identifying errors has helped me to make progress and achieve goals

To illustrate how recognizing errors is essential to becoming proficient at a skill, I will provide several examples of this phenomenon from my own performance in various endeavours:

Karate

On my way to attaining a second degree black belt in karate was consistent identification and correction of errors in punches, kicks, blocks, katas and many other skills which are part of this sport.

Piano

I took up playing the piano as an activity at the end of January in 2018. Since then I have improved by leaps and bounds. A key reason for this has been the identification and correction of errors in my execution of technical skills and in the playing of pieces.  Most of my errors have been identified by my wonderful teacher Stacy at my weekly lessons with her. I have then focused on using her advice to correct these errors in the extensive practice which I have done on my own between lessons.

Having said that, I recently identified an error affecting my performance which I have since taken steps to correct. I made the error while playing a piece for a performance class. The error was that I failed to adjust the piano seat to a proper height which made it very difficult to see the keys clearly. Although the error resulted in my making many mistakes on a piece which I knew ‘cold’, the temporary disappointment I experienced was alleviated by my knowing that I had identified an error which I will no longer make going forward.

Triathlons

Performing effectively in the triathlon requires identifying and correcting errors in the three ‘legs’ of the event—swimming, biking and running—as well as in the ‘transition’ between each leg along with other factors such as nutrition and hydration which have a significant on one’s performance beyond whether you have properly trained for an event.

My coach Cory did a great job of alerting me to errors I was making in these various event elements. A notable example of this occurred following my having to drop out of the 2016 Couer d’Alene Ironman event three quarters of the way into the bike leg. Despite having trained properly as well having eaten and consumed fluids leading up to and during the event to that point, I found myself unable to continue and extremely dehydrated.

In my post-race debriefing, Cory identified the error I had made which caused me to ‘bonk’. Although he had advised me to consume a large number of salt pills to replace the electrolytes I would be losing in the very hot conditions, I did not follow his advice after noticing on the salt pill container that there was a daily maximum number of pills which should not be exceeded. Cory explained that the maximum number on the container could be exceeded because of the demanding physical event in which I was participating.

I followed Cory’s advice on this issue the following year at the 2017 Coeur d’Alene Ironman. It resulted in my correcting the error which had caused me to drop out the previous year. This time I properly replaced my electrolytes and went on to complete the event in ample time.

Therapy

Performing effectively as a therapist also requires identifying and correcting errors made in trying to help clients. Sometimes I become aware of these errors myself by reflecting during or after a session with a client.

On other occasions, errors come to my attention through various sources of feedback. This includes clients’ scores on the Outcome Rating Scale (ORS). This is a standardized self-report measure of psychological well-being. If I see that client scores on the ORS have not improved sufficiently over the client’s time working with me, it suggests that I may have made one or more errors in the strategies I used to help the client.

Clients can also provide me with feedback regarding errors I have made verbally or with their behaviour. The latter includes a change in the client’s tone or level of participation during a session as well as their choosing not to book a subsequent session with me.

I also obtain feedback regarding errors I have made as a therapist by consulting with other psychologists. The psychologist on whom I have relied the most for feedback is Dr. Christine Padesky. Dr. Padesky is one of the world’s most accomplished psychologists who specializes in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).  At our consultations, Dr. Padesky lets me know when I’m doing the right thing in working with clients. But more importantly, she also lets me know when I’ve made errors and provides me with direction on how to make corrections.

Normalizing errors and benefiting from becoming aware of them

I have to admit that it feels a lot better to focus on what I’m doing well compared to what I’m doing wrong.  And I think it’s important to do a lot of the former which makes it easier to do the latter.

In that regard, although it’s not as enjoyable to notice one’s errors, the unpleasantness involved by identifying them typically decreases by normalizing them. This entails recognizing that everyone who performs activities which have an element of skill will make errors. The payoff from being made aware of one’s errors is that you are able to correct your errors and see your performance improve significantly from doing so.

May you identify and correct errors to improve your performance and achieve goals in your endeavours,

Dr. Pat