Deliberate practice is the most effective way to develop mastery in any domain. It is quite different from regular or ordinary practice, which is really just repetition. That has its place, for example a theatre company rehearsing a play. But it’s really sub-optimal for learning, growing and development.

In ordinary practice, the focus is on what you already know, or how you already perform an action. The aim is just to repeat it often enough that it becomes automatic. The problem with that is that unless the skill you’re practicing is already close to perfect or as good as you’ll ever be, then what you’ll be making automatic is a level of performance that’s less than what you’re capable of.

Deliberate practice, on the other hand, is all about improving, optimizing, and going BEYOND your current “best”.

Shane Parrish, in his excellent blog, Farnham Street, identifies the characteristics of deliberate practice, which include:

• it is structured and methodical
• it is challenging and uncomfortable
• it requires rest and recovery time
• it involves constant feedback and measurement
• it is most effective with the help of a coach
• it requires intrinsic motivation
• it takes time and can be a lifelong process
• it requires intense focus
• it leverages the spacing effect

My goal for this blog is to help leaders and entrepreneurs use the power of deliberate practice to develop mastery over their attention. I believe a focus on deliberate practice will prove the most effective way of doing that.