Two quick ways to get and stay off autopilot

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Brian Kight

Two constantly asked questions are:

  1. Why do experienced professionals get stuck and stop improving?
  2. How can I tell whether someone will keep improving or get stuck on-autopilot?

I see two major reasons that also serve as leading indicators for staying in automatic skill vs breaking through to elite skill.

The first indicator is how people use time. People stuck in automatic use time to do what they already know how to do and avoid unfamiliar things they don’t know how to do. The consequence is they deeply embed habits that eventually diminish in value, reinforce a fear of uncertainty, and fail to get enough reps at new and higher value skills.

People pursuing elite use time to do things just beyond their ability and much less time doing things they can already do well, just enough to keep them sharp. The consequence is they get familiar and confident working in uncertainty and constantly increase their skill and production.

The second indicator is how people deal with change. People stuck in automatic resist change because it would make their existing skill habits less valuable and results less predictable. They don’t want to go back into uncertainty and the beginning of the learning journey.

People pursuing elite lean into change because they always want to have the best skills for the environment they’re in and the environment that’s coming with changes. They do not avoid and have no anxiety about going into uncertainty or back to the beginning of the learning journey. They work, practice, build, and perform their way back up.

Observe the best. Observe the average. You will see a noticeable difference in how each handles time and change. Remember to observe yourself too.

Embrace the chase. Do the work.

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