Deliberate practice: what it is and what it means

Deliberate practice is a skill development process that chooses specific situations in which to exercise the skill with conscious attention, as opposed to the random practice of everyday work. It requires a stated goal, real situations with contained risk and a systematic cycle of observation, feedback, adjustment and new practice. Without this cycle, behavior change does not take hold.

Distinctive: conscious attention
Distinctive: stated goal
Essential: specific situations
Essential: contained risk
Essential: observation, feedback, adjustment and new practice
Constant: skill development process

Glossary

Deliberate practice

A skill development process that chooses specific situations with a stated goal and contained risk, fed by a systematic cycle of observation and feedback.