So, I haven’t decided if this is about multi-tasking (time-slicing) or practicing… Because, if we don’t hone our abilities to perform functions to perfection, then our ability to do multiple things nearly simultaneously fails miserably.
“Well,” you say, “I have no desire to multi-task. Why should I practice so faithfully?” Because you DO multi-task. Or, maybe you don’t walk and chew gum at the same time?
Because practice lets us do things “automatically”. We drive a car and talk to our friends in the car. Which was much harder to do when we first were learning to drive. (“Shut up…I’m concentrating!”)
Before you go around complaining about this, consider a few facts. If we don’t hone our skills, making sure we can execute faithfully our efforts, we will generally fail. Because, we rarely get the chance to perform in a vacuum. Other folks interfere (not necessarily intentionally, either).
A football receiver learns a running and catching play. He practices relentlessly, so he can do it ‘in his sleep’. Which is an important factor, because the other team is going to spend all of its efforts trying to break up that play. That’s why the receiver has to know implicitly what to do- in spite of the interference.
Every time I buy a new car, I spend an hour or two doing something you may consider frivolous. I practice throwing an empty coffee cup out of my hands, thereby avoiding myself and the windshield with the (non-existent) contents. So, that if I get cut off while driving (and drinking a cup of coffee), I can automatically (autonomically?) deal with the situation, without any danger to myself or others.
It’s why the old method of training doctors- to work hours upon hours in an emergency room rendered them more capable of performing exemplarily (and, given the fatigue that often accompanied these actions- effecting grievous errors). A happy medium between lack of consciousness and ingraining behavior had to be found.
That’s why it’s important to practice situations with your front-line customer service people. (You know- training!) These folks have to be understanding, remain calm, and not argue with a ticked off client. Therefore, once a week or every other week, practice sessions with annoyed, frantic “customers” is a useful practice. So, that when they are confronted with the “real McCoy”, their actions will be practiced and honed to perfection. Without thinking about their reactions, maintaining that smile, etc.
The trick is to break each new skill into manageable chunks. Because that is how the brain works. Each time a skill is mastered, our brain releases chemicals that encode this behavior- and renders it more automatic for the next time it is needed.
Practice and skill acquisition are the best way to insure success.
I hate to say this but for the men who read this maybe they should look at this as a multi-task piece and women can look at it as a practicing piece. Come on we all know men can not multi-task. 🙂
shawn recently posted..The Good and Bad of Clickbank
Obviously, Shawn, it seems that you’ve only met inadequate men…. 🙂
Very interesting, Roy. I would love to watch you practice throwing your coffee cup, but I understand what you are talking about. Now that my kids are grown I do not multi-task quite as much, but I still have the ability to multi-listen – hear more than one conversation at a time – which has kept me a step up on my kids for years. I remember how I used to do so many things with one hand when I had a baby on my hip and that definitely trained me for dealing with the older kids.
Bonnie Anderson recently posted..He’s Making a List (on an Excel Spreadsheet) and Checking It Twice
It’s very boring, Bonnie, I assure you. Or, it could be annoying. It involves a randomly timed event (a noise in the car), which is when I “dispose” of the cup. Just like the random idiots who love to cut folks off, pass us on the right, or stop on green lights….
I, too, can discern multiple conversations, Bonnie. At one time, I was able to maintain three separate discussions in a moderate sized group. (I did not really realize that, until someone had brought it to my attention- asking me how I did it. To be honest, I haven’t a clue…)
I really relate to this post. I do things like this all the time so they become automatic. When my father was teaching me martial arts he did similar things in the training, and when I asked why he explained that we do things better and faster when we don’t “think” rather we do it automatically. It’s a principle I am applying to my art now.
Lisa Brandel recently posted..Dragonfly In Blue by Lisa Brandel
The only problem with some of the autonomic events, Lisa, is one I have often encountered. (OK. I act it. My kids encounter it.) Driving on certain roads, engaging in conversations, and then autopilot takes over. So, the destination my children had chosen for the trip is not the one we seem to be employing….
This post reminds me of the old saying, “Practice makes perfect”. I don’t know about perfect, but preparation and practice will always make a task easier.
I guess playing the piano is a good example in my own life. The more I practice, the better prepared I feel…I have more confidence and usually perform better.
Janette Fuller recently posted..Book Review: APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur – How to Publish a Book
And, if your practice has been to practice often, you can probably talk and play at the same time, Janette!
An interesting point. Training and practice are often not always put together. This chunking of steps that our brain has learned to do for our survival can certainly be put to use in business if you think about it this way. It’s the same reason we do fire drills (over and over) we the practice of the physical motions are also remember by the brain, not just the lecture. This can be put into place easily in business with role play or even watching others.
Wonderful thinking. Every manager or leader needs to recognize the importance of practice.
Bonnie recently posted..Why I Am ME (and no one else)
Your fire-drill example is a fantastic one, Bonnie! That is a great point…
Not only do we need to practice to learn how to do something, but we need to practice so that it’s an innate habit, one to which we resort first!
Thanks for those great additions.
I am still seeking that happy medium between lack of consciousness and some form of behaviour.
David Leonhardt recently posted..Writing assignment – how to describe hair
David:
I believe we all are…sometimes, we just lack the consciousness to control it as well.
One challenge I have with conditioned responses is that they still need to be monitored, tweaked and corrected
Roberta Budvietas recently posted..Skyfall, Duty and Your business
The trick, Roberta, is to optimize them AS they are being ingrained, so that responses tend to be smoother.
It’s still eye opening to me the reasoning you shared behind extra long hours for doctors in your comment on my blog! It makes so much sense and I can definitely see why you would do the empty coffee cup exercise. A skill that I’m working on is reading and writing without being interrupted by my environment! You’d think I’d be better at it after practicing so much in university. =P
Samantha Bangayan recently posted..When the Right Doors Open: A True Passion for Acting
We all need to practice these sorts of things, Samantha… It’s how we really can do our best, each and every day.
Thanks for the visit AND the comment.