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The nine stages to becoming an expert
Friday, 10 November 2006
I've tried my hand at many different things over my life - sports, writing, business. One thing I've noticed along the way is that there are distinct stages you go through on the path to becoming more skilled. These vary a bit from field to field, but generally they appear to be similar. I thought it might be an interesting exercise to write them down.
For the sake of demonstration, I've chosen the example of my software development career to highlight each stage. I've been very well paid in this area over a number of years, and am considered an expert my many other well-paid professionals I've worked with.
Of course expertise, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder. No doubt many of the software developers at Google or MIT would consider me not even close to their level of expertise - and they'd be right. However, I've achieved enough success and knowledge that the average person would certainly consider me an expert in this field.
Okay, enough of that little explanation and onto the stages.
Stage 1: Discovery and interest
The path to expertise begins when you first discover your field. No doubt even Einstein had once never heard of physics, Mozart hadn't played a note, and Tiger Woods had never held a golf club.
Most people who go on to become experts fall almost immediately in love with their field when they discover it. Certainly it was that way for me with computers. When I first gained access to a TRS-80, one of the first ever home computers, at a young age it was difficult for my parents to drag me away from it.
This stage generally involves a level of obsession, and a strong desire to spend as much time as possible engaged in your new interest. However, usually work attempts are very amateurish at this point.
Stage 2: Early self-teaching
Initial interest and fun is followed by some motivated self-instruction. A golfer goes down to the local oval to hit a few balls, a pianist teaches herself simple songs, a software developer writes his first few programs. Confidence is gained and the depth of the field begins to open out in the mind.
Stage 3: Formal education
This stage involves more formal learning with a subject-matter expert expanding on the earlier knowledge. It's extremely rare that anyone becomes an expert without some kind of formal education. This kind of coaching provides guidance, discipline and feedback that simply isn't available through self-teaching. Here, the person's skills will likely improve rapidly to a level of competence.
Stage 4: Humiliation
This occurs when the person first enters serious competition - the first attempt at getting a professional job, the first few tournaments, the first public recital. It's in this environment where exposure to the cold-winds of comparison to those who've worked harder, longer and more seriously at the art occurs.
This is usually an extremely unpleasant experience, with the early joy of participation being replaced by humiliation. In every field there are people who gain real pleasure from destroying those who are below them in skill and experience. They like to expose them as imposters - not worthy to play on the same field.
This happened to me, as it happens to everybody, when I first tried to professionally enter the field of software development. At job interviews, there'd inevitably be some guy who'd delight in asking me questions I couldn't answer, then belittle me when I was unable to do so. The message was: "you'll never be worthy of working with someone like me".
Horrible as it is, this stage is very necessary. It acts as both a motivator and a reality check. It's here that most people either leave their pursuit of improvement in the field altogether, or develop a fiery determination to beat those who've humiliated them.
Stage 5: Serious attempts at professional improvement
This is where the humiliation of stage 4 leads to serious work at self-improvement. A focus on the more professional rivals leads to hard work and conscious discipline on the bettering of skills.
Stage 6: The beating of local rivals
One thing I've found about those who like to do the humiliating in stage 4, is that usually they're not as good as they appear to the amateur. At best, they generally rank among the low-level experts. Real experts usually don't have the time or will to bother with hurting amateurs. Plus, they already know they're good and don't have to pick off easy prey to prove it.
Once you've reached this stage, you're probably about average for a professional in your field. Maybe even a bit above average.
Stage 7: Youthful arrogance.
This stage came for me when I started to get paid really well as a software developer. I noticed that I was better at it than most of my peers - even those who were better trained than me. It seemed easy to look around and imagine I was the smartest person in the room.
I knew there were a lot of important things I didn't know that much about, but I just assumed very few other people did either. I was the classic big fish in a small pond.
Stage 8: Reality check and crashing back down to Earth
This usually occurs when you stop playing with the fairly big boys (or girls) and start playing with the giants. Suddenly, you realize with a sick feeling that you're nowhere near as smart as you thought you were.
I spent a number of years coasting along at stage 7 and not putting that much effort into improving my skills. Then, one year I moved onto a team with a skill level much higher than mine. I spent a few months in denial before acknowledging that I was only mortal and it was time to start seriously hitting the books again.
Stage 9: Realizing that you'll never come close to knowing everything
This is the stage I believe the vast majority of experts are at. They know enough to realize that they know virtually nothing. Sure, they're way ahead of the average person in the street, but they're a long way from true enlightenment.
I remember hearing a delightful story once about Alan Greenspan - who used to be the head of the Federal Reserve Bank in the US. He was a very highly respected economist and believed by many to be the best central banker in history. Mr Greenspan would apparently often ask recent economics graduates for their opinions and listen intently to the answers. He'd do so even in a room full of distinguished experts. It's clear he realized he didn't know everything, and that even someone of much lower status may be able to teach him something.
It's at this stage you realize that expertise isn't a destination, but a journey. A lifelong travel that will never be complete - no matter how fast you run.
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