Player Development : stages of habit building

A. UNCONSCIOUSLY UNSKILLED    “You don’t know that you don’t know”

Learners with low competence find it hard to judge how unskilled they are. At this level, you are blissfully ignorant: you have a complete lack of knowledge and skills in a specific area, and you're unaware of this. Your confidence therefore far exceeds your abilities.

Coaching : You'll need to make them understand how much they need to learn. You'll also need to explain why they need to learn these skills. Be sensitive at this early stage, and give plenty of positive feedback centred prioritizing on what they have to prioritise to keep people's motivation high.

B. CONSCIOUSLY UNSKILLEDacquire “You know you must improve”

By this stage, you've discovered that you need to learn new skills. You realize that others are much more competent than you are, and that they can easily do things that you are struggling with.

Coaching: Use your Treasure Maps to combat negative thinking and to refocus (see Treasure Map)

C. CONSCIOUSLY UNSKILLED  “You are improving”

At this level, you know that you have acquired the skills and knowledge you need. You put your learning into practice regularly, and you gain even more confidence as you use your new skills. You still need to concentrate when you perform these activities, but, as you get more practice and experience, these activities become increasingly automatic.

Coaching : Keep the learners focused on the skills that they need to acquirer, and give them plenty of opportunities to practice these skills.

For example, you could build situations that use their new skills, or set them relevant game-based training exercises.

D. UNCONSCIOUSLY SKILLED     “You don’t think, you react !”

You use your new skills effortlessly. They have become "second nature." You can perform tasks and make game-like decision without conscious effort. You are completely confident of success. Also, bear in mind that you may go back down the ladder if you don't use your new skills regularly.

Coaching : make sure that people avoid complacency, and that they stay up-to-date with their skills. After all, if you don’t use it you loose it ! Stay sharp !