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The making of an expert
K Anders Ericsson1, Michael J Prietula, Edward T Cokely
1Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA. ericsson@psy.fsu.edu
Harvard Business Review
|July 24, 2007
Summary
Expertise is developed through years of deliberate practice, not innate talent. This intense, focused training pushes individuals beyond their current abilities, leading to elite performance in any field.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Expertise Development
- Skill Acquisition
Background:
- Popular belief attributes genius to birth, but research indicates otherwise.
- Expertise is primarily cultivated through sustained effort and expert guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the factors distinguishing elite performers across various domains.
- To explore the role of practice in achieving expertise.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from over 100 scientists studying expert behavior.
- Identification of common practices among elite surgeons, athletes, musicians, and managers.
Main Results:
- Elite performance is consistently linked to "deliberate practice"—a focused effort on challenging tasks.
- Experts continuously analyze errors, refine techniques, and overcome limitations.
- Even traits like charisma can be enhanced through targeted practice, as demonstrated with managers.
Conclusions:
- True expertise is built, not born, through rigorous and intentional practice.
- Deliberate practice is crucial for developing high-level skills in any domain, including leadership.
- Achieving elite status requires significant time, expert coaching, and self-directed improvement.
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