September 2011

Smart Practice

Are you wasting your practice time? Everyone knows practice is a critical component of skill-building and behavioral change, and author Malcolm Gladwell has popularized the fact that we need at least 10,000 hours of dedicated practice to achieve mastery in any area. But there’s a catch: it has to be smart practice. Skating around an ice rink for thousands of hours won’t make you a champion figure skater. Since, it’s hard to make time for practice, how can you be sure you’re using that precious time most effectively?

Pay attention. Mindless repetition doesn’t deliver results. In his wonderful book, The Brain That Changes Itself, Dr. Norman Doidge asserts that paying close attention is essential to long-term change. Learning with divided attention doesn’t lead to lasting change in your brain maps. It’s not just repetition that leads to improvement; your ability to notice what’s happening while you’re performing the task enables you to recognize obstacles and reinforce gains. Stop daydreaming, get focused, and notice what’s happening.

Be curious. Expecting immediate results puts you in the wrong frame of mind for effective practice. It’s tempting to treat an exercise like a vending machine: you do the exercise and you get a result. It’s common to hear someone say, “That exercise didn’t do much for me.” As if it’s the fault of the exercise… In reality, an exercise is more like an experiment: it’s a chance to observe and learn something, and there’s no way to predict what that might be. Get curious. Give yourself permission to explore. The discoveries you make will open doors for real change. ... CLICK TO CONTINUE

Recommendation

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard
Chip Heath & Dan Heath, Random House Canada, 2010

With great clarity and simplicity, the authors show how ordinary individuals can unite both the rational and the emotional brain to produce dramatic results. The recommended strategies have already helped my clients learn faster and apply new skills more effectively.

Monthly SpeechMaster Class

Here’s an opportunity for current and former clients to work on their speaking skills in a live group setting. And it’s FREE. Classes include valuable input, guest speakers and, most importantly, an exciting opportunity for several participants to speak and receive coaching from an expert. Guests are warmly welcomed as observers.

Second Wednesday of every month, 7:00 – 9:00 PM
434 Queen St East, Toronto, ON
RSVP events@voiceandspeech.com

Free weekly SpeechMaster Call

Now you have a great chance to participate in discussions about voice and speech, get useful information and answers to your own specific questions. Join us! Callers have been thrilled by the value they’ve received from these conversations.

Every Thursday, 1:00 - 1:30
Number: 559-546-1800
(USA callers use 559-546-1700)
Access: 980004