{"id":76368,"date":"2022-08-13T15:07:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-13T19:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=76368"},"modified":"2022-08-24T09:13:27","modified_gmt":"2022-08-24T13:13:27","slug":"circle-of-competence-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/circle-of-competence-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Circle of Competence: How to Identify & Develop Your Own"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What are your circles of competence? How can you identify them? What should you do if you need to work outside of them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shane Parrish and Rhiannon Beaubien explain a simple model for pinpointing where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Knowing whether you\u2019re in a circle of competence<\/a> allows you to avoid blunders and make better decisions<\/a>. This helps you learn, grow, and succeed more in life and work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn how to identify your circles of competence, what to do if you find yourself outside of one, and how to develop a new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Your Circle of Competence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Imagine a small circle around a skill you\u2019ve mastered. That area is one of your circles of competence<\/em>. Inside a circle of competence, you have a deep understanding<\/a> of the territory (good maps) and the skills to navigate it. You intuitively grasp the possibilities and limitations of that skill set, and you can effectively overcome challenges and avoid common pitfalls. For instance, an experienced photographer can use her camera, direct photoshoots, and capture her subject in ways the beginner isn\u2019t even aware of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside that circle, you lack clear understanding and the skills to match. According to the authors, that\u2019s where your weaknesses are\u2014areas where you\u2019re more likely to make mistakes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does Mastery Look Like?<\/strong>

The authors explain that someone who\u2019s mastered a domain\u2014what they call a \u201clifer\u201d\u2014has deep, nuanced knowledge of that skill set. However, they don\u2019t dive deep into what this looks like in practice. 

In Mastery<\/em><\/a>, Robert Greene argues that a master develops a specific kind of mind<\/a> that grows to encompass the entirety of her field of mastery. Through long-term practice (Greene suggests 20,000 hours) and intense, committed effort, a master transforms her mind:

As children<\/strong>, we begin with minds that flow freely and explore creative ideas.

As adults<\/strong>, we absorb societal conventions and develop practical skills, but we also risk growing rigid and conventional in our thinking.

To become a master<\/a><\/strong>, combine the free-flowing creativity of a child\u2019s mind with the learned discipline of an adult\u2019s mind.

Greene asserts that when you combine spontaneous, childlike intuition with rigorous adult follow-through, you can achieve feats of mastery. With time, your mind will gain a deep, thorough, intuitive sense of your field. This allows you to see what Greene calls \u201cthe Dynamic,\u201d<\/a> or the whole landscape and how it all flows. For instance, a master conductor has deep knowledge of instruments, musicianship, composition, and the landscape of music both past and present\u2014and she sees how it all fits together as one dynamic, flowing whole. <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To judge whether you\u2019re in a circle of competence, ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n