Yesterday's post emphasized the interaction between small wins, motivation and chunking. What I wrote was that to gain competency more often--and much quicker--break a skill up into small bits to learn it. These small wins of success are highly motivational. In contrast, to take on an entire skill at one time is to set yourself up for failure. Inevitably, that implies a greater potential for giving up. I emphasize these facts because over 25 years of long term coaching with more than 450 clients, I have NEVER had a client tell me that he/she used chunking as a means for gaining new competencies. Indeed, I usually spend time showing them how to chunk a desired skill--so that they can learn it. Nearly every competency requires chunking to assure learning.
Here's the research. In the mid 1980s, David McClelland of Harvard found that top achievers seek moderate challenges and risk, neither very easy--nor very hard. So back to my suggestion: chunk your skill into manageable bits so that you have a much greater chance of success--chunks that are not too easy or too hard.
Again, why go at learning that way? This is my reasoning: the possibility of success will be much greater. Success is motivational. As a result you may practice more. That's the best way to develop expertise.
I call this an actuarial approach to learning. Actuaries predict insurance risk. In health insurance, for example, they attempt to figure out the statistical probabilities that a consumer will take advantage of his insurance coverage. With that information, a firm can figure out the competitive pricing to make a profit by insuring consumers. As a coach, I work to determine the best ways to guarantee successful learning. And, as you may guess, it's good for my business.
My model for learning provides far more opportunities for success--than just willy-nilly taking on a new skill and attempting to learn it.
What do you need to know about chunking? What difficulties does chunking pose for you?
