Tool 07/30 - Dreyfus model

 

The objectives of this short ten minute exercise -

1. To learn a tool that will be helpful in work life 
2. To apply the learning within a few minutes of learning
3. To use this as a morning ritual to start a great day 

Step 1 - the warm up

Keep your journal and pen at hand

Sit in a relaxed position with an intent to go into a ‘flow state’ to learn something new

Take three deep, powerful breaths to lock in your focus and start the next step

Step 2 - the learning

About Dreyfus model

The Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition, developed by Stuart and Hubert Dreyfus in 1980, outlines five stages of learning: Novice, Advanced Beginner, Competent, Proficient, and Expert. It helps individuals and organizations assess skill levels, tailor training, and develop expertise systematically. Widely adopted in education, healthcare, and corporate training programs.

Situations (examples) where this tool can be best used

• Employee training and development programs
• Project management and team allocation
• Performance evaluations and feedback

The top three mental muscles (competencies) developed by practicing this tool

• Self-awareness - Recognizing personal strengths and areas for improvement
• Learning agility - Continually seeking new knowledge and adapting to change
• Problem-solving - Addressing challenges thoughtfully and decisively

A corporate story to understand the usage of this tool

Yvon Chouinard (Patagonia) story

Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, exemplifies the Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition through his journey of building a sustainable, socially responsible brand. The model outlines five stages: novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and expert.

Novice

In the early years, Chouinard was a novice in the outdoor gear industry. He started by creating climbing equipment without much business experience, relying heavily on intuition and a willingness to learn from mistakes.

Advanced Beginner

As Patagonia grew, Chouinard moved into the "advanced beginner" stage. He understood the basics of manufacturing and selling products but struggled with balancing business growth and environmental impact. He began implementing more sustainable practices, albeit on a small scale.

Competent

By the 1990s, Chouinard became competent in managing Patagonia’s operations. He established the company’s commitment to environmental activism, incorporating recycled materials and eco-friendly practices into product design.

Proficient

Chouinard became proficient when Patagonia led the charge for sustainability in the business world, influencing the entire outdoor apparel industry to adopt similar practices.

Expert

As an expert, Chouinard’s leadership revolutionized corporate responsibility. He now integrates environmental activism deeply into Patagonia’s core mission, setting the standard for sustainable business practices.

The Dreyfus Model illustrates Chouinard’s growth from a novice climber to a global leader in sustainable business.

A story from the World Wars

My personal story

The context

As a product centre head of telecom, I needed to know many things since I was new to the domain and the basics of its technology. I could have used the dreyfus model as below - 

Novice - Start with learning the foundational knowledge of telecom technologies, industry terminology, and key concepts (Opportunity to improve SOPs)

Advanced Beginner - Find a mentor within the company who could provide guidance and help me understand the context of my work

Competent - Create questionnaires to seek clarity in complex projects from Architects and Project Managers

Proficient - Start challenging the validity of existing SOPs to improve

Expert - Run a small project and share the learning of how the product centre head can learn hands-on

Step 3 - the reflection

Sit back, go down memory lane, think of various events in your work life where you could have used this learning.

If nothing comes to mind, think of a situation that would help you answer any one of these interview questions.

1. “How would you describe your proficiency in [specific skill or domain]?” - Use the Dreyfus model to explain where you currently stand and provide examples to illustrate your level.
2. "How do you mentor or guide others in acquiring new skills?" - Explain how you help others move through the Dreyfus stages
3. "Tell me about a time when you had to quickly develop expertise in a new area." - Use the Dreyfus model to describe the stages of your development and how you moved from initial rule-based learning to intuitive and adaptive expertise

Step 4 - the practice

Apply your learning to the situation you selected above.

• Novice
• Advanced beginner
• Comepetent
• Profiecient
• Expert

Step 5 - the victory lap

Celebrate your achievement for a minute. Maybe a quick victory lap doing some energizing exercise?

**

To those who felt, “Without training or experience, many tools appear daunting, leading to avoidance.” - Do you feel that the last ten minutes were worth the effort? 

This exercise is not only about management tools. It’s about building a neural pathway. And it’s about my mantra for creating small daily acts of feeling successful and happy. 

Don’t forget to carry this image 👇 in your mind. There could be a great situation where you may want to use the tool. Keep a log of all such situations. This practice will help you when you want to train someone.

My congratulations for your first dose of the day of success and happiness. Have a great day ahead.