From elite athletes to high school students trying to master the tuba, experts have one thing in common: they know practice is necessary to perfect skills.
The phrase “practice makes perfect” is shared commonly as an encouragement to learn and improve continuously, but it’s a bit of a misnomer. Practice helps people reach their highest potential. It is a life skill that allows individuals to develop expertise in specific tasks. Practice doesn’t make perfect, but it does enhance confidence and can be a powerful tool that helps you reach your goals.
Read on to learn the importance of practicing and how to make it more effective with relevant learning programs.
“Why should I practice more? I know it already!”
Many L&D professionals hear these complaints from staff during supplemental or re-training efforts, but the benefits of practice can’t be overstated. Even long-time pros in a field can benefit from continuous practice in their craft. Here is why you should practice more if you want to be successful:
Practice sharpens your skills. Even if your employees are experts in their fields, practice helps you refine your existing skills and even acquire some new ones along the way. In a nutshell, practice enables growth and development, leading you toward your goals and enabling employees to set higher goals for themselves.
Do you know the difference between successful and unsuccessful people? Focus and discipline. Successful people are not lucky or born that way. They work for it. They practice, they remain focused on their goals, and they do it all with discipline. All of these things come with practice. When team members practice more, they are less likely to lose focus or become frustrated with tasks.
Practice is a powerful and essential key to success. However, it does not work alone. If employees wish to accelerate and enhance their job skills through practice, learning programs are an essential tool to support continuous practice. With the proper training and learning strategy, employees can best direct their practice.
For instance, instructor-led training and virtual instructor-led training provide you with experiential learning. The scope of practice and hands-on learning through these programs ensure better retention through repetition.
Microlearning programs and on-demand videos can give employees additional tools to refresh knowledge on their schedules. These just-in-time learning resources can offer a change of pace to help the practice process stay fresh and engaging.
Successful people practice! Supporting employees with learning programs to help all types of learners sets them up for further success in their roles, and practice produces excellence. When you unite the two, it becomes the perfect recipe for success!