4 Levels of Competence

I would like to introduce you to the concept of four stages of competence. This model describes four stages of learning a new skill. Sometimes it is also knows as a conscious competence learning model, conscious competence ladder or conscious competence matrix.

The process begins with unconscious incompetence stage, goes through conscious incompetence and conscious competence and ends with unconscious competence.

The first step, unconscious incompetence, is when you don’t know what you don’t know. You are unaware of your lack of skill and knowledge. You are in this state also when you deny usefulness of certain skill.

To move forward, you must become conscious of your incompetence. Then you reach the second stage. You don’t understand the skill, you can’t do that, but you are aware of your incompetence. You are also aware of your deficiency in this certain skill. To go to the third stage you have to learn and practice.

Third stage, conscious competence, is when you successfully perform certain ability. However you need focus, concentration while performing it. When you continue to practice a lot, you are moving toward forth stage.

The last stage (there are some opinion suggesting one more, fifth stage) is unconscious competence. You don’t have to think about performing certain skill. It is like a second nature. Very often you can do something else at the same time.

Let me show you simple example how this model looks like for learning certain skill. The most popular example concerns driving a car. I would like to break this trend. Let’s see how it works with driving a bus.:)

You are a non-driver. You don’t know anything about driving a bus, don’t even know that there are skills required to do so. You are unconscious incompetent.

When you seat for the first time in front of a bus wheel, you become aware of your incompetence. You can’t drive, but now, you are realizing all the things that you have to learn and practice. You are conscious incompetent.

You begin to learn and practice driving a bus. Finally, you pass your driving exams. You can drive a bus, but you need to put a little effort while doing it. You must consciously focus on this skill while performing it. You are conscious competent.

You become unconscious competent bus driver, when you don’t have to think about changing gears, checking mirrors, using traffic indicators and such things, while driving. Meantime, you can answer your cell-phone, eat a burger or take some notes.

It is interesting, how I can help you in learning new skills and gaining knowledge according to this model. I bet, that it is usually somewhere between first and second; second and third phases. Do you agree?

photo credit: Elsie esq.