The 4 Stages of Competence

If you want to become an expert at anything, read this.

The 4 Stages of Competence: pic.twitter.com/0sYP7XdUOZ

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023

The “4 Stages of Competence" framework was created by Matthew Broadwell in 1969.

It says we progress through stages when moving from total novice to expert at a given craft.

The stages are as follows:

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023

Stage 1: Unconscious Incompetence.

At this stage, you're a total novice and don't even know what you don't know.

You lack competence and don't have an understanding of your own incompetence.

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023

Stage 2: Conscious Incompetence.

Here, you've become aware of your own incompetence, but you haven't addressed it yet.

You know that there's a gap in your skills that needs to be filled.

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023

Stage 3: Conscious Competence.

At this stage, you've developed a level of competence at your craft, but it requires conscious effort and focus.

You can do it, but it takes work.

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023

Stage 4: Unconscious Competence.

This is the pinnacle of expertise, where you have extreme competence and can execute without conscious effort.

Few people ever reach this stage.

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023

I visualize it most clearly as a hierarchy, with progress marked by a graduation up the pyramid from one stage to the next.

This model is useful as a reflection tool for providing clarity about where we sit on a given skill or craft at any given moment. pic.twitter.com/5KpK93rHAP

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023

We tend to overestimate our own competency levels, so having a clear framework is helpful for cutting through the noise and delivering an honest personal assessment.

To determine whether you've graduated from one stage to the next, here are some simple questions to ask:

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023

Stage 1 to Stage 2:

• Am I aware of how bad I am at [X]?
• Am I aware of what is required to learn and develop at [X]?

Stage 2 to Stage 3:

• Can I do [X] at a consistently average level?
• Have I avoided "rookie mistakes" the last 10 times I have done [X]?

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023

Stage 3 to Stage 4:

• Can I do [X] at a top-1% level with my eyes closed?
• Do people tell me that I look effortless when doing [X]?

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023

Most of us will spend our lives in Stage 3, where we can create results with effort.

But to reach Stage 4, we need to engage in deep, deliberate, focused practice.

Our brains have myelin, a fatty tissue that insulates our neurons and greases them for proper firing.

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023

Stage 4 is where countless hours of effortful practice result in more myelin, allowing us to execute with ease.

Stage 4 is the level of Sprezzatura—studied nonchalance, earned effortlessness.

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023

It's a state we can aspire to, but few will achieve across more than 1-2 areas in our lives (at best).

As you progress in any new endeavor or craft, use the Hierarchy of Competence to reflect on your growth.

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023

Seek to play games that place a focus on your Stage 3 or 4 skills, and avoid games that place a focus on your Stage 1 or 2 skills.

Do that and you'll earn attractive long-term rewards.

Follow me @SahilBloom for more and RT the first tweet to share with others! https://t.co/cINNSOAmku

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023

Special thanks to @SachinRamje for the beautiful visualization.

He does terrific work (and is a wonderful guy). We had been working together online for a while and then finally got to meet for a coffee in Mumbai recently! pic.twitter.com/zvS60ZWZAq

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023

I’m pretty sure this video of Roger Federer sits next to the definition of “sprezzatura” in the dictionary.

This is Stage 4 Competence at its best. pic.twitter.com/uz83wuAJV9

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023

Bruce Lee was an example of Stage 4 Competence.

The highest state is attained when there is no interference from the mind to make something appear effortful.

The maximum—with the minimum. pic.twitter.com/9D633ZJwRt

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 19, 2023