How can the “doing deficit” explain why your passive learning strategy is failing?

Why does reading more books actually stop you from mastering a new skill?

Stop hoarding information and start mastering skills. Neuroscientist Anne-Laure Le Cunff reveals why “deliberate action” beats passive learning and offers five strategies to overcome the fear of failure and bridge the gap between knowing and doing. Don’t let another day pass in the comfort zone—read on to discover the small, actionable steps that will turn your theoretical knowledge into real-world expertise today.

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Have you ever read numerous books on a single topic but still felt as though you lacked expertise on the subject? If you try to excel based purely on book smarts, your learning curve will plateau quickly. Neuroscientist Anne-Laure Le Cunff posits that “deliberate action” trumps “passive learning,” yet many people lack the will to act. Le Cunff offers tips to overcome your reluctance to act and outlines how, with dedicated practice, you can excel in your field.

Take-Aways

• The world is suffering not from a knowledge deficit but from a “doing deficit.”
• Humans tend to shirk the work required to gain mastery.
• Action trumps knowledge.
• Overcome the doing deficit by starting with baby steps, focusing on the learning process rather than the outcome, measuring your improvement, stepping outside your comfort zone, and finding an accountability partner.

Summary

The world is suffering not from a knowledge deficit but from a “doing deficit.”

High achievers don’t experience overnight success. Mastery rarely comes from merely reading about a topic. Success accompanies “deliberate action,” a commitment to practice and hone your skills daily.

“Solving the doing deficit is about answering this question: Are you willing to practice deliberately even when it’s uncomfortable? And, one step further: Can you find satisfaction in the discomfort?”

Nevertheless, many people prefer to accumulate information — taking courses, reading books, and so on — rather than applying their knowledge. Why?

Humans tend to shirk the work required to gain mastery.

Research estimates that attaining an intermediate-level mastery of any skill requires 3,000 hours of deliberate practice. However, deliberate practice involves much more than merely showing up to training sessions and going through the motions; it requires constantly challenging yourself to learn and grow, pushing the boundaries of your ability, and dedicating yourself to mastering the fundamentals before tackling more difficult aspects of the skill.

Alas, many people eschew deliberate practice for three “deeply emotional” reasons:

1. “Lack of immediate results” — Learning a new skill takes time. Deliberate practice requires hours of routine and repetition, which can be wearisome. Any struggle you experience indicates that you are challenging yourself to do better, but the ensuing frustration might tempt you to quit.
2. “Discomfort with uncertainty” — Learning a new skill entails exploring new territory. You might encounter obstacles on your quest. Journeying into the unknown can feel discomfiting.
3. “Fear of failure” — You’ll inevitably make countless mistakes on your path toward mastery, but frequent errors and missteps can feel off-putting and even demoralizing, prompting you to quit and return to your comfort zone.

Action trumps knowledge.

On your path to mastery, you might be tempted to read more books and accumulate more knowledge, but knowledge alone does not make you an expert. Your learning will plateau early on if you fail to put your knowledge into action. Expand your expertise by applying your knowledge in the real world.

“Finding joy is in the act of doing, not in reaching a specific destination.”

For instance, if you want to write a book, you can read up on writing theory, but you will improve your skill only if you commit to churning out at least one page of text each day. When learning a new language, tips from language experts will benefit you, but true learning will occur only when you converse with native speakers. When you work out, videos can show you how to perform an exercise, but you won’t perfect it until you’ve practiced it many times.

Overcome the doing deficit by starting with baby steps, focusing on the learning process rather than the outcome, measuring your improvement, stepping outside your comfort zone, and finding an accountability partner.

Adopt five strategies to escape the doing deficit:

1. “Start small” — Break your large goal — say, writing a book — into small digestible pieces, such as writing 200 words each day.
2. “Focus on process” — Prefer process-based goals (for example, to exercise every day) over outcome-based goals (for instance, to lose weight).
3. “Track your progress” — After every practice session, jot down what you achieved and how you felt. This record will help you see just how far you’ve traveled.
4. “Embrace discomfort” — Acknowledge that you will make many errors as you learn. Frame those mistakes as learning opportunities, and let your discomfort fuel your motivation.
5. “Find accountability” — Nominate an acquaintance to touch base with you regularly to see how you are progressing. This social pressure will motivate you to persevere, even through tough times.

Ultimately, overcoming the doing deficit requires a willingness to engage in deliberate practice, even when you feel out of your depth, and to find enjoyment in that hardship. Embrace your mistakes and believe that all your hard work is leading you on the path toward mastery.

About the Author

Anne-Laure Le Cunff is the founder of Ness Labs, a consultancy that focuses on wellness, creativity, and culture in business. She studies neuroscience at King’s College London.