4 Stages of Change
In order to better understand how we can change for the better, we will explore the four stages of change. This model was originally designed for skill development but I have been able to apply it in my life with just about anything I want to improve; skills, habits, knowledge etc. From learning how to do a forehand, drinking 3L of water every day to using more positive language or eating 5 serves of vegetables daily. These can all be helped by knowing the 4 stages of change. They are:
Unconscious Incompetence
Conscious Incompetence
Conscious Competence
Unconscious Competence
Side note
Step 3 is where you will spend most the time learning/practicing/trialing the new skill/habit. This is because you will know what to do at this stage, you just need to learn it enough that you don’t have to think so much when doing it. Failure is the stepping stone to success so do not give up.
1. Unconscious Incompetence
The first stage is at the start of any change journey. It is where the individual doesn’t know how to do something and/or doesn’t recognize it needs to be done.
2. Conscious Incompetence
This is where the individual becomes aware of the thing they want to improve although they don’t know how to do it yet. They become aware of the value of the new skill/habit and will learn what is necessary to become competent at this new skill/habit. A general roadmap can be developed here and action can be taken to begin working towards the new skill/habit.
3. Conscious Competence
The individual can now do the new skill/habit after much practice and failure (part of the learning process). We must be very conscious while performing the new skill. You may need to continue to go through steps in your mind or set reminders on when/how to do it. The new neural connections are forming but haven’t yet become entrenched. We know how to do the skill but not to the point that we can do it without thinking.
4. Unconscious Competence
Once the habit/skill has been practiced/learnt enough, it starts to become automatic. Now the habit/skill moves to autopilot, requiring a lot less conscious awareness and more so reliance on the neural connections. The skill/habit can be performed without thinking and can be performed while executing another task. The individual can now teach it to others.
Example: Skill – Forehand in tennis
1. Unconscious Incompetence
As an example, I will use myself learning how to perform a forehand in tennis. In the unconscious incompetence stage, back before I started playing tennis, I didn’t know I needed to learn it. Once I started tennis, I quickly understood that I had to learn the forehand.
2. Conscious Incompetence
In the conscious incompetence stage, I became aware of how valuable learning the forehand would be to playing tennis. However, I couldn’t do it so I sought out coaching.
3. Conscious Competence
In the conscious competence stage, I began learning the forehand from my coach and practicing to get better. I had to remind myself of every little detail involved in the forehand, where my feet go, where the racquet goes and how it all ties into the movement. The start and end positions and everything in between. I failed many times, missing the ball, hitting too hard, too soft, not having my feet set but eventually I got it under control.
4. Unconscious Competence
After quite some time, the neural pathways in my body started to connect and develop to a point where I no longer had to think “step, racquet to back of the court, brush over the tire and follow through over my shoulder.” It became one smooth movement and I could now move around the court and perform a forehand on the run without thinking.
Example: Habit – 3L of water daily
1. Unconscious Incompetence
In the unconscious incompetence stage, I wasn’t aware of the importance of water for the body and mind and thus didn’t track or have any goals with water intake.
2. Conscious Incompetence
I became aware that I needed to be drinking more water for my body to function optimally and improve my overall health. However, I didn’t have any habits developed around drinking water so I started brainstorming ideas on how to increase daily water intake. I mapped out a plan that started with tracking how much water I drank each day to know how much I was drinking and where I needed to be.
3. Conscious Competence
I trialed a lot of different ideas to help improve my water intake including;
- Drinking a large glass of water upon waking
- Drinking a large glass with every meal
- Having a water bottle with me wherever I went
I still had to set reminders to do these things as they weren’t ingrained in my subconscious at this time.
4. Unconscious Competence
The habit had now formed to the point where I now automatically have a large glass of water in the mornings without any reminders and without thinking about it. I now always have a water bottle with me wherever I go and drink plenty of water at meals, all on autopilot.
Conclusion
Next time you aren’t sure on how to learn a new skill, remember that you are already at stage 2 of the learning process. Self-awareness is key and from there, coming up with a plan, executing that, failing, getting better, failing, getting better, until eventually it becomes second nature and you no longer have to think about it.