Deliberate practice: Anders Ericsson

Published: June 25, 2020, 4 a.m.

How to get better at almost anything by practising like an expert. Anders Ericsson, who sadly died recently, was Professor of Psychology at Florida State University. Anders spent decades studying elite performers across a number of fields including sport, music and medicine, and it was his research that led to the popular "10,000-hour rule" written about by Malcolm Gladwell and others. Anders explains that just clocking up 10,000 hours of regular practice won't make you an expert; the key is to spend your time in deliberate practice. It is a purposeful and systematic approach that requires you to be focused, push past your comfort zone, seek feedback and make sure you prioritise rest, as Anders explains in this episode. As ever, thoughts and questions @simonmundie