The Expert’s Disadvantage
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few.” ~ Shunryu Suzuki
There’s something terrifying, yet magical about taking on something new. You’re totally clueless and it pushes you way out of your comfort zone. At the same time, it opens your eyes to a new world of possibilities.
As time passes you get better at that new thing. Pretty soon you’re killing it.
Congratulations… You’ve become an expert and you can practically do that new and once difficult thing in your sleep.
Expertise has a huge upside. You gain confidence, comfort and an effortless competence. Where you were once hesitant, you now accomplish the task with ease and efficiency.
The Expert’s Disadvantage
Hang on a second; don’t get too comfortable.
Expertise can be a trap. As tasks become routine, the excitement and attention to detail that comes with newness fades into memory.
That’s where the Expert’s Disadvantage comes in.
- The Shift to Autopilot: Going through the motions, no longer paying attention to detail. If you’ve ever driven home along a familiar route only to arrive at your destination with no clue how you got there, you know what I’m talking about. Quality suffers on autopilot and things start falling through the cracks.
- Living in the Comfort Zone: What used to be exciting starts feeling dull. If you’re bored and struggling for motivation, you’re getting too comfortable.
- Stagnation: Expertise doesn’t mean one way of doing things. It’s easy to get locked into a routine where resistance to new ideas halts growth in its tracks and you’re no longer exploring new ways of working and thinking. Comfort feels great, but too much of a good thing breeds stagnation and gets in the way of maximizing your potential.
How do you keep going — and growing once you’ve hit the peak of expertise?
Say Hello to Beginner’s Mind
Beginner’s Mind comes from a Zen Buddhism concept called Shoshin. It’s about treating everything you do as if you were a complete newbie all over again.
Beginner’s Mind means:
- Letting go of preconceived notions and judgement
- Seeing things with new eyes, as if you’re experiencing them for the first time
- Bringing enthusiasm and curiosity to what you do
- Openness to experimentation and trying new things
Beginner’s mind is like a release valve. It cuts the pressure to perform and opens up the world around you. Beginner’s mind can spark new ideas that influence what you’re already doing, while inspiring creativity for new, bold projects.
If you’re feeling totally stuck, it’s time to exit the familiar path and take a detour into the beginner’s mindset.
5 Ways to Experience Beginner’s Mind
Drop Distractions
Remember the last time you learned something new? You moved slowly, lost in the moment. The world around you melted away and it felt like time stood still.
Try this: Focus on the details and immerse yourself in the task at hand as if you’re doing it for the first time. Silence your phone and turn off notifications, eliminate TV and audio background noise so you can concentrate on the present moment. Pull your focus back to the present if you catch your mind venturing off to the past or future.
Experiment With New Perspectives
You already know what you know, but what if you could try on a new perspective like you try on a new outfit? No pressure to buy unless you like the fit.
Try This: Take a step back to test new and different ways of thinking and doing. Ask the people in your circle to challenge you with new ideas. Let go of the concept of the right, wrong, or only way to approach what you’re doing.
Go Back to the Beginning
In the beginning, it’s all new and there’s potential for the unexpected at every turn. It feels scary and exciting and challenging all at once.
Try This: Remember why you started in the first place. What surprised and delighted you when you were just starting out? How can you bring more of that wonder and excitement back to what you do?
Experience the Power of Play
Toddlers are incredible beings. They’re boundless bundles of joy and energy. Curiosity reigns supreme as they explore the world around them; they climb, jump, topple over and get back up, all without fear of judgement. Toddlers live in a world that hasn’t yet conditioned them into a neat little box.
Try This: Channel your inner toddler. Experiment and play with new techniques and activities like no one is watching. Don’t overthink it and don’t stress the opinions of those who would be happier if you just stayed put in that safe little box where boredom rules.
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
Wait, what? Comfort feels good — it’s safe and cozy (and constricting). The majority of people avoid change and they will try to persuade you that discomfort = bad = dangerous. Don’t buy the BS. The status quo is where creativity goes to die.
Try This: Ask yourself the hard questions that push you way outside your comfort zone. How can you keep growing by breaking into new territories where you become a beginner all over again?
If you’re a high performer, it’s an amazing feeling to master something new. Once you’re an expert, the key is to keep learning and growing so you don’t get locked into the mind prison of boredom and stagnation.
Beginner’s Mind is a great tool to get you constantly seeking your growing edge so you can stay as excited and motivated about your area of expertise as you were on day one.
