by Jerriann Massey

Created on: November 02, 2008

Learn to ski? Online? Are you kidding?

You see, I'm a lifelong Training and Development professional with multiple college degrees to match (got those to make more money, but that's another story!) Here's the deal... learning to DO something is a process.

You must have KNOWLEDGE about something - in this case, skiing. Like, are we talking snow skiing or water skiing? Let's assume snow skiing. You'll need to know about speed (mostly slowing down and stopping), how to change directions (avoid trees and other folks), balance, weather, gear (skis, boots, poles, etc.). All of these things are KNOWLEDGE. Knowledge does not equate to DOING. You know to wear sun screen - but chances are you don't. Knowledge does not necessarily change behaviors.

To learn to ski, you must develop some SKILL. Skill building is what Intro ski lessons focus on. It's the How To... lift your foot, how to turn, how to stop, etc. It's usually a See-Do process. The instructor says, Watch me do this... Now you try process.

Then you go to the Bunny slopes - to PRACTICE! Ughhh, Practice. But it's true. I jumped from the introductory lessons to the slopes and bailed out when the ski patrol hauled my bruised body down the mountain (cursing under my breath all the way down that giant mountain of perfect powder).

And, we've all heard that Practice makes perfect, right? Well, it's not true. It's flat out wrong. It's bogus. Heres why: If you practice the wrong technique over and over you're no closer to perfect than when you started.

So, the last step is to get FEEDBACK/COACHING. Thanks to that particular ex-boyfriend, I've never been skiing again. His feedback was gruff and condescending. So I gave up. (A lesson for those who offer feedback to others who are learning - be constructive - not critical!)

Bottom line: To reach any level of Mastery you must proceed through the four phases - Knowledge, Skill Building, Practice and Feedback. The more of these you have under your belt - the higher level of Mastery you will obtain.

Think of Tiger Woods at the age of 4 - he knew about drivers and putters.... his Dad taught him to hold the clubs, the stance, the swing, he practiced and his Dad coached him. Now look at him... his level of Knowledge, Skill, Practice and Feedback/Coaching have elevated him to the very top.

Bottom line: You can learn ABOUT skiing online (KNOWLEDGE). You can't learn to ski online - you must build skill, practice and get coaching on the slopes.

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