Deliberate Practice
For anyone who puts in the time and wants that time to actually make them better.
Deliberate practice is focused, structured practice aimed at improving specific weaknesses, with clear goals and fast feedback. It is different from simply repeating what you already know. To use it, break a skill into parts, work on the hardest part just beyond your current ability, get feedback from a coach or results, adjust and repeat. It works for speaking, sales, sports, music and almost any skill.
Looking back, my first conference presentation wasn’t very good compared to what I know now. That’s the point. I wasn’t supposed to be great yet. I was supposed to learn.
After that, I studied other speakers, invested in coaching and refined my talks.
The confidence didn’t come before the experience. It came because of it.
Then I applied for bigger opportunities.
The term comes from psychologist Anders Ericsson. In a famous 1993 study of violinists, he and his colleagues found that the best performers had not just practiced more. They had spent more time in focused, effortful practice designed to improve specific weaknesses.
Practice does not make perfect. Deliberate practice makes progress.
Five steps to practice deliberately
Break the skill into parts
A talk has an opening, stories, transitions and a close. A sales call has an opener, questions and an ask. Practice the parts, not just the whole.
Pick the hardest part
Choose the piece just beyond what you can do comfortably. If it feels easy, it is not deliberate practice.
Set a specific goal
“Get better at presenting” is vague. “Open without notes in under 60 seconds” is something you can practice and measure.
Get fast feedback
Record yourself, ask a coach or track the numbers. Feedback tells you what to fix next.
Adjust and repeat
Change one thing, try again and compare. Improvement comes from dozens of small adjustments, not one big breakthrough.
I wasn’t supposed to be great yet.
I was supposed to learn.
Deliberate practice vs regular practice
Regular practice repeats what you already do. Deliberate practice targets what you cannot do yet. Regular practice can feel productive and comfortable. Deliberate practice usually feels hard, because it is aimed right at your weak spots. That discomfort is the sign it is working.
Related reading: How to Break Through a Plateau, How to Get Better Every Day and Talent vs Effort.
For athletes: How to Earn More Playing Time.
Common questions
What is deliberate practice?
Deliberate practice is focused, structured practice that targets specific weaknesses, with clear goals and immediate feedback. The concept comes from psychologist Anders Ericsson.
How is deliberate practice different from regular practice?
Regular practice repeats what you already do. Deliberate practice targets what you cannot yet do well and uses feedback to improve it.
Does deliberate practice really work?
Research by Anders Ericsson and others found that top performers spent more time in this kind of focused practice. Later studies suggest it matters a great deal, though talent and other factors also play a part.
How long should deliberate practice sessions be?
Shorter, focused sessions are often better than long ones, because deliberate practice takes concentrated effort. Many people start with 15 to 60 minutes.
Break the skill into parts, practice the hardest one with a clear goal, get fast feedback and repeat. That is how practice becomes progress.
You Are Capable
of More.
Ten principles for becoming the person you know you are capable of being, built from real stories of people who doubted themselves and did it anyway. Winner of the How-To category at the 2026 Paris Book Festival.
When I’ve got something worth sending.
Just a story or an idea I picked up that I think will help you.
Sometimes that’s twice in a month. Sometimes it’s not for a while.