As orthodontists, we know that mastering our profession is a vital process. It requires hard work, dedication, and an appetite for growth. However, how can we continue to grow once we reach a state of unconscious competence, where our skills come naturally? Let’s explore how to approach growth, break out of our comfort zones, and discover how mastery follows four stages of competence.
Stage One: Unconscious Incompetence
We start at this stage, where we don’t know what we don’t know about our profession, techniques, and skills. It’s the stage of ignorance where we are unaware of the skills we need to develop. We need to identify which areas of our profession we lack knowledge, skills, and abilities. Then, we need to make an effort to learn and practice them. We can attend courses, conferences, read books or articles, and collaborate with other orthodontists to acquire new knowledge.
Stage Two: Conscious Incompetence
Once we have started acquiring new knowledge and skills, we may realize a huge gap exists between what we know and what we need to know. This stage is the stage of awareness, where we are conscious of our incompetence. The challenge at this stage is staying motivated and not giving up despite encountering setbacks and challenges and ensuring we invest in our training, development, and education.
Stage Three: Conscious Competence
As we progress, we move closer to where we would like to be in our profession. This stage is where we are consciously competent. At this stage, the skills we once struggled with have become more natural, and we can execute them more easily. We still need to concentrate and focus, but we have more confidence, and this outcome has motivated us to continue learning more and honing our craft.
Stage Four: Unconscious Competence
We achieve unconscious competence after we have dedicated our time, energy, and resources and worked diligently. It means having mastery, where performing the tasks has become automatic without thinking. While it might seem like the most desirable stage, the downside is that there is little room for growth, and that’s why this stage is essential for orthodontists to continue learning and challenging themselves.
Conclusion
As orthodontists, growth does not stop at mastery. To continue to grow, we must push ourselves out of our comfort zones, even from a position of dominance. By stepping out of our comfort zones, we open ourselves up to new experiences and ways of doing things. We should continuously seek ways to challenge ourselves and embrace uncomfortable situations to remain competitive and at the cutting edge of our profession. We must never forget that our evolution lies in the reach of discomfort. To challenge and improve the care we deliver. I encourage you to be bold and brave in your practice, push yourself out of your comfort zone, and embrace new challenges as part of your growth journey.
