Competence.

"I have no idols.  I admire work, dedication and competence."
Ayrton Senna.

Have you ever noticed that some people are easier to coach than others? ~ Of course you have. Many coaches talk about those that are a dream to work with. They possess a combination of drive, dedication, and a willingness to learn that seperates them from others. Oftentimes surpassing those with more inate ability and talent. Then there are the unaware or unwilling students. Those really difficult to reach team members that present the greatest challenge to coaches. ~ Why?

Noel Burch (Or Abraham Maslow depending on your source) attributed it to where we stand in the 4 stages of learning, or competence.

1.Unconscious incompetence.

The individual does not understand or know how to do something and does not necessarily recognize the deficit. They may deny the usefulness of the skill. The individual must recognise their own incompetence, and the value of the new skill, before moving on to the next stage. The length of time an individual spends in this stage depends on the strength of the stimulus to learn.

2.Conscious incompetence.

Though the individual does not understand or know how to do something, he or she does recognize the deficit, as well as the value of a new skill in addressing the deficit. The making of mistakes can be integral to the learning process at this stage.

3.Conscious competence.

The individual understands or knows how to do something. However, demonstrating the skill or knowledge requires concentration. It may be broken down into steps, and there is heavy conscious involvement in executing the new skill.

4.Unconscious competence.

The individual has had so much practice with a skill that it has become "second nature" and can be performed easily. As a result, the skill can be performed while executing another task. The individual may be able to teach it to others, depending upon how and when it was learned.